New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-11-13

| amazement SalOmc FASTENED 70 say that her father
had some old rubber boots which they might use,
but that they were just much obliged u Mrs
| Scuddcr.
| And the visitor departed. Salomc turned 70 her
! mother. She looked inteitly In her fac" for an
instant. then she dropped to the lounge and
laughed lntil the laugh was turned into a cough.
II was very early the next morning when they
started.
Many Of us know how dcsolatr an early start
Is. Particularly is 1t in the fall or winter
Unable to sleep Mrs. Gerry rose at o'clock
She shiveringly dressed by the light Of lite
kerosene lamp, while Mr.. Gerry, by the light Of
another little lamp, making a fire In the cook
stove His face, seen dinIly, was set in the most
! gloomy expression He hurricl ont e. the barn
with the milk pail. By O'Clock the horse must
be Mrncssed. and they must start for tn station
so that IL" travellers could be in Boston in time for
the express to Ncw-York
Mr. Gerry was going 70 do his own work while
his wife and daughter gone He could mol
afford to have Il houSeIcepcr. Now, as he pitched
the hay into the Managers he felt that affairs wer"
! too bad 10 be borne. He could do his own work,
or leave it undOnc; but to stay there and worry
about Salome-he really did not know what would
| become Of him.
lie was little man with narrow face and
| dreamy looking eyes it n face that showed
at the first glance that the OF 10 would never
be forchanded," and il was face that would
win love from a strong nature, a. II had won-and
| kept-his wiies love through many trying years.
Very little was said at that morning meal. Mr..
| Gerry found it difficult to speak. lie was con
tinualy gazing at Salome. His conversation was
mostly confined 10 urging the girl u drink more
milk and to say that she'd he awful faint trav-
cling if she didn't take all the milk she could.
And Saome tried TO drn, the milk, though It
was very hard 10 swallow She was looking at her
father and meeting his eyes, then dropping her own.
lie heaped his Plate with food, took up his knife
and fork with an air of ferccous appetite. sud
denly put them down. pushed back from the
table and said he must go and harness
When the door closed behind him, Salome clsspec
her hands together with a gesture that not Ike
the gesture OF Yankee girl. She turned her face
| toward her mother.
"Oh, it's awful hard on father" she exclaimed
II makes me feel wicked
Mrs Gerry was conscientiously and persist
emily trying TO eat her breakfast that she might
keep up her strength Whatever happened. She
knew that she must be strong.
Il know It's hard him." she said, but Ito
nsbodys fault Don't feel wicked
In @ moment Mrs. Gerry rose from the table
She went into tho L. and stood an instant at tne
open door. The stars were gllttering IN clear.
Ear. unsympathetic sky. But all over the eastern
heavens there was coming the faint, blue light OF
| the morning,
The cocks were growing h, the yards IN the
neighborhood The air WIS sharp with frost
Mrs Gerry loved that cold sky. and she liked
the indescribable odor OF the FROST
Il WAS heart-brealxing to her to loave her
home.
| She glanced toward the barn. Through It's
dngy window she saw the elinrner OF q nghe
She half suppressed sob that rose TO her throat
She suddenly lifted the skr+ Of her gown
ana flung IL over her head and shoulders: then
| che ran out across the yard and entered the
barn She ran as lightly il she were no
older than her daughter Perhaps at that
moment she felt no older; and there was o
tinge Of red on her face and a glow IN her eyes
A she hurried over the barn floor which was
| Uttered with "swale.'
Mr.. Gerry had been pitching away the
horses bed His lantern was hung on peg at
the end Of the stall Instead Of giving light
the lantern seemed only to make deep and
| grotesque shadows. The whole place was full
| Of the strong odor Of hay
The man stepped out On 70 the hoor
| Why. Saome!" he exclaimed
He dropped his pitchfork and advanced
toward his wife He put one arm about her
"Oh, Lyman" SIZE whispered, IT'S 90 hard 20
60! And how lonesome you'll boz"
He did not speak Immediately. Then he said
with tremulous cheerfulneSs:
Don't you worry Saome. I don't expect
to be real gay, but Pve made up my mind TO
weather it. somehow. II only the child gets
| we'll"
Yes. yes" interrupted Mr. Gerry. tryins to
resume her usual manner. But l didn't mean
to give way so. I've got to have all my
strength feel sure" with great cheerfuncss
| that the child will be ever SO much better.
| I'll run back now. You'd better harness right
away
Mr. Gerry led ont the horse He fung the
brcast-plate and traces over the animals back
| Then he could not see. He leaned against the
old meal chest putting both hands over his face
with a feminine gesture.
The horse reached down to the floor and began
posing about for a wisp OF sweet hay, the long
leather straps dragging here and there as 1t did
40. Then II got It's forefoot OH one OF the
| traces and its head was held because the piraHt
plate had fallen to its ears
Mr. Gerry dashed his hands down. He sprang
forward and struck the horses leg lightly. He
went on Harvesting with great haste.
As lie buckcd the last strap he exclaimed
aloud
"AH there is about 1t is I've inst got to
stand t.: and I'm willing TO stand it, too.
1t was cold. early daylight when the two
women said an apparently calm goodbye TO
Mr.. Gerry on the platform Of the little station
! The cars were sweeping around the curve just
north Of them. The instant they stopped the
conductor sprang out and said
| "All aboard
The solitary trunk was swung IN the baggac"
ear Mrs Gerry and her daughter hurried mp
| the stems with the hand-satchcl and with the
large basket of lunch, which they hoped woulA
serve them until they reached Jacksonville
Mr. Gerry, on the platform, caught one more
glimpse Of them through the window OF the
car then the train had Gdcd On ineNorablN