The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1892-03-24
ut would run us right in debt
again. said Mrs. Graham.

again." said Mrs. Graham.
"Well, suppose it did. We have
swung this time easy enough and can
again. You must remember that this
land was badly run down when I first
got hold of it, but the farm is in good
condition now"
easy enough!" Mrs. Graham did
not repeat the words aloud. Her
husband did not know OF the little
sacrifices and acts of self-denial it had
cost her. He never could know it; and
therein lies the pathos OF many a
sacrifice.
The next morning Mrs. Graham was
up betimes and busy as usual
amid her household cares, but her
heart had lost it's lightness. She
could think of nothing but the great
barn-like house, painted a glaring red,
with it's large, shutterless windows,
like lidless eyes staring out upon the
dusty highway. Inside it was equally
barren Of grace or beauty; the walls
were dingy and uuadorned by pict-
ures Of any kind; the furniture was
guiltless of paint or varnish; with no
works OF literature worthy OF men
ton, besides the weekly paper, the
Bible and an almanac. In this at
mosphere she must live; here shemust
henceforth. work on, while mind and
soul starved. Here, too, she must
rear her children, to see worth and
beauty in nothing that cannot
be represented by gold. What won
der, then, if her eyes and thoughts
wandered, over the waving grain to
where a stately stone house stood on
an eminence. She knew there was
beauty there; the breezes stole into
large airy rooms, through lace curtains;
there were rich carpets and costly
furniture, and a library that was al
most an intellectual feast to look at.
Outside there were pleasant walks and
drives, and a flower garden filled with
the rarest floral treasures; and then
she sighed softly as she thought to
herself:
"But love would not have been
there, and life would nave been worth
little to me without that.'
"Jennie! Jennie! Oh, here you are,"
and Mr.. Graham came out through
the kitchen door and seated himself
upon the edge of a huge log that had
been hewn out and did duty for caves
drop and cistern.
1t was not unusual for him to seek
her; he always did when he came in
and did not find her in the house. It
was not a bad habit in the man. His
life seemed bound up in her; and
although he had the reputation
among his neighbors OF being "close"
In his business transactions, he was
kindhearted and generous, too, in his
! way. This morning he had something
OF Importance to communicate.
II didn't tell you last evening"" he
said, chat 1 had already had some
talk with Southwell about that land.
He wouldn't listen to a cent under
two thousand then, and I wouldn't
offer more than fifteen hundred. He
came over to SCENE this morning, and
offered to split the difference. Amt
that a bargain though? A little bet
ter than spending money for paint
and paper, Jennie! Oh" rising to 20,
II came near forgetting to tell YOU.
Powers is here. He wants to hire out
during harvest. [ have hands enough,
but l suppose the more help I have
the better I shall get along, so I told
him to 60 right to work. 1 don't sup
pose he has been to breakfast yet, his
folks are SO slack, so you might send
out a bit Tor him to eat. Try and
have the lunch ready at half-past g.;
you can blow the horn, and | will
send n OF the men down for it,"
Poor Jennie! It was like the last
straw that broke the camel's back.
She struggled hard, but the tears
would ONE Mr.. Graham turned
back and came instantly to her side
when he saw that she was in trouble.
"What is the matter, dear?" he
asked, compassionately, while his.
large, kind hand glided down her hair
with q soft, caressing touch, eff you
are not feeling we'll I will slip down
and gee Miranda Powers to help you.
| guess l had better anyway, hadn't
Mrs. Graham mastered her emotion
with an effort.
"Oh no." she said. "There isn't
anything the matter"
Mr.. Graham hesitated. He wasnot
satisfied with the explanation.
"Ihere," she said, "nOwdO 20 along
to your work, or I shall be foolish
enough to cry again!" and she looked
very much IS if she might.
Hiram Graham had a faint idea as
to what the matter was, and was very
willing to do as she babe him. He
felt considerably annoyed that his
wife could not see the advantage of
the proposed purchase that would so
materially add to their mutual prop
erty. And then he began to wonder
what she was thinking so silently
about while she stood looking off to-
ward the distant hill. A little jealousy
crept in with the thought. The owner
OF that fine mansion had once been a
formidable rival of his. There could
have been no reason for her choice
but the n she SO shyly confessed to
him in the soft twilight Of g. summer
evening ten years ago.
When he came in to dinner followed
by his troop OF hands, he could not
help noticing 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-sacri-
flee that characterized her, she had
buried her dead hopes and had taken
up the burden OF life again as hest; she