The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1892-07-02
ONE SOULS GROWTH.

She leaned her round face on her
hands, looking afar off. 1t was little
more than the face Of a child, albeit
she was twenty and had been wife
for two years.
A sound of walking drew her blue
eyes in another direction. A man was
coming up the walk. 1t was her hus-
band. Did she run to meet him with
words of welcome and caress from
her dimplcd arms? o, no; he had
taught her better than that, she bit
terly thought, quickly uncurling her
dainty feet and speeding away to her
kitchen. How gracefully She ran
away! The motion was like startled
fawn's. But she was peering soberly
into the stove oven when the kitchen
doorway was darkened by the entrance
of John Hardy, her husband.
ais supper readyp" he asked.
No word of greeting further; no
word of praise for the pretty, flushed
face-nothing but careless glance at
the pan of crisp, brown mullins she
was carrying to side table.
Without glancing up she answered,
"In few moments. John"
He turned on his heel, going out to
bathe his hot face and hands. Lucille
how well the name suited the dainty,
delicate face-hastily arranged. her
tca-tablc and rang tho bell, John came
in, sat down, and silently proceeded
to eat, helping himself, not noticing
the face opposite.
"Anothcr cup of coffee"
She gave it to him, saying anxiously,
"Does everything suit yous"
"Yes. Oh, yes" he answered care
lessly. Still no word of praise. Her
face became downcast What q fool
she was to expect praise for anything
she did she wearily told herself as she
set the dining-room in order. Her
husband was at the door again: "Lu-
cille, have bed ready when l come
back. I'm going to the depot for our
new boarder."
New boarder! Oh, John, to-night?n
"Yes," and his shadow disappeared
from the doorway.
And this was her first intelligence OF
the fact that John had taken boarder
for the summer. Oh, why had he not
told her sooner? But this was Johns
way in all things-not to make con-
iidant 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 wa
ter had been brought and fresh towels
laid out she gave last weary glance
around. then descended to the Kitchen
again. OF course the stranger would
want supper
81 am so tired of it ALL" she sighed.
And yet why was she weary and tired? ?
She was the healthy young wife of n
prosperous young farmer. Either
Lucille Evans should not have married
farmer or else she should have been
educated with the idea of being a
farmers wife. She was village girl,
having had all the exaggerated ideas
of such girls of the sweets of farm life.
John Hardy had thought her extreme
ly pretty and had thought she would
become an excellent manager and cap
ital housckccper--under his tuition.
If he was satisfied she had become the
two latter in spiritless, plodding
way, unlike what the blithesome Lu-
cille had been two years ago.
Before she rad rekindled the fire the
spring wagon was heard to stop. AS
she hastily blew the pine into blaze
her husbands voice sounded:
Lucille, Mr. Bcllairs must have
supper"
"lndeed, no." And Lucille got
slowly up from her knees and turned
about. Never had she heard such a
singularly sweet voice. Mr.. Bcllairs
had taken in the situation at glance
sIha 1Vifa fba I,
would rather go to bed hungry than
add to her toll.
"My wife" John had the grace to
say.
Mr. Bellairs bowed. and Lucille
looked at him dreamily. All! here
was knight!
81 want nothing so much as bed.
! dined at and wish for nothing more
till breakfast"
"The room is quite ready" she aaid
in low, gentle voice. John took up
lamp and Mr.. Bellairs bowed good
night"
He glanced hastily about his room.
Everything was cxquisitely neat and
fragrant, but he mentally resolved
that his own strong feet and hands
should pump water and do all that was
necessary for his own comfort. Then
he gazed curiously at John. "An OK. "
he inwardly decided. But in this he
was wrong. John was like the major
ity of eastern farmers. Shrewd, sensi-
BILE, well-rcad in newspapers, progress
sive on the farm, but totally misun-
derstanding q woman's life and wo-
mans work.
81 always try to conform to the rules
of the house where ! hoard. nn un,,
DrcakIasJ IL al upearthly hour" he
laughed.
John answered seriously: "Oh, no,
we breakfast just At day."
Mr.. Bcllairs recedcd.
II had thought O'Clock early
DIT may be for you but not for us.
However, my wife will see that you
have your breakfast at any hour you
wish"
81 could not think" he was be-
ginning, but John was closing the door
on his retrcating form.
1t was O'Clock the next morning
when Mr.. Bellairs opened the dining
room door where Lucille sat shelling
peas. She glanced up quietly and he
bowed gravcly.
II am truly sorry ] am so late" he
murmured. guilty feeling that he was
not sorry bit.
"Oh, my husband told me you would
not want breakfast till s. II you will
kindly sit down ] will wait on you."
But tell me, do you not really think
am a savnge"
The pretty woman, unused to flat
terry or Difference, gazed steadily at
him
why should Ip l think it more
Christian-like to breakfast at this hour
than at daylight. If God had intended
people to begin the day before sunrise