Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-06-02
III T. AWAKENING

sic run and meet him with words Ct wei
come ana open arms? Oh, no; he haG
aueht her better than that, she bitterly
thought. quickly uncu1ling her dainty feet
and speeding away to the kitchen. How
gracefully she ran away! The motion was
| like startled fawn s. But she was peer
ing soberty into the stove oven when the
kitchen doorway was darkened by the en-
trance Of John Hardy, her husband,
lis supper ready?" he asked.
No word Of graeting further; 10 word
Of praise for TIE pretty flushed face moth.
ing but carel, s. elances at the pan of
| C'isp, brown mullins she was earring to a
side table.
Without CHANGING up she answered
| In few moments, john"
He turned OF his keel, going out to
battle hts hot face and hands. Lucille
| how well the name suited the dainty.
| delicate face-hastiIy arranged her tea
table and rang the bell. John came in.
SAT down, and siisntly proceeded to eat,
heipin: himself, not noticing the face op-
posite.
Another cup Of coffee"
She gave it to him, saying anxicusly:
: Do everything suit you?"
/ Yes. Oh, yes" he answered care.
lessly. Still no word of praise. Her face
became downcast. What fool she was
to 1pect praise for anything she did. she
YEARLY told herself as she set the dining
| room III 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, to-nigbt?"
t'G ~ - and nis Sbo5o.-
from the doorway.
And this was her frst inteIli gence Of
the fact that John had taken boarder
for the summer. Oh, why had he not
told her sooner? But this was John s wav
in all things-not to make a confdan of
her with leaden feet she went no to
the spare room" 10 array the bed in
sheets, etc. Otherwise it was ALWAYS ia
order. After fresh water bad been brought
and fresh towels laid cut she gave last
weary glance around, then descended to
kitchen again, OF course the stranger
would want supper.
Il am so tiged Of it ALL" she sighed
And yet why was she weary and tired?
she was the healthy Young wife of a
prosperous young farmer. Either Eu-
ellie Evans should not have married a far
naer or else she should have been educated
| with the idea of being a farmers wife.
She was village girl, having had 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 housekeepar-under
d tuition. 1t he was satisfied she had
become the two latter ia spiritless, pod-
ding Way, unlike what the biathesome
| Lucille bad been two years ago.
Before she had rekindied tbs fire the
spring wagon was heard to s*ep. As she
hastily blew the pine into blaze her
husband s voice sounded
Lucille, Mr.. BeiialTs must {1ave suU-
per
Indeed, no And Lucille got slowly
up from her knees and tuGz1ed about
Never had she heard such a ,singu!arIy
sweet voice. Mr.. Bellars had taken ln
the situation at glance. TIC wife was
| the servant here. He woula rather so to
| o4d hangny than add to her toil.
My wife, John had the g-ace to say.
Mr. E3eliairs bowed, saad Lucille looked
at him 3reamily. Alb! here was knight
Il want nothing SO Gaach as bed.
dined at Z and wish fer 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.
Everything was exauiaitely aeat and fra,
grant, bat he mentally resolved that his
own stronghold and hands should pump
water aad,do all that was necessary for his
own comfort. Then he eazed ,curiouel, al
John. An OK" he inwardly decided
| Bat ia this he was WONG John was
| like the majority of eastern farmers He
vas shrewd, sensible, well read in news
| papers, progressive on the farm, but
tot aiy misunderstanding a waman's life
and a woszsan' s work.
Il always try to conform to the rules of
| the house where | board. Do you break
faet at an unearthly hour?'' he laughed.
John answered seriously: son, no, we
broadcast IUst at day
! Mr.. Bellairs receded.
II had thoughts o'clock early.-''
1T may De for you, but not for US.
However, nay wife will see that you have
Your break ass at any hour you wish
Il could not think" he was begin
ning, but Joha was closing the door on
bis ratreating form.
1t was 8 clock the next morning when
Mr.. BeIlairs opened the dining room door
where Lucille sat shelling peas. She
glanced up quietly and he gravely.
81 am truely sorry | am so late," he
murmured gdiltily feeling that he was
not sorry bit.
"Oh, my husband told me you would
not want breakfast till 8. II you will
kindly sit down | will wait on you -
But tell me, do you not really Think |
am savage!"
The pretty woman, unused TO hattery or
Difference, gszed steadily at him.
Why should 1? I think it more
Christ ian-like to breakfast at this hour
rban at daylight. If God lad intended
people to begin the day before sunrise
ne would have made the sun rise earlier"
4 simple remark thld might have
made. bat her evident innocence disarmed
him. She was no woman 70 be beguiled
by petty speeches, and his plan to be
enterfeiniDg TO this guilelesss creature
came 10 naueht-for the time. She
wa.te3 quietly cp him each morning,
speaking no word unless pressed.
she is rot a fool. but she seem TO
have 40 sou' was his mental calculation"
TIE summer waDed.
Why did Lucille step lag and Why haj
her pink face lest its bloom? He was to
go away Yes, it had come to this-thht
this man with the red-brown hair and
me beautiful voice. brown eyes, Shave
manners and polished addressa1this
man had Weakened the marble Galatsa into
life!
He ~as no artist, but ne had the soul Of