The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1894-02-01
lassitude passed away under vigorous
rubbing and brisk walks.

the country Rlrl'S OutuJ was ue1tty con-
cocted. Eleanor could sew neatly and
rapidly. When all was ready the snug
sum of two hundred dollars lay in her
writing desk Her grand piano, too
large for the new quarters was re-
moved from the storage room to
dealers and was sold for three hundred
dollars more. She wrote to an uncle in
Kansas City. told him of her little ef-
forts, and asked what she should do
with her mite He was real-estate
man. and promptly invested it in a lot
in the rising town of Duluth.
In exchange for her services as seam
stress, Margaret taught Eleanor the
use of the typewriter When she mar
ried she left the instrument, for the
summer months, in Eleanors 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.
Eleanor'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, to the costumer'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"
1t was hard to hide all this activity
and cheerfulness from him, but she
did. With her woman's enjoyment of
little mys terry, 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
she was stronger, however, and it
lightened 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" He missed the litter of
trashy novels he had been wont to see.
II told you l was learning to walk"
she added, with a smile. Il really do
walk somewhere every day.
That pleases me most of ALL" he
said, in his cheering way; but what
will DR.. Buell. think?"
Il don't care one bit. l have cut his
acquaintance"
The end of the year rolled round
Eleanor watched her husbands face
with ever-increasing anxiety. One
evening he sat buried in thought, from
which al her endeavor5 could not
rouse him. He did not feel WELL he
Soil fin h, nd
Calculations and figures were upper
most.
He was up early, as usual, and away.
Eleanor hastened her preparations and
carefully counted her little hoard
earnings Of moaths. 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 a sob.
''Oh, Harry my dearest, what is it?
Tell me what it is that is killing you! l
have right to know"
''It is ruin, Eleanor. have brought
you to poverty-you whom | would
have died TO make happy"
You are talking in riddles, Harry"
she exclaimed, rallying from her
alarm. "Arh | not the happiest woman
in the world? And don't you see how
well and strong amp
She coaHed the whole story from his
lips Then, with affected lightness
she said: is that all? Why, you
frightened me terribly; l 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 ard poured it into his hands in her
impulsive fashion.
Eleanor. 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 to the western land
For a season there were caresses, and
even tears of mutual love and thankful
ness.
MY precious wife, he fervently ex-
claimed, and he clasped her close.
w ildt lTfdSufc nave IN you, II all
the money in the world should fail!
But your piano!' he said, with regret
overcoming his appreciate of her sac
rifice
Let it GO" she said me1rily. 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 secdrity of the
western deed, and Henry Woodford
was free man once more. When the
five hundred dollars jumped to thou
sands in sudden BOOM" he bought
neat home. Margaret, the valued
friend, su pplied their table with prod
uce 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 buy
In time she told her secret, and thanked
them for that ten minutes gossip. In
time, too, sons and daughters came,
and found mother prepared by self