River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1894-01-18

stress, Margaret taught Eleanor the
use of the typewriter When she mar
ried she left the instrument. for the
summer months, in Elesnor's care. A
nominal rent was agreed upon, and
this was easy to pay, as Margaret's en-
gagements were transferred to the new
operator, while Margaret herself at
tended TO chickens and cows, and her
six feet of husband.
EleauOr's energy did not stop there.
She obtained pupils on the typewriter
at five dollars each She shipped a lot
of old party dresses, crushed and out of
style, 10 the costi.mer's. and saved the
proceeds Every time her husband
handed over her allowance Of pin
money, she put at least half of it in her
strong box"
II was hard TO hide all this activity
and cheerfulness from him, but she
did. With her woman's enjoyment of
. little mystery. and her high resolve
To- show herself worthy of him, she
kept in the old rut as nearly as possible
when he was at home. He saw that
sAAG vas NNiObkEEs nOWtNtFs anu IL
ightened his. labors.
my little woman does not ride or
read any more" he said one evening,
in the indulgent tone he used toward
her.
why. yes. do read Don't you see
my little library there?'
Yes, but it seems to me / miss
something" lie missed the litter o.
trashy novels he had been wont to see.
Il told you was learning to " ak"
she added. with s-1.i.c Il really do
walk somewhere every dav."
THAT pleases me most of ALL he
said, in his cheering way; ''but what
will DIR. Buell. think?"
IL don't care one bit have cut his
acquaintance.
The end of the year rolled round
Eleanor watched her husbands face
with ever-increasing anxietv. One
evening he sat buried in thought. from
which all her endeavors could not
rouse him. lie did not feel well, he
said. All night he tossed and muttered
Calculations and figures were upper
most
He was up early. as usual, and away.
Eleanor fastened her preparations and
carefully counted her little hoard-the
earnings of months. Early in the after
noon she came home with the proceeds
of her last batch of typewriting. glow
ing with exercise and the happiness of
contributing at least several hundreds
TO meet her husbands creditors. He
was there, lying on the sofa, pale and
hopeless Forgetting all else. she flung
herself beside him with sob.
"Oh, Harry. my dearest. what is it?
Tell me what it is that is killing you. l
have a right to know"
1T is ruin, Eleanor. have brought
you to poverty-you whom 1 would
have died to make happy!'
You are talking in riddles, Harry"
she exclaimed, rallying from her
alarm. Am 1 not the happiest woman
in the world? And don't you see how
well and strong 1 amp
She coaxed the whole story from his
lips Then. with affected lightness,
frightened me terribly; thought you
were ill-had caught some horrible dis
ease or other See here" AS she spoke
she ran TO her desk, took out her treas
ure and poured it into his hands in her
impulsive fashion.
'Elearor! What IS this?''
This? Why it is only your wife's
selfishness and laziness in another
form"
Then her story had to be told Their
combined efforts still fell short of the
required sum. but she triumphantly
produced the deed 70 the western land.
For season there were caresses. and
even tears OF mutual love ana thankful
ness.
M Y precious wife,' he fervently ex-
claimed. and he clasped her close.
What a treasure l have in you. if all
the money in the world should fail!
But your piano!" he said. with regret
his appreciation of her sac
rifice.
Let it 60" she said merrily. 81
could not play worth listening to-you
must acknowledge that 1t was an ex-
pensive toy-that's all"
Next day the balance of the debt
was borrowed upon the security of the
western deed. and Henry WoOdford
was free man once more. When the
five hundred dollars jumped to thou
sands in a sudden boom" he bought
meat home Margaret. the valued
friend, su pplied their table with prod
nee from the farm. Eleanor was
never quite content till Harry had
looked up her two maligners and
brought them to the home where she
presided. and which her painfully
awakened energy had helped to ouy.
In time she told her secret, and thanked
them for that ten minutes gossip. In
time, too, sons and daughters came,
and found a mother prepared by self
denial for the exigencies of life-N. Y.
Observer