Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-05-09
CHAPTER III.


stopped little. He wore the black broadcloth
of a rural politician. but it was scrupulously
well brushed. His face was rather long, look
ing the longer for gray chin beard and a bald
forehead. His hair, like his beard was gray
and beautifully soft. 1t curled about his face.
His blue eyes were large and mild; indeed the
whole expression of his face was that of
rather melancholy patience.
As he walked along he dragged his feet
giving slump to his Baltimore Of indecision
tnan awkwardness. He greeted Mrs Armil
warmly. and bowed with a courtesy that was
not so much rough as unframed to Miss Brain
erd.
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 little
thrill along her nerves as she glanced at the
woman who had not spoken to her own hus-
band for ten years. This woman did not look
capable of such weird obstinacy. She was
pretty. as Mrs. Armil had said but with more
delicate and refined beauty than the minister
had expected. she looks-whom does she
look like?" thought the minister Il declare il
is Mona Lisa. She has just that mysterious
| smiler'
Perhaps photograph Of Mona Lisa hanging
side by side on the wall with the Archangel
Michael suggested the comparison. She Won
ueTcu IL IL WIS Mrs NOSerS taBte tnat mad
lected them. or the quiet paper on the walls
the little dash of color in a crimson drapery for
the ugly mantle behind the stove the pretty
wicker chair in the corner, the plants in the
window. A small library she was sure belonged
to the husband. NO" she remembered. ..Mrs.
Armil said that she furnished the room to suit
him."
And after glance at the wifes toilet, a
brown alpaca gown made up with profuse
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.
Brainerd."
She now set the conversational ball in mo-
ton with ''Rev. Brainerd's been interested in
| the restitution round here"
| ''les, it's bad" said Rogers. crossing his legs
and nervously twisting his fingers, Fits 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, shave
| you heard?"
Mrs. Armil told more in detail the story that
| she had told Miss Brainerd. The interest in the
mans eyes was plain, and though yelled the
| same interest was in the woman's
"Aint you had letter from him yet?" said
Mrs Armil, with the sympathy of safe people
| for others troubles.
NO." answered Mrs. Rogers, mot vet; but
wo sent Leon to the town to see if we had a let
| ter"
Then the talk drifted into generalities inter-
| rupted by the sound of hoofs. Its Leon. ~
exclaimed Rogers. He went hastily to the
| door.
The child Of this strange couple came in. He
looked like his mother and his father delicate
| like the one, dark-haired and smiling like the
| other. His eyes turned from the man to the
woman in a cordial glance that embraced them
both.
| Eyes, got the letter" he said. Then. for
| the first time perceiving the guest, he made his
awkward schoolboy bow to the lady and sub
mitted to be kissed by Mrs. Armil.
| I'VE have a mortgage on hand, too. you see, {"
said Rogers; will you ladies excuse ne?"
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 paler. until his skin
| took the tint Of gray ashes His first action
was to hand Leon the sheet with its type-writ-
| ten copy and engraved heading.
Give it to your mother" he said. huskily
Icons eyes shone as he obeyed; he was a
child and hopeful Mrs. Rogers read the letter;
she may have had more self-control than he.
for there was no change. only q rigid settling
of the muscles. ''She ia thinking that she told
him So" reflected the minister.
'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, knowing we'd had hard
| times, but he read my name in the list of rem
resentatives that voted for the STAY law. He
doesn't consider his property safe in a state
will vote for them" He swallowed something
in his throat. 81 guess" he went on, ..there =
lots of fellows feel like he does and lots of poor
farmers will have to give up for the same
reason. II it was only me 1t wouldn't be so
bad; but" for the first time he looked at his
wife. She returned his look, a dull red creep
ing into her cheek; nor did she take her ewes
% his face while he remained in the room-.it
isn't only me. II we have made a mistake we
have ruined all the others along with u.s."
That's Jest So" said Mrs. Armil, heartily.
Rogers smiled little bitterly. Whata tragedy
the mans life had been, Miss Brainerd thought.
What a loneliness! He had in him. she decided
| In O flush OF sympathy, rarer and finer qualities
Of nature, Of affection and aspiration, than his
unforgiving wife could ever comprehend.
| II seem to have missed it all round" he
went on. Il did try, Hetty, and II had got
the farm cleared of I meant to have asked you
if-f-things couldn't be different; there was q
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
indignant pity. "Well," he said quietly, 'there
il always the prairie schooner for me TO take
to; for don't think was cut out to make lava
l can't harm anybody but myself on the prairie;
and Pearl will see you and Leon have q place
to stay: Now, guess if you ladies will excuse
back"
As he stood in the doorway his eyes turned
back at Leon. "Shall I come too pap said
the child. Miss Brainerd, at least, noticed a
answered, "No, shall come back soon. You
stay with your mother"
Still, she was looking at him. He walked out
alone. Then she rose, her lips set firmly.