Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-18
LIN DRESSER'S WIFE.

about $50. II more housewives than usua
stopped Gale Truax, the handsome and accom-
modating driver, to hand him letter or to asl
him to buy a spool Of silk or package Of bird
food for them in Doremus-why, then il was II
o'clock instead of $50 when the stage drew NJ
before the door Of the Doremus post office
Ten o'clock was early enough, so that CALI
Truax did not usually have to hurry the house
wives.
Tomlin Dresser's house was ten miles from
Vine Lake on the road to Doremus The neigh
borhood in which he lived was in the lattel
town, but il was called Bsshan. 1t was in New
England, and not many miles from famous
college. though you might not have thought it
There was more need of missionaries in Bashan
than there il in some parts Of Ceylon OIL
Uruguay.
The Vine Lake stage usually reached Tomlir
Dressers about a quarter before y IL often
stopped there. This was not wholly because
there were so many passengers or packages to
be left there. but was partly because Tomlin
Dressers young wife Rose had come from Vine
Lake and had known Gale Trusx for years. az
well as many others who resided there Gale
Truax often had messages for Rose from these
various friends and acquaintance Besides,
Rose was much tied at home with the care OF
her housekeeping and Of her pretty baby, and
she had often TO send TO Dorenus for little
brought back with him when the stage returned,
about 2 in the afternoon.
1t seemed to Tomlin Dresser one April morn
ing. as he was blowing on the slope about twenty
rods back Of his house, that Gale Iruax stopped
too long TO talk with Rose.
He seems to have more nonsense to talk
TO my wife, confound him. muttersd Tomlin
Dresser, ''than he talks to all tie girls In
Ooremus."
Tomlin had been ploughing for more than
two hours. 1t occurred to him nov that he
was tired He would sit down and rest and
then he could think.
Every one must have noticed that the same
thing can happen dsy after day for months,
perhaps for wears. without attracting attention,
Till suddenly. without special reason, one begins
was the way in which Tomlin Dresser began TO
think about the Vine Lake stage stopping in
front Of his door,
A. he 50, on his plough chewing a blade Of
grass the worst thing that Tomlin ever
eheved-the sound of Roses fresh young laugh
came floating up to him.
g. that good-looking Gale TruaxP y
thought Tomlin Dresser, with unwonted pro-
family. whats he saving to my wife?'
Presently he heard Gale Truax chirrup to his
horse and Roses voice crying after him, snow,
Gale, don't you forget-two yards"
What q sweet voice il was Tomlin Dresser
had courted Rose for two years and he had
been married to her for two years more, but
the SOUND OI ucr VOICE turlucu MIN tlrOuRn
and through to this day. He was Q sluggish
man, too, square built, slow motioned, slow
spoken. He was of medium height, with
straight black hair which was not often cut.
There was only one barber in Doremus and he
was generally busy when Tomlin could get
seldom went Consequently now and usually
his hair was long in his neck and behind his
ears His young beard was soft and black
around his face, yet growing already well up
arsrex ,1<1l- Lab
straight; his eyes were black. and there was a
defect in one of them which sometimes made
him look crosseyed, though the general effect
one commonly got from looking at them was
that they were steady and level. They were
very somber-almost too intense.
Tomlin was very strong. There was prob
ably not stronger farmer than he in all the
country around Doremus village.
Il ought to be strong, he said to himself
now as he looked down on his brawny arms
and passed his left hand over the hard muscles
Of his right forearm. I'm strong. and ought
to be. I've worked like a dog, and it 8 all been
for her. First thought she never was going
to look at me. Then pitched in and earned
my horse. SO that she would sorter notice me.
Then when could see she was beginning to
think Of NE, and thinking / might maybe
amount to something sometime, 1 worked
harder yet. and earned patch o lard. Then
she said she'd have me. and / put in and got
money enough TO build my house and barn,
VI.
how I've workedi And now there's the young
one I'd work myself to death for them. and
I'll bet I'm fool for doing it The neighbors
must have noticed that COMPOUNDED fool stop
ping here so every day or two" pursued TomlIn
Dresser, in his slow, sullen way. the smolder-
ing fire within him eating deeper and deeper
into his soul. Likely not they're laughing
in their sleeves at me letting my wife lirt with
that good-looking Gale TruaX. I've kinder
seen it for weeks. now, but i amt thought
about il as I'd oughter."
The sweat poured from him as he reflected.
His head dropped. He took off his hat and
rubbed his forehead and neck hard with his
clean red handkerchief.
Suddenly a voice spoke Just beside him.
Rose had come up so softly that he had not
heard her and was standing there with the
baby-a beautiful baby-perhaps nine or ten
months old. fair and blue-eyed like its mother,
whose golden hair, smoothed carefully when
she had twisted it into a generous knot that
morning. was now in little rings and curls
all over her shining head. Her face was rosy,
her eyes laughing and sunny. She looked as
pretty and giriish and willful, as she stood
gazing into her young husbands face. in ker
her arm, as any ballroom belle that was ever
seen.
Her eyes grew clouded and anxious as she
gazed into his.
What are you sitting down for, Linz" she
asked him. You sick!
Il was-well-sorter tired like" Hammered
Tomlin Dresser.
Il saw you out Of the window and didn't
know but you'd got hurt or something Saws
1 to myself, Maybe the horse has Kicked
him.
No." returned Tomlin Dresser. shaking her
OF as she took hold of his arm with her free
hand and looked searchingly into his face.
Il m all right You'd better go in
The baby crowed at him. and stretched ont
his little arm, but his father did not respond
rs he usually did
You'd better 60 in" he repeated, as Rose
held the baby out toward him, expecting him
to take the child Tomiin only nodded to min,
and Turned away.
.''Twouldn't hurt you to hold him minute. "
limited Rose, pouting.
Il ain Z got time. Take him in. Get along "
Tomlin turned and took hold of his plough
why, Lin Dresserw cried Rose half in les,
and half in earnest Il shouldn't think Won
liked US q bit-shoul we, Dick?''
She kissed the child and pressed hin, close
Wen, goodbye. crosspatch I've got q good
mind to let your dinner burn"
She made up playful face at her husband
and walked with leisurely step toward the
house.
what ails him?'' she thought .It can't h,
money matters He said he wasn't sick What
II iE Maybe-maybe-"a and Rose remembered
with blush, Gale Truax, and what a jolly tall
they had had together at the gate Rose
father and mother had died in Vine Lake wber
she was q little girl She had never had
brothers nor sisters, but she had cousins still
living there and one Of them was going 10 be