The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1892-01-29
TOO LATE.
Everett Hale.

the window, and new carpet for the
best room floor, Sighed Laura Dymond.
"A soft voiced, fragile looking little
creature, with big, troubled eyes, like a
fawn's, and long lashes that almost
touched her cheek when she looked down
ward, there was something about the deli.
cate woman that reminded one of hot.
house blossom. She should have been
tenderly nurtured and sheltered, as it
were, from the rude winds of heaven
but we do not all settle into our proper
inches in this world. In the next, heaven
grant that it may be different with some
of us.
"Flowers" echoed Hugh Dymond con-
temptously, "And a new carpet F'id-
dle-de-dee Lolly, what can you possibly
be thinking of, when we need a wing to
the barn and a new yoke of steers so
much? But women are always going off
on tangent after the ornamental"
Mrs. Dymond looked round the bare
walled room, with worn rag carpet, its
stiff backed chairs, and its pine table, and
sighed. Mr.. Dymond went on with his
occupation-that of whiting out a
wooden pin for the dooryard gate.
"Well." he said nonchalantly, "what
are you groaning about?"
IL wasn't groaning only, Hugh"
"Well."
II should so like to have some few
pretty things about me !"
"Fu-u-udge !" grumbled the husband.
AS if this was world of outside show!"
"Oh, don't mean that; but after all,
you know, we none of us have but few
years to live, and"
Now, come, come !" interrupted the
husband, don't let's have any of this
nonsense!"
II don't think you quite understand
me, Hugh, dear. What mean is"
"Yes. I do too; what you mean is,
that you'd like to sit with your hands
folded, bouquet opposite, and fine vel
vet carpet under your feet. Pity you
hadn't married rich man."
Little Laura Dymond WINGED slightly;
but she was used to these sharp words
and stinging retorts on her husbands
part. It was the diamond mated with
the rough flint-the slender stemmed
1nemone springing up beneath the
Ihadow of the rude Canada thistle She
old herself. many times day, that she
lid not mind Hugh's way-she was used
o it; but the falsehood was fresh every
ime; she did mind his rough way, and
she never could get used to some Of those
sharp, sudden words and looks.
She had been district school teacher
when Hugh Dymond married her, and
all the idea she had of the existence of
farmers wife was roses clustered round
picturesque porch, Strawberries and
cream, a cool dairy with green light
coming through the vine leaves at the
easement. and whippoorwills singing on
the edge of the woods at night! Poor
Laura! it might have been a silly delu.
sion, but it was brief one. To use Mr.,
Dymond's own emphatic expression,
there wasn't any nonsense about him.
Good pork and potatoes, and plenty of
EN-; shingled roof overhead, and fur.
niture that was good enough for his
another before him; if woman wanted
more than these she must go some
where else than to the Dymond farm
house!"
Yes, it was all very solid and sub
stantial, but Laura could no more thrive
on it than humming bird on diet of
beef tea!
81 could draw my own $50 out of the
savings bank, " said she doubtfully, "and
get fresh, pretty carpet. And oh,
Hugh, I'm so tired of the worn spots in
the striped rag carpet, and we really do
need it in the sitting room."
"Bother!" responded the unceremon-
ious husband. Keep your $50 for some
thing that's going to be really useful. A
clean board floor, and plenty of soap and
nand that was all the carpet my mother
over asked for"
Z 1t is such hard work to scrub it twice
week, Hugh!" pleaded the poor little
wife.
"Oh, if you're afraid of work, that's
all have to say" said Mr.. Dymond,
struggling his shoulders.
Unnecessary work, Hugh"
He made no answer, but Laura knew
from the set look about his lips that her
innocent appeal had been made in vain.
"The flowers would cost nothing she
went on. "NIrs. Jenkins would give me
the slips, and Lizzie Clouney has some
old pots which"
"Pshawi' broke out Hugh. "If you
want to garden, go out and weed the on,
ions and cabbages; I'm sure they need
it badly enough but as for having the
window sills cluttered up with lot OF
green trash, it's what l won't stand! Sc
"A now you've got my opinion, and hope
J YOU feel better.
And he rose to his feet and quilted
the room, taking care to shut the dool
with bang that set Laura's nerves all il
aquiver.
She sat down and cried, the poor littl
solitary creature, when he was gone. Sh'
had thought so much of the carpet anC
the flowers she had got it all planned ou
in her mind, and now Hugh forbade it
Well, there was no help for it; she mus
go back to the beaten track. Perhap
IJ,,,h xx,ao ,.iOht. nuly- And thpf