The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1894-03-23
man, and promptly invested it in lot

In exchange Tor her services DIS Sedu
stress. Margaret taught Eleanor the
use Of the typewriter When she mar
ried she left the instrument, for the
summer months, in Eleanor's care. a
nominal rent was agreed upon, ant
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 he1
| six feet of husband.
Eleanors energy did not stop there
She obtained pupils on the typewriter
at five dollars each. She shipped lo1
of old party dresses, crushed and out o.
style, to the costumer's. and saved the
proceeds Every time her husband
handed over her allowance Of plr
money, she put at least half of tin hel
''strong box"
1t was hard to hide all this activity
and cheerfulness from him, but she
did With her woman's enjoyment Of
a littl c 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 thai
she was stronger, however, and II
lightened his labors.
''My little woman does not ride OF
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?'
eyes, but it seems to me l miss
something" He missed the litter of
trashy novels he had been wont to see.
Il told you l was learning to walk, -
she added with smile. 81 really do
walk somewhere every day"
THAT pleases me most of ALL" he
said, in his cheering way; "but what
will DR.. Buell. think?'
81 don't care one bit. I 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 all her endeavors could not
rouse him. He 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
ii her last batch of typewriting, glow
in.s with exercise and the happiness of
contributing ut 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 Il sob.
ooh, larry, my dearest. what is it?
Tell me what it is that is killing you! l
have q II ght to know"
ct i: raj l. E,eaaor. have brought
you f. p.ve.ty-you whom 1 would
have di> Il To lna C happy!"
You ;ire talking in riddles, Harry, -
she OK, ll!mo.l, raliying from her
alarm "-Aln | not the happiest woman
in the world? And dol't you see how
well ana strong I aln?'
She coaxcd the whole story from his
.ips. Then, with affected lightness,
she said: rs that all? Why. YOU
frightened me terribly; 1 thought yor
were ill-had caught some horrible dis
ease or other See here!'' AS she spoke
she ran to her desk, took out her treas
urc and poured it into his hands in hel
ilnpulsive fashion.
Eleanor! What is this?"
This? Why it is only your wife's
selishness and laziness in another
form
Then her story had to be told Theil
combined efforts still fell short of the
required "um, but she triumphantly
produced the deed to the western land
For = season there were caresses, anC
cvcn tears Of mutual love and thankful
ness.
My precious wifc!'' he fervently ex
claim ed, and he clasped her close
What q treasure have in you. if al
the money in the world should fail
Bat your pianc!' he said, with regre
ovc"comins his ,preciation of her sac
riiics
Let it go" she said merrily. SC
conlt not play worth listening te--yor
mast acknowledge that. 1t was an ex
pansive toy-tbat's ALL
Next day the balance of the deb
was borrowed upon the security of the
western deed. and Henry Woodfort
was a free man once more. When thu
five hundred dollars jumped to thou
sands in sudden BOOM" he bought {
neat home. Margaret. the valuec
friend, supplied their table with prod
uce from the farm. Eleanor wa:
never quite content till Harry haG
looked up her two maligners ant
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
denial for the exigencies of life- IN. Y
Observer