The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-03-01

| WuDOut mix.
There's nothing more in the house,"
she said. &c If we had the few nickels
with which you set 'em up we might
have some meat or butter"
He made no answer, and the meal
was partaktn of In gloomy silence.
When they went back TO the parlor Gre
| the handsome new coat lay spread out
upon a chair.
"By the way, Matte, l have O letter
for YOU" said Mr.. Houston, producing
one, and turning to take the evening
paper from his pocket. 81 saw Jones
to-day, and he said he would give me
that South American business If
would accept it,n
What did you say2" his wife az ked,
looking up with very bright eyes from
| her letter, which contained less than q
page,
you strongly objected to my leaving
home"
81 object no longer. Go, by all
MEANS" she said.
He looked at her in surprise.
"H0w will you live when am gomez"
"Much better than when you are
here" Mrs. Houston replied, drawing
herself up with an air OF dauntless in.
dependence; ~ am offered six hun.
dred year to sing in the Saint Teresa
uation at once, and go there with the
| children, so the sooner you start for
South America the better. l know
Aunt Martha will give me rooms at low
rent, and / shall be free to use her
piano."
at seems to me you are anxious TO
get rid of me-" said Herbert, much sur
prised at her unusual manner.
am. have starved with you for
the last eight years, and have endured
your polite selfisbness patiently. 1t is
time we made change. A separation
may do US both good in the end, and
teach you the duty you owe your fam
lily"
"Tut, tut, Mattel Don't get in
rage about nothing. Because you have
fifth-rate voice with tenth-rate cul.
livaiion---"
Il am glad you say that" she inter-
rupted.
"Why?"
II want the breach widened between
us, or / shall never have courage to act
as should"
Little woman, you're crazy"
"Not crazy enough TO follow your
fortunes" she retoIted.
Come, come, my dear, we have
never quarreled," turning over his
paper and scanning the columns for
foreign news. "Let US keep the peace
what little time i stay. am going the
day after tomorrow"
"Then you have accepted the offer
before consulting mel" she asked.
Um-um- Well, my dear, knew
you would not stand in the way"
"GOd speed you'll she said bitterly,
and took the children upstairs.
She put them 10 bed with all the old
formalilies of prayers and their little
hymns. Then she went softly to the
door and locked it, and knelt by her
bed. But no words of prayer came to
her liDs.
Free at lastl'' che sobbed hysteri.
cally. "Now can live quietly and
educate the children. I Enow aunt
will be kind to noe if l do my best.'
She arose in calmer frame of mind,
and smiled little derisively at her for.
mer ecstasy.
The world hasn't quite come to an
end, !" she said 10 her reflection in the
glass.
Seven years later the twins, grown to
be handsome girls, were giving their
confidence 10 friend.
We think mamma is nice, and aw.
fully good" one of them said, "and her
voice is sweet for one of her age and
/ training Shn ha1 tho aAx 90
OF European culture; still, she makes
enough 10 keep US looking decent"
" But you ought to see ! apa," the
other broke in. He is the handsomest
man in Chill. He sent US a life. size oil
portrait of himself. Mamma let's us
keep it in our roOm-we'll show it to
you some day"
And he holds some grand position
there and makes lots of money" put in
the first.
"Then l should think your mother
would rest-she looks pale and tired"
"Oh, teaching music isn't hard work
-hesid, 8, she would rather have papa
save his money until he comes home to
u.s."
When he does he will show mamma
how 10 live; We shall not go on in this
mean way"
Yes, mamma, means to do right,
but she is rather picayunisb."
No one noticed a pale face peering
in al the door; no one heard a low cry
as Matte Houston pressed her hand TO
her heart aid murmured,-
God help mel This is my rewardl"
When she died, year afierward,
broken down by toll and hope deferred,
M. Houston could no logger refuse 10
send for the twins. They went to him
and found that his Wanted position
amounted TO SO little pecuniarily that
they had hard work 10 make both ends
meet. Enlightened AS TO his true char
acter, and understanding now what
their mother had endured with pa.
thence, they regretted her at last as she
deserved 10 be regrt tied. But appre-
citation of her worth came TOO late; In
her lonely grave Martha Houston slept
well.-ETchGnge