Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-06-16
A REAL AWAKENING.

OhO ACohON hCI iOuuu IdCo Ou u6T
hands, looking afar off. 1t was little
more than the face of child, albeit she
was twenty and had been wife for two
years.
A sound of walking drew her blue eyes
in another direction. A man was com
ing up the walk. 1t was her husband.
Did she run to meet him with words of
welcome and caress from her dimpled
arms? Oh, no; he had taught her better
than that, she bitterly thought, quickly
uncurling her dainty feet and speeding
away to her kitchen. How gracefully
she ran awayl The motion was like a
startled fawn's. But she was peering
soberly into the stove oven when the
kitchen doorway was darkened by the
entrance of John Hardy, her husband.
"Is supper readyp he asked.
No word of greeting further; no word
of praise for the pretty, flushed face
nothing but careless glances at the pan
of crisp, brown mullins she was carrying
to a side table.
Without glancing up she answered,
SIN few moments, john"
He turned ON his heel, going out to
bathe his hot face and hands. Lucille
how well the name suited the daintv,
delicate face--hastily arranged her tea
table and rang the bell. John came in,
sat down and silently proceeded to eat
helping himself, not noticing the face
opposite.
Another cup of coffee"
She gave it to him, saying anxiously,
"Does everything suit you?"
"Yes. Oh, yes" he answered care
lessly. Still no word of praise. Her
face became downcast. What fool
she was to expect praise for anything
she did, she wearily told herself as she
set the dining room in order. Her hus-
band was at the door again. Lucille,
have a bed ready when l come back.
I'm going to the depot for our new
boarder."
New boarderI 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 Johns
way in all things-not to make a conf
dant of her-and with leaden feet she
went up to the 'spare room" to array
the bed in sheets, etc. Otherwise it was
always in order. After fresh water had
been brought and fresh towels laid out,
she gave a last weary glance around,
then descended to the kitchen again. OF
course the stranger would want supper.
II am so tired 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 Lu.
cille Evans should not have married a
farmer, or else she should have been ed
ucated with the idea of being farmer S
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 anexcel-
lent manager and capital housekeeper
under his tuition. If he was satisfied,
she had becomethe two latter in spirit.
less, plodding way, unlike what the
blithesome Lucille had been two years
ago.
Before she had rekindled the fire the
spring wagon was heard to stop. As she
hastily blew the pine into blaze he1
husbands voice sounded:
Lucille, Mr.. lBellairs must have sup.
per-"
"Indeed, no" And Lucille got slowly
mp from her knees and turned about.
Never had she heard such singularly
sweet voice. Mr.. Bellairs had taken in
the situation at a glance. The wifewas
the servant here. He would rather go
to bed hungry than add to her toll.
"My wife," John had the grace to say.
Mr.. Bellairs bowed and Lucille looked
at him dreamily. All! here was a
knight!
81 want nothing so much as bed.
dined at Z ard wish for nothing mere
till breakfast"
1.-The room is quite ready" she said in
low, gentle voice.
John took up lamp and Mr.. Bellairs
bowed good night.
He glanced hastily about his room.
Everything was exquisitely neat and
fragrant, but he mentally resolved that
his own strong feet and hands should
pump water and do all that was neces.
sary for his own comfort. Then he
gazed curiously at john. San OK, he
inwardly decided
But i'm this he was wrong. John was
like the majority of eastern farmers
shrewd, sensible, well read in newspa.
pers, progressive on the farm, but total
ly misunderstanding woman's life and
a woman's work.
81 always try to conform to the rules
of the house where l board. Do you
breakfast at an unearthly hour?" he
laughed.
John answered seriously, "Oh, no; we
breakfast just at day."
Mr.. Bellairs receded.
II had thought o'clock early"
"It may be for you, but not for us.
However, my wife will see that you
have your breakfast at any hour you
wish"
81 could not think he was begin.
ming, but John was closing the door on
his retreating form.
1t was = o'clock the next morning
when Mr.. Bellairs opened the dining
room door, where Lucille was shelling