The Monitor., 1891-10-16
NO. 80.

green snuff" she queried.
He laughed,
1T hardly seems, dear as If you could
belong to the same race as those two poor.
pale, drudging women," said he.
do all farmers wives die early. .Ioe9n
Joe did not answer He was unfolding
the paper to read the latest news by tele-
graph.
Cousin Simeon Ailesbury was the village
doctor, pleasant old man with a bald
head and a genial smile. Ellen Ailesbury
made friends with him at once.
You are very like your mother, child"
said lie. ''She always reminded me of a
little mountain daisy
Il am glad you speak SO kindly to me
DOCTOR" said she, ''for-for somehow
since came to the old farm house feel
as if were fraud. y
"A fraud, my deari''
The bright tears sparkled now.
Il was brought up to teach,' said she.
Il can do nothing about the house. And
Joe's father seems to expect me to be the
maid-of- all-work. OF course l can learn.
I'd do anything to please joe But it's
hard to think one is such dissappoint-
ment."
"Humphl'' said Dr. Ailesbury, I'm
speak to Joe about that
And that afternoon when Ellen and Mrs.
DR.. Ailesbury were gone to look at pretty
cascade in the woods, the old man had a
long talk with his cousins sou.
At the end OF the week Joe went back
to the Ailesbury farm.
well, I'm glad ye've got through GAL
livantipg," said the old man, with a long
breath Of relief '.AIl the farm work is
behind, and Berenice Stubbs amt worth
half what she used to be. hope your wife
is prepared to take right hold of the butter
and the poultry and"
mo, father, she isn't said Joe, val
iantly. Ellen isa't very strong, and she
has never been used to the hardships OF
farm life''
''Whit did you marry her for?. snarled
the old man.
ITO be my companion and friend, father.
not my drudge and servant
Your mother warn't above work.
'.My mother was dead and buried, sir,
at the age of thirty-worn ont as all the
neighbors tell me, by the hardships of her
life. Your second wife, too, was victim
of the Moloch of work. don't intend to
lay Ellen in the churcbyard at their side. y
Mr.. Ailesbury's brow ,iarkened.
II won't have no one in the house who
don't earn their board. said he.
Every WELL" said Joe. "We'Il rent the
little Barrow house down Locust Lane. 1t
will be handy to my work at the carriage
factory, and Ellen shall have a strong SER
want to help her with the house,
Old Ailesbery started up forgetful of his
infirmities.
''Joe," +" said he, brandishing his crutch,
''if you've been such fool as to marry
mere wax doll
Just here his foot slipped; he fell, dead,
heavy weight, his head against the sharp
edge Of the table, The sentence was never
finished.
"a month"; cried the old man, in q 1
cracked voice, "a month since / had that
fall. Then | must "a been out of my
mind must have had fever"
"Well, l guess you just have" said
Berenice.
''And who took care of me?"
s'Mrs Joe, 20 be sure. Night and day.
l amt 10 hand at nursin' sick people, and
there was a hull week some one had to sit
up all night with YOU
But that slim, pale-faeed creetur never
done it9'
''Yes, she did. She said you was Joe's
father. and there was somethin' about
your eyes an forid, as you laid asleep.
that reminded her O. him. And she
wouldn't leave you minute.
God bless herl'' said the old man,
turning his face away, with curious
thrill at his heart.
Joe" said he, when his son came in a
few hours later, '1've been vary sick?'
Eyes, father"
"And they tell me nearly died.
They tell you the truth, father" /"
'sThe doctor says if it hadn't been for
your wife I'd "a been under the church
yard sod by now"
Il believe it is so, father"
e.Joe, she's an angel3'
Don't | know it, sir?''
'Joe, pin sorry said all them things
about her. Do you suppose, Joe, she'd
stay here il I'd hire gal to do all the
rough work.
I'VE have planned, sir, to move into the
Barrow cottage. and"
.'But you mustn't do that, Joe. / can't
feel to let her CO." urged the old man.
"All the luck would go out of the house,
once the door closed on her. Ask her to
stay, Joe. Tell her."
The door opened softly. Ellie herself
came in.
"Father do you want me to stay9'' she
whispered.
ssGod knows that do, childn'