Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-03-15

forts, and nslted what she should do
with her mite lie was a real-estate
man, and promptly invested II in a lot
In the rising town OF Duluth.
In exchange for her services US seam
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, and
this was easy 10 pay, as Margarets 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 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 1t in her
STRONG box"
IL 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
10 show herself worthy of him, she
kept in the old rut as nearly as possible
when he was at home. lie saw that
she was stronger, however, and II
lightened his labors
"My little woman does not ride or
read any more" he said one evening,
in the indulgcnt tone he used toward
her.
"Why, yes, do read. Don't you SEQ
my little library there?"
"Yes, but Il seems to me I miss
something" lie missed the litter OF
trashy novels he had been wont TO see.
81 told you | was learning to walk"
she added, with 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. think2"
81 don't care one bit have cut his
acquaintance.
The end OF the year rolled round.
Eleanor watched her husbands face
with ever-incrcasing anxiety. One
evening he sat buried in thought, from
which all her endcavors 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 hastcned 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 ut least several hundreds
TO meet her husbands creditors. lie
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 il?
Tell me what IL is that is killing you'll |
have right to know"
at is ruin, Eleanor Ihave brought
you TO poverty-you whom would
have died to make happy"
You are talking in riddles, Harry"
she exclaimed, rallying from her
alarm. Am not the happiest woman
in the world? And don't you see how
we'll and strong amp"
She coaxed the whole story from his
lips Then, with affected lightness,
she said: "Is that all? Why, you
frightened me terribly; / thought you
were ill--had caught some horrible dis.
ease or other See herel" As she spoke
she ran to her desk, took out her treas
ure and poured IL into his hands in her
inpulsive fashion.
"Eleanorl What is this?"
This? Why 1t 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 season there were caresses, and
even tears of mutual love and thankful.
ness.
my precious wiicv he fervently cx
claimed, and he claspcd her close
"What treasure have in you, II oil
the money In the world should fail
But your pianog' he said, with regret
overcoming his appreciation of her sac
riiice.
Let it 60" she said merrily. ~
could not play worth listening to-you
must acknowledge that 1t was an ex.
pensive toy--thats all"
Next day the balance Of the debt
was borrowed upon the security OF the
western deed, and Henry Woodiord
was free man once more. When the
FIVE hundred dollars jumped to thou.
sands in n sudden boom" he bought u
neat home Margaret, the valued
friend, su pplicd their table with prod
uce from the farm. Eleanor was
never quite content till larry 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. Iu
time, too, sons and daughters came,
and found a mother prepared by self
denial for the cxigencies Of life. IN. Y.
/ Obsarvar