The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-11-13
TOO LATE.
ASRLEH.

was something about the delicate woman
that reminded one of a hOt-house blossom.
She should have lie N tenderly nurtured and
sheltered, as it were, from the rude winds of
heaven; but we do not all settle into car
proper inches in this world. In the next,
Heaven grant that il may be different with
some of'us.
"FlowersP' echoed Hugh Dymond, con-
temptuuusly. And new carpet! Fiddle
Ge-dce! Lolly, what can you possibly be
thinking of. when we need wing to the
barn and a new yoke Of steers so much?
But women are always going off on tan
gent after the ornamental!
Mrs Dymond looked round the bare
walled room, with its floor covered with
worn rag carpet, its sIiff-backcd chairs and
its pine table. and sighed. Mr.. Dymond
went on with his 0ccupation-that of whit
thing out a wooden pin for the door-yard
gatr.
= "WeH," he said. nonchalantly. what are
you groaning about
"Iwasn't groshing; only, Hugh"
"Weu?"
things about me,
Fu-n-udge.' grumbled the husband.
LAS ii this was world Of outside show"
"0h, l don't mean that; but after all,
you know. we none Of US have but few
years to live, and
NOW, come, come, INTERRUPTED the hus-
band, don't let's have any of this non
StnSe."
Il don't think you quite understand me-
Hugh, dear. What | mean is"
Yes, do too; what you mean Is, that
you'd Ike TO sit with your hands folded, a
bouquet opposite, and fine velvet carpet
under your feet. Pity you hadn't married
rich an"
Little Laura Dymond WINGED slightly; hut
she was used to these sharp words and sting
ing retartS on her husbands part. II was
the diamond mated with the rou III tint-th e
slender->t emmed anemOne springing up be-
meath the shadow OF the rude Canada thistle,
She told herself many times day that she
Od not mind Hugh'S way-she was u>ei 10
il, but the faisehOOd was fresh every time {;
she Gii mind his rough way, and she never
could get used 10 some Of those sharp, sud
den words and looks.
She lad been a dstrict-school teacher
when Hugh DymOnd married her, and all
the idea she had Of the existence OF a farm
efs vile, was roses clustered round
picturesque porch, straw berries and cream,
r cool dairy with green light coming
through the vine leaves at the easement,
and whip-poor- wills singing on the edge of
the woods at night! Poor Laura. 1t might
have been a silly deusi1n, but it was brief
one. To use Nj. Drymond's own emphatic
express sion, there wasn't any nonsense
about him. Good pork and potatoes, and
plenty of EN-; q singled roof overhead,
aud furniture that ~aS good enough for his
mother before him; If r woman wanted
more than these, she must 60 somewhere
else than tu the DymOnd farmhouse -
Yes, II was all very solid and substantial
but Laura could no more thrive on II than a
humming- bird on diet OF beef tea.
4 could draw my own $50 out OF the saw
ings- bank, said she, doubtfullv, land get q
fresh, pretty carpet And oh, Hugh, I'm
s, tired of the worn spots in the striped
and "A FAQIlE do npab II in tho
sittiug-rOOm."
"BotheT!" responded the uneeremOnious
husband. Keep your fifty dollars for
something that's going to be really useful.
\ clean board floor, and plenty of soap and
sand; that was all the carpet my mother
ever asked for"
1T IS such hard work to scrub it twice a
week, Hugh" pleaded the poor little wife.
ION, II you're afraid Of work, that's all l
have TO say" said Mr.. Dymond, Struggling
his shoulders.
Unnecessary work, Hugh"
He made No answer, but Laura knew
from the set look about his lips that her III
nocent APP cal had been made in vain.
The floSt would cost nothing" she
went on. Mrs. jenkins would give me
slips, and Lizzie Clouuey has some old pots
which
"Pshaw!' broke out Hugh. "If YOU
want 70 garden, 60 out and weed the onions
and caboaEes; I'm sure they need il badly
enough but as for having the window-sils
cluttered up with a lot OF green trash, It's
what l wont stand! So now you've got my
opinion, and | hope you feel better"
And lie rnSe to his feet and quilted the
room, taking care TO shut the door with
a bang that set Laura's nerves all in a
culver
She sat down and cried, the poor little
solitary creature when he was gone. She
had thought 50 much Of the carpet aud tie
flowers; size had got it all planned ont In
her mind, and now Hugh forbade it. We'll,
there was no help for it; she must go back
to the beaten track. Perhaps Hugh was
night; only And then Laura cried again
4" don't know what's the matter with
her, sad the puZZ ed husband. "She don't
complain; only she won't eat or laugh, aud
goes around with her head hanging down
like SICK chicken. It's rather hard on a
a helpmeet 10 HIM. At this rate l shall
have to hire girl"
Il shouldn't wonder" said the old doc
tor. dry!y. It's the nervous system,
DymOnd."
"Ob, rshaw!' calculated Hugh. Nerves?
! don't believe in any such thing"
You'll have occasion TO before long"
said Doctor Meynell.
haven't any nerves"
But other people may have, neverthe-
"Lolly never told me she had any such
H..
speaking with an injured air. But il
there's any particular kind of medicine
would do her good. and it isn't too expeu-
sive-"
'''She must have entire change of air; to-
tai change of scene" said the doctor. Dv-
mond's c0untenance fell.
And what am | to do all by myself at
home? Very selfish and inconsiderate of
Lolly to"
The old physicians benign countenance
darkened; his brows contracted of a sud
den.
Man. man." he said, "hold your rash
tongue! You've no idea what you are talk
ing about. Suppose God, in his infinite
mercy, sees ut TO take her from you alto
getheT?"
Hugh Dymond sat staring as if levin
bolt had stricken him to earth.
gu don't mean-she-she's not goin
to die, doctorP My little Lolly-it isn't SO
bad as all ihatp'
How can we tell? She has been worked
down to mere shadow of herself. You
beast, and it isn't the kind of life she mad
been used 70, poor little blossom!"
MY Cod" grnaned the husband, drop
ping his face in his hands, II never dreamed
of this"
DR.. Meynelps heart softened as he
watched the strong shudder thrill through
the repenlant mans iron frame. He did
love her, then. after all. He was not so
utterly heartless as he seemed. 1t was only
thoughilessness, not deliberate tyranny.
-, Tel me what 70 do. Doctor" gr0aned
Hugh Dym0nd. IF it costs me ali have
In the world, Lolly shall be savedw
Let her 20 back to her mother at the
seashore for few weeks" advised the
physician. Change, rest, pleasant So
ciety-these will do much for her. And
when she comes back TO you in the fall let
US hope Il Will be with renewed hope AID
courage"
And so Laura Dymond was sent away for
change Of air and scene. The tears gusbed
into her eyes when she had parted from her
husband. YIN ''0-
A week afterward Hugh hitched up his
Drown nag and drove to the nearest town
and before night the best room" floor was
covered with cheerful red carpet, strewn
All over with little green leaflets and wood
brown sprays of moss.
Lolly will like the pattern" thought
Hugh, because it's like something real.
How pleased she will bel And the hearth
rug is 10 match the carpet and the new
Nottingham curtains will freshen the win
dows. and III have both the easements