Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-02-13

who had not spoken to her own hus- band for ten years. This woman did not look capable of such weird obsti- macy; she was pretty, as Mrs. Armil had said, but with more delicate and refined beauty than the minister had expected. tShe 1ooks-whom does she look Hke?" thought the. minister; 'I declare it is Mona Lisa. She has just that mysterious smile."
 Perhaps photograph of Mona Lisa hanging side by side on the wall with the Archangel Michael suggested the comparison. She wondered if it was Mrs. Rogers. taste that had selected them, or the quiet paper on the walls, the little dash of color in a crimson ,, drapery for the ugly mantle behind the stove, the pretty wicker chair in the corner, the plants in the window. A small library, she was sure, belonged to the husband. 'tNo," she remem- bered, "Mrs. Armn said that she fur nished the room to suit hina."
 And after 8 glance at the wife's toi- let, brown alpaca gown made up with profuse draperies and trimmings of red velvet, she gave MT. Rogers credit for any evidence of taste.
 Meanwhile, Mrs. Armil, who wished to do honor to her guest, had intro duced her like the columns of coun- try paper as. ''Rev. Brainerd." She now set the conversational ball in motion with: "Rev. Brainerd's been interested in the destitution round here"
 "Yes, it's bad," said Rogers, cross ing his legs and nervously twisting his fingers, tits bad, but we could get along if we could get more time on our mortgage"
 Are ~the farms about here mort gaged?"
 "Yes, ma'am. You may say all about here are. Pearl" addressing Mrs. Armil, ''have you heard2'
 Mrs. Armi1 told more in detail the story that she had told Miss Brainerd. The interest in the mans eyes was plain, and though yelled the same in terest was in the woman's. "'Ain't you had letter from him yet?" said Mrs. Arnil, with the sympa- thy of safe people for others troubles.
 ''No," answered Mrs. Rogers, mot yet; but we sent Leon to the town to see if we had letter."'
 Then the talk drifted into general ities interrupted by the sound of hoofs. Its Leon," exclaimed Rogers. He went hastily to the door.
 The child of this strange couple came in. He looked like his mother and his father, delicate like the one. dark-haired and smiling like the other. His eyes turned from the man to the woman in . cordial glance that embraced them both.
 "Yes, l. got the letter." he said. Then, for the first time perceiving the guest, he made his awkward schooIboy bow to the lady and submitted to be kissed by Mrs. Armil.
 "We have 8 mortgage on hand, too, you see," said Rogers; twill you ladies excuse me?" Here he tore open the let ter with fingers plainly a tremble. There was no attempt at disguise; every woman in the room stared at him. For him, his jaw fell; he grew paler, until his skin took the tint of gray ashes. His first action was to hand Leon the sheet with it's types written copy and engraved heading. "Give it to your mother" he said,l huskily.
 Leon's eyes shone as he obeyed; he was child and hopeful Mrs Rogers read the letter; she may have had more self-control than he, for there was no change, only a rigid settling of the muscles. ''She is thinking that she told him so," reflected the minister. 'Ma," Leon's voice broke the silence, wont you tell me?"
 ''There ain't no reason why they shouldn't all hear it." said the man. "He says that he was expecting to ex- ! 1,oI but he read my name in the list of representatives that voted for the stay law He doesn't consider his property safe in state where they pass such l laws, or with man that will vote for them" He swallowed something in his throat. "I guess" he went on, there's lots of fellows feel like he does, and lots of poor farmers will have to give up for the same reason. If it was only me, it wouldn't be so bad; but" for the first time he looked at his wife, She returned his look, a dull red creeping into her cheek; nor did she take her eyes off his face while he | remaineds in the room-s.it isn't only \ me- If we have made mistake we have ruined all the others along with | us."
 That's. jest SOL said Mrs. Armil, heartily. Rogers smiled 8 little bitter ly. What tragedy the mans life had been, Miss Brainerd thought. What . lonelinessI He had in him, she decided in flush of sympathy, rarer and finer | qualities of nature, of affection and as piration, than his unforgiving wife could ever comprehend.
 Fl seem to have missed it all round, '" he went on. 't1 did try, Hetty, and if I had got the farm cleared of meant to have asked you if--if-things couldn't be different; thera was-a school we wanted to send Leon" he did not know how to anish the sentence, ep- parentlyi bat tho muts entrsatT Of tha