Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-09-17

II qcds remarkably pleasant chatting II
that cozy oidtinle fashion.
Donald in smoking jacket and slip
pers. was enjoying a cigar in an easy
chair by the fire.
why. how comfortable you lookr
she excl lined, brightly, surprised into
betrayirg her pleasure. When had Don
aid cared to spend Sunday Afternoon
at home before! ''And what gloriou:
fire you have NADER standing before the
fire upon pretense of warming her slim
white hands, little innocent vanity il
her pretty tea gown. Donald had once
been quick TO notice when she looked
especially nice.
''Have not? complacently surveying
his work. Give me the blaze of goot
soft coal on day like this; just to lool
at it is Injury" his eyes fixed upon the
slim figure in the trailing old rose gown
as if he found certain luxury in re
garding that. He reached out and drew
nearer willow rocker, saying socially
..Sit down and enjoy it.
Donald Bartels could not have will
ingly endured for long to live at odds
with eat. He had happy faculty fol
adjusting unpleasantnesses within him
self, of Frightening with the sunnines:
of his own temperament the darkest cir.
cumstance. of comprom sing with fate
in all philosophical good will The sud.
den change in his wife had been to him
q crushing blow, for a time seeming
fairly to change his nature. Without d
sign of warning, seeming the more cruel
for its unexpectedness, he had beer
rudely shaken from his dream of placid
content to look down into the grave in
which all the joy of his life seemed laid,
He was almost beside himself. fairly
maddened with the poignant pain, the
burning anger toward this cold, silent
woman, who had won him with tender
witcheries but to bring such disappoint-
ment and humiliation upon him. But
even over the ground torn up for tine
dead the merciful flowers and grasses
will hurry to spread their fair covering
and Donald was not one who would KEEP
the soil of his sorrows forever plowed VI
afresh. Ever in the background of his
life that grave must gloomily hold its
place; and often in the twilight-those
sweet hours of idleness that had so long
been given to Anita, in which the
thought of her was inextricably fixed
he must perlorce look back with tear
blurred eyes. passionate regret wringing
his heart. But what then? Could his
lost love be raised from the dead with
cries or paltry curses? And was love
less life so rare thing that he could
esteem himself as more unfortunate than
the majority of his fellows?
Little by little his first fierce anger
burned itself out, and at last he was
ready. in his healthy. wholesouled way,
to look up and take account of the good
that was left him. If Anita loved her
cousin-and Donald could have no doubt
of that-she was still bravely trying to
do her wifely duty by him. That she
was not happy he could not but know,
and the time was when seeing it he bad
been filed with sharp resentment; but
now. in a way. he had come to pity her,
approaching the more the patient effort
of her exquisite housekeeping. No hus-
band was better cared for than he in all
material things, and he valued the com
forts of his home at their worth, and
was grateful. Because he had had his
cake and eaten it, was he to find no APP
petite for bread and cheese? Though the
sweet, foolish love of the honeymoon
might be gone. there was no reason. he
told himself, why they should not Still
be friends
There is going to be a splendid bed
of Goals presently" Anita idly remarked,
settling back comfortably in the low
chair I'VE might pop some corn
He looked up. boyishly pleased at the
simple suggestion. Ii seemed that, after
all, she might be willing to meet him
half way in the effort to bring the home
life to friendlier footing. I'VE might
and we win. he cordially agreed, If
relevantly adding, That is an awfully
pretty dress. Mia.
Il think it is rather a success myself,
smiling up at him well pleased. Why
could they not be always like this. so
sociable and friendly? All. well, he was
spending this afternoon with heI Of his
own accord; this was something.
.Ihavej just heard rather a good thing,
she began, drawing toward him in a
coy, confidential way. Katie has
friend visiting her in the kitchen, and
they were trying their luck with a wish
bone. From the china closet happened
to overhear their remarks at the close Of
the contest. Now. Annie. tell me what
you wished. said Katie. Well. wished
might 20 to heaven. And what did
you wishy Wen. Annie'-with her con-
vulsive little giggle-iid you ever see
anybody giggle as that girl does, DOM
Never. But what was her wish 2
".WeI. said she. 4 wished I might
be the first - get married. Annier while
Annie capped the climax by retortiug.
Well. If that amt Just ike you. Katie
Rice, IA risk you to always wish tie
best for yourself
Donald laughed long ant loud - fhis