Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1893-02-16
Democratic Northwest.
For the Northwest
ELECTRA.
BY PHEBE FIELD.
"Good bye, Joel"

GOOD bye, Joe!
"Good bye, ElectraW
That was all. He did not even kiss
her or wave his hand, but climbed up
into the high seat, took the long lines
i'm his brown hands and off the horses
started, the big wagon ratCling down
the hard road.
The woman stood there motto less,
shading her eyes from the glare of the
sun with one shapely hand, and watch
ing the white covered wagon until 1t
was q mere speck in the distance, then
with q low sigh she turned and went
slowly in.
1t was hot morning and she was
already tired for the first peep of day
had seen her up getting her husbands
breakfast and helping to load up the
struck wagon" for It's daily journey
through the country.
Electra had gone with him once
when they were first marrid, and how
she had enjoyed that long, bright day,
with the sun shining overhead and the
soft spring air full of the sweet fresh
ness that comes from blossoming orch
ards. What rare fun it had been to
hold the staid old horses while her
husband bargained with the farmers
wives for their eggs and butter, while
they in turn bought needles, pins,
thread, soap, and other necessaries,
with which the wagon was filled. So
many odd and curious things happen
Ell that Electra's clear laugh rang out
more than once as they logged along
the quiet country roads.
She laughed easily in those days, but
that seemed long ago, almost three
years, and there were no more rides
on the high seat, but long days spent
in the dingy little store where she sold
thread and tape aud needles, cheap
calico and cheaper muslin, on Que
side, and tea, coffee, sugar and salt on
the other, and between customers 90
out into the few little rooms behind
the store that made all she had of
home, and hurry through her house
work, keeping one eye and ear alert for
q chance customer.
She did not stop In the shop now,
but hurried out to where she heard her
baby call, mamma, mammaln
A moment more and she held the
little chubby firm in her arms, his
dimpled arms around her neck, his
soft cheek pressed close to hers.
mamma, no, no cryW lisped the
baby voice, and Electra forced back
the tears for baby's sake. Then he
must be washed and dressed and have
his breakfast, then put down to play
while she washed the breakfast dishes
that had already stood too long.
1t was sitting hot in the little kitch-
Ell, and the f!es were swarming in.
~ thought / could get screens for
you this summer, surely" Joe had said
regretfully, "but that horse dying, and
all-n
30, of course, didn't expect we
could have Them" Electra had answer
ed without word of complaint, but
there was bitter sound In her voice
that her husband heard and he turned
away with smothered sigh.
He had been brought in Thorough
and did not mind so much, but she,
though poor, had been used to little
refinements, and he knew it and had
cherished bright dreams of making
for his wife beautiful and happy life.
But some way things did not prosper
for poor Joe, and the end of each year
found his hopes no nearer fulfilment
.r.r !. '..,',. ~. hHc"'''ci,'" but he never
spoke his thoughts and plans and his
wife never complained, and the unut-
tered thoughts of both were building a
wall between two hearts that might
have helped each other.
Electra had little time for thoughts
this morning, between the dishes, the
baby, and the bread that, like Ham,
let's ghost, would not 'down," but at
last, after frequent Interruptions in
the way Of customers whose quantity
Of nnrehi.ase was in convure proportion
to The length of time consumed in buy
ing. AT last all was done, and Electra
drew a long breath as she seated her
selfin the little shop with an unfinish'
ed garment for baby In her ever busy
hands. Her glance wandered ou'
through the open door over to the
gentle slope where the woods showed
cool and dark against the blue sky
A bright winged butterfly went sailing
by, and she longed to throw down he
work and, like it, take holiday figh
to field and wood.
Her eyes and thought had barely re
turned to her work when shadov
aarkened the doorway.
Another cake of soap!" she though
rising.
But it was no applicant for soap tha
stood before her, but the tall, Sigh
figure Of a man elegantly dressed an
holding in one gloved hand the hat Ii
had just lifted from the curly hair tina
framed face almost boyish in eS
preston, and lighted up by pair 9
merry brown eyes.
..You pardon, y said a soft rich volc
that fell on Electra's ears like music
Your pardon, but was directed her
to enquire for board. 1t Is Mrs. Dur
bar, is it not?n with an enquirin
glance at the stately young woma
that stood before him.
II am Mrs. Dunbar said Electrs
simply las she came forward and offere
the stranger chair, "but lam sorry I
say that we have no Accommodations K
boarders.p Even as she spoke fait
regret stirred her heart. Itwould hav
been little taste Of life to meet tn
cultivated stranger every day even
e boarder, but her little rooms barel
snificed for the family wants.