The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1892-07-09
A REAL AWAKENING.

-nliNlh AatMaon Anitl IN bNeflhhu
A REAL AWAKENING.
She leaned her round face ON her
hands, looking afar off. It was little
more than tho face Of a child, albeit she
was twenty and had been n wife for two
gears.
A sound of walking drew her blue eyes
In another direction. a man was com
ing up the walk It was her husband.
Did she run TO meet him with words Of
waicome and a caress from her dimpled
hrmsi Oh, no; he had taught her better
than that, she bitterly thought. quickly
nncurling her dainty feet and speeding
away TO her kitchen. How gracefully
1ho ran awayl The motion was like a
startled fawns, But she was peering
soberly into the stove oven when the
kitchen doorway was darkened by the
entfanoe Of John Hardy, her husband.
"a supper readyY he asked.
No word Of greeting further; no word
% praise for the pretty, flushed face
toihing but careless glances at the pan
of crisp, brown mullins she was carrying
10 q side table.
Without glancing mp she answered,
"tn o few moments, John"
He turned on his heel, going out to
baths bis hot face and hands. Lucille
how well the name suited the dainty.
delicate face-hastily arranged her tea
table and rang the bell. John came in,
sat down and silently proceeded TO eat,
helping himself, not noticing the face
opposite.
"Another cup Of coffee"
She gave It TO him, saying anxiously,
Docs everything suit youY
"Yes. Oh, yes he answered care
lessly Shll no word of praise. Her
face became downcast What a fool
she was 10 expect praise for anything
she did, she wearily told herself as she
get the dining room in order. Her hus-
band was at the door again. Lucille,
have a bed ready when l come back.
I'm going TO the depot for our new
boafder."
New boarderl Oh, John, tonighty'
"Yes," and his shadow disappeared
from the doorway.
And this was her first intelligence of
the fact that John had taken a boarder
Tor the summer Oh, why had he not
told her sooner But this was Johns
way in all things-not 10 make q conf
dant OF her-and with leaden feet she
went up TO the spare room to array
the bed IN sheets, etc. Otherwise it was
always in order. After fresh water had
been brought and fresh towels laid out
she gave a last weary glance around,
then descended to the kitchen ngain. OF
course the stranger would want supper.
Il am so tired Of it ALL she sighed.
And yet why was she weary and tired
She was the healthy young wife of a
prosperous young farmer. Either Lu.
cille Evans should not have married a
farmer, or else she should have been ed
ucated with the idea Of being farmers
wife. She was a village girl having had
all the exaggerated ideas Of such girls OF
the sweets Of farm life. John Hardy
had thought her extremely pretty, and
had thought she would become an excel
lent manager and capital housekeepeI
under his tuition. If he was satisfied
she had become the two latter in spirit
less, plodding way, unlike what IN,
blithesome Lucille had been two year,
ago.
Before she had rekindled the fire the
spring wagon was heard tostop As she
hastily blew the pine into a blaze hei
husbands voice sounded;
Il 4
per-"
"lndeed, no And Lucille got SLOWLY
up from her knees and turned about
Never had she heard such a singularly
sweet voice Mr. Bellairs had taken il
the situation at glance. The wife wa
the servant here. He would rather e,
10 bed hungry than add 10 her toll.
my wife" John had the grace to say
Mr.. Bellaira bowed and Lucille locke,
.At him dreamily. An! here was
Knight
II want nothing so much as bed
dined at Z ard wish for nothing NOR.
TIL breakfast"
"The room Is quite ready she said il
low, gentle voice.
John took up a lamp and Mr.. Bellair
bowed good night
He glanced hastily about his room
Everything was exquisitely neat am,
fragrant, but he mentally resolved tina
his own strong feet and hands shoulD
pump water and do all that was neces
Hary for his own comfort. Then b
gazed curiously at John. IAN OK" b
inwardly decided.
But IN this he was wrong. John wa
like the majority Of eastern farmers
Hhrewd, sensible, well read In newspa
perE, progressive ON the farm, but total
" misunderstanding woman's life am
atwonan's work.
II always try 20 conform 20 the rule
Of the house where | board. DO yo
bTsakfet at an unearthly hour" n
-leRghed.
-Bohn answered seriously, "Oh, no; W
breakfast just at day"
Mr.. Bellairs receded.
Il had thought 3 o'clock carly"
ut may be for you. but not for us
However, my wife win see that 20
haye your breakfast at any hour yo
wtsh. %
81 could not think hc was begin
ming, but John was closing the door O.
his retreating form.
Il was B o'clock the next m0uiu
when. Mr., Bellairs opened the dinin
NroOm door, where Lucille was shellin
pees. She glanced mp quickly and h
bowed gravely.
Il an truly sorry / ann s0 late. n
murmured, guiluly feeling that hc wa
not sorTy bit
''Oh, my husband told mo You woul
not want breakfast tin g. IN you vii
kindly sit down / viii wait 0n You"
"bnt tell me, do you really think
am q savage
The pretty woman. unused 90 Rltirr
of difference gazed steadily at him
"Why should II ] think q more Chri.
naplike 20 breakfast at this hour tina
at daylight, II God had intended %,
pie 10 begin the day before sunrise D.
would have made the sun rise earlier.
A simple remark a child might hay
made, but her evident innocence dl
arfned him. She was uo woman 10 h
beguiled by pretty speeches. and hi
plan 10 be entertaining tq this guilele.
creature came 10 naught Tor the tim,
She waited quietly ON him each moruin.
speaking no word unless pressed
''she Is not fool, but she seems {
have no sonl, was his mental calcul.
ton.
The summer Wuned.
Why aid Lucille's step lag. and VIII
had her pink face lost its bloomf II
was to 90 away Yes, Il had come
this-that this man with red brown haI
and the beautiful voice, brown eye
suaye manners and polished address