The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1893-06-14

"Well, Sarah,' he would say. COM
ing In at evening, al spent a good
while looking for work today. Maybe
IL will be better tomorrow. Anyhow,
I am gaining time on my invention"
Ills invention! There was SO much
hope in the tonc that the wife could
not find It In her heart 10 speak the
word Of fear which possessed her.
"rm pretty sure to succeed now,"
he kept OIL. I" It's only II question OF
a little time, and then" How many
times hc had said the same thingl The
patient wife wcarily turned hor face
away. Poor Jack noticed II, and his
heart failed him. She was a heroine
in his eyes. Did ho not know how
she slaved for him aud the childrenp
Did hc not know that she lost faith In
his ability to bring success out of any
thingp And hc crept silently away
TO his dismal shop.
IL Sarah had followed him and
peered into the dingy place she would
have found her husband with his head
bowed over his rude bench, while
tears wet the tools lie had little heart
to take up.
Still, Sarah had not quite the feel
ings Jack thought she had. Don't
you know how easy it is for man to
get an idea into his head and cling to
it in spite of roason2 lie looked at
the matter fiom his standpoint, and
drew his conclusions accordingly. lie
didn't blame Sarah il she thought him
shftless and good-for-nothirg. lie
had brought little worth the bringing
into her life.
This was not all that Jack had to
trouble him. Things seem 10 90 from
bad to worse when a man is on the
downhill side of life. lIe awoke one
morning to find little Ned very III.
1he doctor was called, and new ex-
pcnscs came along fast The clouds
grew thicker OH every hand. One
after another the children were taken
i'll, aud night after night Sarah and
Jack watched with them.
But after that they had clear ideas
of each other, and as they looked into
each others eyes after the worst was
over, it was to read things in new
light. Storms shake the earth, but
they leave brighter skies.
If il could only have ended right
there! But creditors arc sometimes
pililess. They seemed so with Jack.
Ills rents were behindhand; he had
large bills at the store; the doctor
must be paid. The struggle became
more severe. The landlord made the
poor cottage several visits, each time
becoming more urgent in his demands.
1t was his property, and he had right
to its use; If Jack couldn't pay, why,
thero was the street Aud jack prom
ised faithfully to do the best he could.
And he did. Day after day he
walked the city over, but came home
cmpty-handed, to hear again the words
Of cncouraso his loving wife ever
had in store for him.
"lf anything happens to INC, Sarah, 4"
he said brokenly. "you must not let
the boys go as have. They must
learn to do more than ono thing. I've
tried to holp them to fair education.
They have u good start. Don't
let them be always tinkerin' around. "
There was bitter sarcasm and keen
self-reproach in the tone.
Anything happen to Jack! Why,
what did lie mean3 Sarah grew ner-
vous. Jack was gone now, but the
words rang in her cars. He was only
discouraged from waiting so long for
news of the last patent he had applied
for. She would win him over to n
better frame OF mind when he came
back.
Before that time came the sheriff
knocked at the door. He had instruc-
tons to cause them to vacate the prem
ises. Sarahs heart fell. Had 1t come
to this? How could she bear to leave
the old house which had been home
to them SO long? Well, Jack must be
told.
Then came another knock at the
door; the postman put long envelope
into her hand. 1t was for Jack, still
she could not help tearing 1t open.
How unsteady her hand was! 1t was
from we'll known attorney, telling
him that a Datent had been pranted