Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1892-05-21
ONE SOULS GROWTH.

She leaned her round face on her
hands, looking afar off 1t was little
more than the face of child, albeit
she was twenty and had been a 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 a caress from
her dimpled 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
as supper readyP" he asked.
No word of greeting further; no
word Of praise for the pretty, flushed
nothing but careless glance at
the pan of crisp, brown mullins she
was carrying to a side table.
Without glancing up she answered,
"In a 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
tea-tabe 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 anyiously,
Does everything suit your
Yes. Oh, yes" he answered care
lessly. Still no word of praise. Her
face became downcast. What a fool
she was to expect praise for anything
she did she YEARLY told herself as she
set the dining-room in order. Her
husband was at the door again: "Lu-
ellie, have bed ready when come
back I'm going to the depot for our
new boarder."
New boarderl Oh, John, tonight"
Yes. and his shadow disappeared
from the doorway.
And this was her fiji intelligence of
the fact that John had taken a boarder
for the summer. Oh. why had he not
told her sooner2 But ibis was Johns
way in all things not to make a con-
idant 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 a last weary glance
around, then descended 30 the kitchen
again. OF course the stranger would
want supper.
II am so tired of it all" she sighed
And yet why was she weary and tiredp
She was the healthy young wife Of a
prosperous young farmer. Either
Lucille Evans should not have married
a farmer or else she should have been
educated with the idea of being
farmers wife. She was a village girl,
having had all tne 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 housekeeper-u under his tuition.
If he was satisfied she had become the
two latter in spiritless, plodding
way, unlike what the blithesome Luz
ellie had been two years ago.
Before she had rekindled the fire the
spring wagon was heard to stop. As
she hastily blew the pine into blaze
her husbands voice sounded:
Lucille, Mr.. Bellairs must have
supper"
Indeed. 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 in the situation al a glance.
The wife was the servant here. He
would rather go to bed hungry than
add 70 her toll
my wife, John had the grace to
say.
Mr.. BelIairs bowed, and Lucille
looked at him dreamily. All! here
vas a knight,
Il want nothing 50 much as a bed.
aiaed at and wish for nothing more
I'LL. breakfast
The room is quite ready" she said
ln low, gentle voice. John took up
a lamp and Mr.. Bellairs bowed good
night"
TIE glanced hastily about his room.
Everything was exquisitely neat and
fragrant, but he mentally resolved
l.lal his own strong feet and hands
hA3ald pump water and do all that was
necessary for his own comfort. Then
ae gazed curioasly at John. aAn OK,
Ae ia"ardiy decided. Bat In this he
was wrong John was like the MAJOR
HAY q eastern farmers. shrewd sensi-
2.e, "ell-read IN newspapers, progress
s'te RI the farm, 5ut totally misun-
gsfs5aniing woman's life and wo-
nan IS work
! always try - conform to tie rules
q the house where board DO ros