Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-10-02

the shed to mend his nets. While
working. he glanced from time To time
into the room TO mark any change in
tho good woman's mien. Generally
in her movements she talked either to
him. the cat or the bird, or hummed
in her cracked voice snatches of the
songs of her younger days.
From these promises the good man
concluded: 'She can't hold her
tongue much longer, surely"
But TO his great establishment, she
swept the house. secured the table and
tiled the floor. punished the bird that
had flown on the bed. shellcd the beans
and sat down to her knitting without
opening her tight-set lips. Thunder
and lightning! She is in an obstinate
humor!" thought the husband as
founded.
The morning passed thus in mutual,
obstinate silence, each determined not
to yield by speaking the first word.
Hours of the same obstinate silence
followed. but at last the good man en-
tered the room.
He can't bear il any longer; he's
going to speak" thought the wife. de-
lighted mt the idea of her conquest
But instead of speaking. or even
looking at her, he went directly to the
high cupboard. Mounting footstool
he began TO search carefully with the
close attention of one who had lost
something very precious. One by one
he brought down piles of sheets and
towels, and placed them on the bed,
displaced the odds and ends of bric-a-
brac accumulated during their thirty
years of welded life, which formed a
mosaic and precious picture from the
past.
There were bits of china bought at
fairs. foreign curiosities, by the sailor
boy the e'der son now sleeping forever
in distant China; another blue box in
which was carefully preserved the
bridal veil OF the now aged woman,
embroidered by her youthful fingers.
The husband examined each treasure
most infinitely, stopping to contemplate
each object. He soon attacked the
second cupboard
His wife could not help feeling OF
disturbance Mt first. which increased
into anxiety that made her follow his
movements with close but secret watch
fulness. As his eagerness in searching
became more intense so her curiosity
mounted to the insupportable point
What in the name OF Heaven has
he lost? 1t cannot be his knife, for he
had it this morning in his hand. What
can it be?" She continued to watch
him in the hope that some gesture of
his would enlighten her, or in his irri-
tation that the name OF the lost object
would escape his lips
But with a perseverance that one
would never have believed Of him, he
continued his work until dark without
even whisper.
With the night came the tide and
the hour for departure. but he seemed
all unconscious of the call of duty.
Having completely scrutinized every
corner and object in the second cup
board, he lighted candle. and setting
the candle-stick on the tiles threw
himself down and began to peer under
the bed.
That was too much for the poor
woman's power of control. Her OBJ
stinacy melted before the fire of her
curiosity, and vanquished she asked:
What in all this world are you
looking for. my man?'
Jumping to mis- feet. he burst into a
hard laugh that shook the old hut and
answered:
IL often told you you'd lose or wear
it out some day, but now that I've
found it. take care of it for the future.
After all. faint worth while to lose
ones" and being given to gesture,
he touched with his thumb the tip Of
his tongue. to indicate that of his wife.
the use of which he had missed so
much during the long. long day.
Adapted from the French by Bally
Blake.