The Somerset reporter., 1891-07-23
SELECTED.
THE HOUSE SEVENTH STREET

young people with moderate means set up
house Keeping. 1t was d two-story cot
tage, tasteful and modern without, and
with an interior even more attractive,
embodying, as 1t did Mrs. Wilford's ex.
quisite taste Not that the furnishings
were particularly luxurious, but the most
artistic eye could find no false effects or
unfortunate combinations 10 all its dainty
completeness. In short, ii was one of
those homes which seem to impart to
every creature blessed enough to come
within their charmed atmosphere some
thing of their own serene harmony.
But if the house In Seventh Street wss
in no wise remarkable In the city of
Weston, the same could not be said of
its mistress, Louise Wilford. She was a
delicate, sweet-faced woman whose clear
gray eyes had the faculty of spying out a
hidden sorrow, Offering their unobtrusive
sympathy In one comprehensive glance.
Her mother said of her, Louise always
had the most eXtravagant notions about
the duty of everybody to everybody else.
If marriage don't cure her nothing will"
And Mrs. MILFORD soon made IL evident
that marriage had not altered peculiarly
which was, indeed, a fundamental char
acteristic of her nature
Her honeymoon was hardly over when
what her friends called "l.ouise's oddity"
began to assert itself.
Fred" she remarked placidly one
evening, as she and her husband sat to-
gether in their coy parlor, a suggestive
picture of domestic comfort, Erred, do
you know | want to take boarder,"
Mr.. MILFORD dropped his book, and
looked at his wife with an expression of
the utmost CONSERVATION. Louise
What do you meanS Are you getting
tired of my company Then, more ten
DERBY, "Don't | give you pinmonev
enough, dearest" What is up, anyway"
What goose you are, Fred" said
Mrs, Frederick, dimplng amiably. ITO
think that | could ever get tired OF you ="
She slipped out of her chair and knelt by
her husbands side lifting her eloquent
eyes to his face. You know, dear, they
say Mr.. Maxwell is trying to leave off
drinking"
Mr.. MILFORD nodded. He, with all
other good citizens of Weston, was inter
ested in the attempted reformation OF
this brilliant young lawyer, who had
come so near total ship wreck. But with
the obtuseness common to mortas, Fred
failed to see how this fact was related to
his own personal comfort.
And I've been thinking" Louise went
on earnestly, THAT he must meet a great
deal of temptation boarding at the hotels.
And his wife cant come till September,
Fred, he told me so hims elf. And I'd like
TO have him here with us that little while"
Mr.. MILFORD made wry face. "Of
course | admire your feeling, my dear
girl but don't you think 1t is little fana
tical and-morbid to sacrifice your home
comfort for other eople In that wsyY
Louise's arm went round his neck
plesdingly. 80 Fred Its because my
nome is dear to me that want to use 1t
partly for others. We're not, you know,
20 sacrifice that which costs us nothing.
and ! want to offer Him Nh. best | have"
Mr. MILFORD gently kissed his wife's
cheek. You're right, Louise, | think
,ou're always right. But | don't see" he
added with smile, Just how you are
Going to work your scheme on Maxwell
You can't say you want to reform him."
"Oh, PlImanage that" answered Louise
confidently. And she did manage it with
diplomacy strictly feminine. Mr.. Max
we'll was invited to tea one evening, and
lnder the enchantment Of the social at
musphere, he himself hesitatingly made
the proposition his hostess was so anX
ious to have him make. And IL Louise
ever thought regretfully of the pleasant
evenings she and Fred had passed alone
together, she felt more than paid for her
sacrifice when, three months after, the
lawyers wife had BOXED her In the face
and said, Mrs. MILFORD, | owe you al.
one woman can owe another. | believe that
my husbands safety is due to you And
then the two women, strangers before,
had kissed each other and had clung to
each other as sisters might have done.
The next guest at the house on Seventh
Street was little Mary Mcintyre, whom
Louise found Ii the third story Of tene-
ment house, struggling, with a persist
ance pitiful to see, to finish some heavy
sewing. The girl was recovering from q
fever, and the lassitude Of sickness WAS
still upon her. She made q pathetic pic
ture, with her pale face and languid eyes,
bending over the work her strengthless
hands could hardly hold.
Mrs. MILFORD looked at her gravely.
"My child, you are not well enough to be
at work." she said, laying her gloved
hand upon the trembling fingers.
Mary answered this remonstrance with
a wan smile. "But, you see, | must live,
ma am she said simply.
"Certaiuly and that is why you mustn't
work at present" answered Mrs Wilford.
Il want you to come home with me-" she
said. land make me . visit until you're
better"
Just what that visit meant in Mary Nc
lntyre's life, even Mrs MILFORD never
knew. The girls starved nature drank
In the beauty about her as flower drinks
in the dew and sunshine. Her soul and
body alike gathered strength In this new
atmosphere Of kindness and tranquility.
For months it had seemed to the child
hat she was too busy. or else too tired to
.'ray. But now on her knees she begged
God TO give her an opportunity Of doing
something for this new friend. Modern
cynicism to the contrary, gratitude Is q
flower that takes root ~ strongly IS ever
In the human heart, and blossoms u
beautifully, II only the right seed b.
sown.
Once, indeed, Weston was aroused
when 1t was rumored that fallen woman
who wished to escape from her evil life
had for several days been sheltered .,
Mrs. Wilford's home. People said indig
nantly that really Mrs. MILFORD carried
things to au excess, and asked whs,
would become Of the safeguards Of 20.
ciety II everyone followed her example
But before the calm caudor Of Louiss