The morning call., 1892-02-27

what she was thinking so silently about
while she stood looking of toward the dis
tant hill. A little jealousy crept in with
the thought The ewner Of that tne man
sion had once been a formidable rival OF
his. There could have been no reason iOr
her choice but the one she so shyly con-
fessed TO him in the soft twilight OF sum-
mer evening ten years ago.
When he came in to dinner, followed 0y
his troop Of hands, he could not help notlc-
ing how flushed and tired she looked; but
She was as cheerful as ever. The morning
cloud had passed. and with the sweet spirit
of Self-Sacrifce that characterized her, she
had buried her dead hopes and had taken
up the burden Of life again as best she
could.
Hiram Graham was not Ignorant Of this
sacrifice, and it touched him keeniy; the
thought of it troubled him through the
afternoon. lie even forgot to estimate what
the probable yield per acre would be as the
heavy sheaYes were showed off the rear plat
form ana lay so near together on the shoTn
ground. He could not deny that his vile
had worked as hard as he during the years
past, and the economy he had practced had
been mostly in her domain. lie began TO
wish he had treated her wishes little more
respectfully. But then he could not help
looking over to where that forty acres lay.
WHAT a choice piece Of land II was! HOW
long he had wanted il! And now, when It
%? And even were he to yield to Jennie 5
wishes now, would she not know that he
had done SO reluctantly, and against his
better Judgment? And during the alter
noon he thought the matter over and over.
Powers" he called out, as that lndi-
vidual was leaving the field at night, II Tue
folks at home can spare Miranda, let heI
come up in the morning and help my WE.
"Au right; she will be glad to come, was
the answer.
Harvest was over, and Mrs. Graham
spoke Of discharging the girl -,
you had better keep her TO help you,
advised her husband.
No" 50 "a Mrs. Graham; when there Is
none but my own family l can do the work
easy enough alone. | believe l ike 10
work, she added. smiling. AT least, l am
happieSt when l am busy"
How long has It been since you have
been home 10 your fathers on VISIT be
asked, abruptly.
Five years ago last June, when sister
Ellen was married"
How prompt was the answer. perhaps she
had counted the time.
How would YOU like to 60 out and see
the folks this fall?"
What glad light came into her face, and
then faded, as She said, hesitaungly;
"How can l go%
''Neyer mind about that You have
earned playday, and one of my trausac-
tiOns shall hinder you from taking one.
You had better take the children with you
tie folks viii want 20 see them. We VIII
so TO town tomorrow, and you can get
what things you need, and Miranda can
stay and help YOU get ready. You want to
get OF as soon as you can, for yOU viii ike
TO make good long visit while You are
about it"
He appeared anxious t. hasten her de-
the thought OF seeing the home Of her child
hood again TO notice II al the time.
" But what will you 10 without us II we
make too long a Stay9'
Don't miad about me. I can keep old
bachelors hal" he added. laughing.
Two weeks after Mrs. Graham had gone,
and Hiram Graham had the house all TO
himself
After the lapse of five weeks he went to
the station 10 meet his wife aud children.
They had enjoyed the most delightful visit,
and al! were we'll and happy, and rs they
drove h0mewGTd there was much to be told,
and many inquiries 90 be made. As they
neared the house Mrs. Graham looked sud-
denly forward. while her husband watched
her face and rubbed his hands together in
quiet glee. What was that soft lustTOus
gray cleaning out from among the green
leaves? Was she dreaming? No; il was
the house with its green shutters and pOrticO.
been dOlng| she looked again. And a
picket fence. And the most charming little
gate! Aud graveled walk" and then she
could not keen the glad tears from coming.
Come, Jennie" said Mr. Graham. teas
ingly, although his own eyes mOistened with
sympathetic happiness, don't feel SO glad
about IL. | may have worse things vet 10
show you. There, how does that suit?' be
asked, after they hal entered the bCuse.
pointing 90 the baY-WIUdow. " l didn't un-
deEtand such things, 50 / got workman
who Gld, you see, It Is all complete, ready
for the plants. And here" he said. leading
the way through the kitchen and throwing
open tae door. rs the wood-h0use, and there
is q pantry that can't be beat anywhere.
And here Is something Won didn't mention"
he continued, approaching a neat sink IN the
kitchen, and laying hold Of the handle of a
ciSteru-lump that stood IN one end, uD
gushed jet Of soft alter which told Of a
good csteTn underneath. Look through
the window and you viii see q covered drain
that carries away all tie waste water. You
see 1 didn't do anything with these things"
he said, after they had entered the sitting
room, ana ganclng dprecatiuGy a. the
dlngy-c0Jred paper the dilausdated fuTII-
tuTe and threadbare carpet. would
rather trust that to you. And, beside /
found there was so much real EN- ayment in
IT that / thought l would be generous aud
leave some OF the pleasure for yOu. Here is
the money that is left" he added, present
ing her with go0dly roll OF bills.
One pleasant day in autumn all was com
plete, and indeed. Is Alr. Graham said, il
did look like "a bit Of + len"
Il DO believe" Jennie said, turning
toward her husband, with a glad, bright
look on her face, Il do believe l am just the
heppiest woman In the wOTidW
lie drew her gently to HIN.
Jennie he SAID, what were YOU think
Ing about that morning 1 found YOU churu-
ing under the locust tree, and looking so
intently at that old building on the hill?"
Her only answer was merry laugh.
Did yau ever think so bef0T-?'
Although be asked the question hesta-
tiBglY, he looked Ws!fu.ly into her face for
an answer.
NO. you dear, simple darling. and am
sure l never snail again; and looking up
archly, Il didn't then"
Six years had passed away. and one
bright morning in spring Mr. Graham
entered the house lie had changed in
these years; the slight rouEhuess which
had characterized him previously had worn
away; there was increased dignity ard
maulinesa in his bearing. His children had
also grown TO be a constant sour q Of
parental pride and delight SO surely do
our inner natures conform u the plan Of
our outward surroundings. lie held up the
paper he had n his hand
There, said he, addressing his wife sis
the deed OF the SUuthwell forty, clear from
incumbrance. If il had not been for you"
he continued, smiling, Il should have
owned il long ago, and the W hole SouthWelI
farm. too, perhaps But | thank God that
l didn't" he added, earnestly. III had [
would have been so close over the work
rack by this time that l never would be
able to look up"