Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1895-04-04

| nun OF inc women y! DOtn, pcrnuDBi
yet, think, chiefly the womens. Feeble,
useless, half.educated; taught to believe
that Ignorance Is amusing, and helpless
ness attractive; no wonder the other sex
shrlnks from taking upon itself not a
help but burden-charming enough be-
fore marriage, but after? The very man
who at first exulted in his beautiful Orna-
mental wife, will, by and by, be the first
to turn round and scOrn her.
No man could ever scorn Silence Jar
dine. In spite Of her sacred feebleness,
she resumed at once the business Of life
harder than anybody knows who has not
tried the experiment Of making sx-pence
do the work of shilling. And she did 1t
cheerfully, and without any outward sign.
Brain never idle feet never still, or, II
compelled to Stiffness hands always busy
at something or another; full Of endless
care and thought for others, most of all
| for Roderick, who never thought of him
self or his own pleasures at all even In
her room, or on her sofa, Mrs. Jardinc
| managed to be the very soul of the house,
planning everything, arranging every
thing, and, it often seemed, doing every
thing.
1t was Il solitary life she led, for her
husband took to going down to the mill
every day, and all day long; 1t amused"
him, he said and indeed he always came
home looking so busy and cheerful that
she was glad Of the change for him. But
IL was life of perfect ease. And then, it
was full of day-dreams.
care you not dull sometimesY" said
Roderick one day, when he came in a lit
tie earlier than usual, and found her sit
ting sewing by the finding October light,
but with such placid smile on her lips,
such bliss in her eyes.
Dull? How could be? l was only
thinking"
81 have been thinkink too; only would
not tell you till was quite sure of my
self" said he, as he sat down beside her.
SILENCE, do really believe your husband
is not such goose as he seems. Black
says SO; and Black, though an oddity, is
by no means bad fellow"
Silence smiled. She had oftentimes bat
tied against her husbands dislike to the
honest man, whose roughness rubbed
him up the wrong way" rs he said even
worse than Mrs. Maclagan. Now under
the rough rind he had discovered the
pleasant kernel. Things had evidently
righted themselves.
"Ie objected strongly TO me at first be-
cause l was gentleman, which was as
great deusion in his way as my setting
him down a bOor because he wore u rough
coat, and had manners TO match. Now,
we both understand one another better
have been working with him at the mill
for fourteen days, and what do you think
is the result
He spoke with II buoyancy of tone and
manner such as Silence had not seen in
him for weeks.
Something is going to haDpen-that is,
If my wife does not object, which, being
u very sensible woman, don't think she
will | am actually going to earn my
daily bread"
She turned round-her lips quivering
"Now, don't begin to cry about it, Mrs.
Jardine, my dear; it isn't breaking stones
upon the road, or anything very dread
full; and the bread | shall earn will not be
too luxurious-Only two pounds n week
one hundred pounds Il year, which is my
precise value just at present Flattering?
but it is something | am rather proud |
of my position as breadwinner-I, that !
never earned Il half-penny in all my
days"
lie spoke Il little fast, and with a
flushed check She put her hand upon his
and held it, with soft, firm hold.
"Tell me ALL"
"There is not much to tell. You know
how fond | always was of machinery
indeed, once | begged to be made an en-
gineer but my-they at home che never
named his mother now thought the pro-
fesson was not 'genteel enough and it
is too late now, Black says. But he also
says, as mill-owner l might find my
turn for mechanics extremely useful. |
could watch, examine, perhaps even in
vent; indeed, during these two weeks !
have made suggestion or two which he
is pleased to consider admirable NV.
Jardine he said to me this morning, if
you were but Il capitalist and could start
mill, or a wOrkingman, who required to
earn your bread as Overseer or foreman
you'd do And | startled him by telling
him | was a workingman, and | did re-
quirc to earn my bread; and if he thought
| deserved foreman's wages, | would take
them gratefully, and Why Silence, my
darling! Not CryingE
But she was, though she dried her tears
ut once. oh ROderick! and this Is done
for mel!
''For you and-it," he whispered, and
then there was long pause of spcechless
peace.
IL don't wish to make myself out a
martyr not the least in the world" said
Rodcrick at last. 81 like my work. like
all work, indeed, but this especially. And
Black is by no means II bad fellow to
work with when you only know him.
There is that grent difference in our ages
which prevents jNrring and then, he has
such u veneration for the family
Eyes, that is it, But there, too, lies the
difficulty. To be foreman at a cotton
mill. You, a gentleman and Jardine!
Have you consideredT
1T is because | am a gentleman and a
Jnrdine that l do not need to consider"
he answered, with that slight air of
hauteur which, whether it was right or
wrong, his wife loved, could not help low
ing, for it was bit of himself mo,
dear; in my worst, that is, my idlest days,
never was so foolish us to think there
was any disgrace in work. any dignity in
idleness; and now, when | have to earn