The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-05-10

warmly and bowed with courtesy that
was not so much rough as unframed 10 Miss
BTainerd.
This is my wife, Miss Brainerd," he
said. in the same tone that any husband
might have used.
The minister, IN her one year of Office,
had seen some strange sides of domestic life,
but this drama had new features; she felt a
little thrill along her nerves as she glanced
at the woman who had rot spoken to her
own husband for ten years. This woman
did not look capable of such weird obstin-
acy. She was pretty, as Mrs. Armil had
said, but with a more delicate and refined
beauty than the minister had expected.
She ln0ks-Wh0m does she look like"
thought the minister; declare it is Mona
Lisa. She has just that mysterious smile"
Perhaps photograph of Mona Lisa hang
ing side by side on the wall with the Arch
angel Michael suggested the comparison.
She wondered If it was Mrs. Rogers taste
that had selected them, or the quiet paper
on the walls, the little dash of color in
crimson drapery for the ugly mantel behind
the stove, the pretty wicker chair in the cor
ner. the plants III the window. A small
library she was sure belonged to the hus-
baud. No." she remembered, Mrs.
Arml said that she furnished the room to
suit him."
And after glance at the wife's toilet,
brown alpaca gown, made up with profnse
draperies and trimmings of red velvet. She
gave Mr.. Rogers credit for any evidence of
taste.
Meanwhile Mrs. Armil, who wished TO do
honor to her guest, had introduced her like
the columns of country paper as "Rev.
Braiuerd."
She now set the conversational ball in
motion with " Rev. Brainard's been inter-
ested III the desLitution round here"
Yes, it's bad" said Rogers, crossing his
IpOs md ne slTy isfi 49,
bad, but we could get along if we could get
more time on our mortgage"
Are the farms about here mortgaged?"
Yes, ma'am. You may say all about
here are. Pearl" addressing Mrs. Armil.
Have you heardp
Mrs. Armil told more in detail the story
that she had told Miss Brainerd. The in
terest in the mans eyes was plain. and.
though yelled, the same interest was in the
woman's.
Amt you had letter from him yet ?"
said Mrs. Armil with the sympathy of safe
penple for others troubles.
NO." answered Mrs. Rogers, ''not vet
but we sent Leon to the town to see if we
had letter."
Then the talk drifted into geneialities in
terrupted by the sound of boots. "It's
Leon, exclaimed Rogers. He went has
tily to the door.
The child of this strange couple came in.
He locked liked his mother aud his father.
delicate like the one, dark-hared and smil
ing like the other. His eye turned from the
man 60 the woman in a cordial glance that
embraced them both.
Eyes, l got the letter." he said. Then.
for the first time perceiving the guest, he
made his awkward SchOOl-bOy bow to the
lady, and submitted to be kissed by Mrs.
ArInl.
I'VE have mortgage on hand, too, you
see" said Rogers. I" Win you ladies' excuse
me?" Here he tore open the letter with
fingers plainly a-tremble. There was no
attempt at disguise. Every woman in the
room stared at him. For him, his jaw fell:
he grew paleT, until his skin took the tint
of gray ashes. His first action was to hand
Leon the sheet with its type written copy
and engraved heading
Give 1t to your mother" he said huskily.
Icons eyes shone as he obeyed He was
a cnlld and hopeful. Mrs Rogers read the
letter. She may have had more se,f-control
than he, for there was no change. only a
rigid setting of the muscles. "She Is think
ing that she told him so" reflected the min
lister.
"Ma"-Leon's voice broke the silence
won't you tell me?"
There amt no reason why they
shouldn't all hear IT, &" said the man. He
says that he was expecting TO extend know
ing we'd had hard times. but he read my
name in the list of representatives that voted
for the stay law. He doesn't consider his
property safe in State where they
pass such laws, or with a man that
something in his throat. 81 guess"
he went on, there's lots of fellows feel like
he does, and lots of poor farmers will have
to give up for the same reason. If
it was only me, it wouldn't be so
bad but" For the first time he
looked at his wife. She returned his look,
dull red creeping into her cheek, nor did she
take her eyes off his face while he remained
in the room. at isn't only me. If we have
made mistake we have ruined all the
Others along with US.
That's Jest so,'' said Mrs. Armil
heartily. Roger smiled a little bitterly
What tragedy the mans life had been,
Miss Brainerd thought. What lOnelinessi
He had in him, she decided IN flush of
sympathy, TareT and inner qualities of nature.
of affection and aspiration, than his unfor-
giving wife could ever comprehend.
Il seem 10 have missed 1t all round" he
went on. 81 did try. Hetty, and if | had
got the farm cleared off / meant TO have
asked you if-if-things couldn't be different
there was a school we wanted to send
Leon" he did not know how to finish the
sentence apparently; but the mute entreaty
of the look turned on his wife's unmoyed
face awakened Miss Brainerd's indignant
pity well he said, quietly, There is
always the prairie schooner for me to take
to; for don't think | was cut out to make
laws. can I narm anybody out myself on
the prairie; and Pearl will see that you and
Leon have place to stay. Now, | guess,
il you ladies will excnse me, Eli go put up
the horse; I'll be right back"
AS he stood in the doorway, his ewes
turned back at Leon. "Shall l come, too,
pap" said the child. Miss Brainerd, at
least, noticed a fine culver pass over the
mans face before he answered: mo; |
shall come back soon. You stay with your
mother"
Still. she was looking at him. He walked
out alone. Then she arose, her lips set
firmly. Twill you excuse me, too?" she
said, " want to speak to my husband"
oh, LordP' gasped Mrs. Armil But
Miss Brainerd had her word ready. Tell
him please that l know Mr.. Raimund we'll;
he is in my congregation, and | will engage
that he shan't foreelose the mortgage"
well, Lord be praised You're doing
right, Hetty," called Mrs. Armil at the
empty door, rs soon as establishment re-
leased her tongue. Better late than never
But to think of her giving in now, when
he'd lost all his property, and him the help
lessest man alive "
Il think that was why" laughed Miss
Brsinerd; such slight things arc women"
Copyright, 1891.