Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1892-06-04
THE AWAKENING

IMAM Ihe race or child, albeit she WAS
twenty and had been a wife for two wears.
A sound Of walking drew her blue ewes
IN another direction. A man was coming
up the walk. 1t was her husband. Did
she run aud meet him with words of vel
come ami open arms2 Oh, no; he had
taught her better than that, she bitterly
thought, quickly uncurling her dainty feet
and speeding away to TIE kitchen. How
gracefully she ran away! The motion was
like startled fawns. But she was peer
ing sOberly into the stove oven when the
kitchen DOORWAY was daIkened by the en-
trance Of John Hardy, her husband.
us supper ready ?" he asked.
No word Of greeting further; no word
OF praise for the pretty flushed face moth
lng but careless glanoes at the pan of
crisp, brown mutiils she was earring to a
side table
Without glancinP up she answered:
''ln few moments, John"
He turned on his heel, going out to
battle his hot face and hands. Lucille
how well the name suited the dainty.
delicate faCe-hasuly arranged her tea
table and rang the bell. JOHN came in.
sat down, and silently proceeded to eat,
helping himself, not noticing The face op.
posite.
Another cup of coffee
She gave it to him, saying anxiously:
'DOrs everything suit you? p
Eyes. Oh, yes, be 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 IL order. Her husband was at the
door again: Lucille, have a bed ready
when come back I'm going to the de-
pot for our new boarder "
New boarder Oh, John, Tonight"
Yes, and his shadow disappeared
from the doorway.
And this was her first intelligence of
the fact that John had taken a boarder
for the summer. Oh, why had he not
told her sooner? But this was John 3 way
in all things-not to make a confdante Of
her-and with leaden feet she went no to
the spare room" 10 array the bed in
sheets etc Otherwise it was always in
order. After fresh water bad been brought
and fresh towels laid out she gave a last
weary glance around, then descended to
Sitcf en 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 Z?
She was the healthy young wife of a
prosperous young farmer, Either Lu-
ellie Evans should not have married far
mer or else ,hc should have been lucated
with the idea of being o farmers wife.
She wss a village gul, having bad all the
exaggerated ideas OF such girls Of the
sweets Of farm life. john Hardy had
thought her extremely pretty, and had
thought she would become an excellent
manager and capital houseke epar-under
b tuition II he was satisfied she had
become the two latter in a spiritles7, plod-
ding way, unlike what the bllthesome
Lucille bad been two Years ago.
Before she had rekindlCd the FIRE the
spring wagon was heard to step. As she
hastily blew the pine into a blazs her
husband S voice sounded:
Lucille, Mr.. Bellalrs must have sup
per-
Indeed, no. And Lucille got slowly
mp from her knees and turned about.
Never had she heard such a singuarly
sweet voice. Mr.. Bellars had taken IN
the situation at glance, The wife was
the servant here. He would rather 60 to
ped hungry than add to her toll
my wife, y John had the grace to say.
Mr. Balairs bUwed, .and Lucille looked
at him dreamily. Alb! here was a knight.
IL want nothing so much az bed.
dined at and wish for nothing more till
breakfast"
The room is quite ready" she said
in a low, gentle voice John took up a
lamp, and Mr.. Belairs bowed good
night.
He glanced hastily about his room
Every thing was exouisitely neat and fra
grant, but be mentally resolved that his
own strong feet and Lands should pump
water and do all that was necessary for his
own comfort. Then he eazad curiousl, at
John. can OK, he inwardly decided
But In this he was wrong. John was
like the majority Of eastern farmers. He
was shrewd, sensible, well read in news
papers, progressive on the farm, but
totally Misunderstanding woman 5 life
and a woman work.
Il always Try to conform to the rules Of
the house where | board. D. you break
fast at an unearthly hour?' be laughed
John answered seriously. Goa, no, we
broadcast just at day.
Mr.. Bellairs receded.
~ had thought O'Clock early. "
at may be for you, but not for rs.
However, my wife will see that you have
your break asst at any hour you wish. ~
Il could not think" he was begin
ming, but john was closing the door on
his retreating form.
II was CLOCK he aezt morning when
Mr.. Bellairs opened the dining room door
where Lucille sat sbelling peas. She
glanced up quietly and be grayely.
81 am truely sorry | am SO late, he
Eurmured pdiltily feeling that he was
not sorry bit.
"Oh, my husband told me you woald
not want breakfast till & If you viii
kindly sit down ! will wait on you
Bat tell me, do You not really tai1k !
am a savage!
The pretty woman, unused 10 fi2ttery or
dtf-reuce, Qaz d eadily at MIN.
"Why should i? | ihink it more
Christian-liEe 10 bre 4kf4st al this hour
than at daylight Ii God Rad intended
people to begin the dsy before sunrise
be would have made the -un rise earli.r. =
A simple remark q hid n ght have
made, but Der evident innocence disarmed
him she was no woman to be beguied
by PRETTY speeches. and biz plan TO be