The record-union., 1895-07-06


understanding it all, and not having had
any idea Of her paying for it. But there
just was not anything to say, and pres
emily found il out and kept still, only
petting her a little now and then,
After time. while the baby was sleep
ing-Oh, 30 deathly white and calm,
though the fever was burning yet in the
dry little palms-she told me how it had
all happened SO.
1t came slowly as if she were telling it
in spite of herself.
She had not been married quite six
months when the new and only half-tried
business of her husband failed utterly
and left them dependent on her people,
and be had gone West and-drifted. In
less than year from her wedding day
the little boy had come, almost two years
ago now, and his father had never seen
him.
Finally the husband had settled, as
much as solitary man can settle in the
West, at Mojaye.
HE has been there three MONTHS"
she said, land he is so very lonely, he
has sent for me," this very tenderly, then
pause:
months before, and when he wrote this
time he said 1 should not answer. but
must come at once"
She hesitated long time and then
went on stumblingly:
He didn't send ME any money; he
couldn't, he said: but he told me |
should get it OF father and that / must
come. l think he is very lonely for me-
The reason he could not send it was that
he had good many debts TO pay, and
didn't have any settled income yet, so
borrowed the very least 1 thought 1
could possibly do with. l didn't want
them to think that Joe had failed again,
SO | said that he had sent me some mon
ey, just what he happened to have at
hand, and would send them back what l
borrowed right away. l borrowed sew
enty dollars, and L had nearly five of my
own. 1 thought that would be enough
but my home Is in Maine"
Just then the baby stirred and she took
him. The red was coming again in a
slow tide over the little neck and checks.
l awoke to the sense that the car had
grown very hot while she was talking
and the copper glare was already pouring
in on she eastern side, and dreary lassi-
tude had usurped the place OF whatever
cheerfulness had been born of the night.
The child Quleted again and she went
on:
II had to come first class to Chicago,
for father came with me to New York,
and was by me when l bought my ticket,
and did not want him to think but what
Joe had sent me plenty. He had been
gone over two years. Maybe l should
have borrowed more for the baby's sake,
but [ had expected to come second-class
all the way, and Joe seemed SO very anX-
ious."
She drew a much-fngered letter from
her pocket and scanned its crinkled pages.
1t must have been frightful night SO to
unloose her heart, but il was better for
no lnt hal har
except by listening.
whenever | read this letter." she said
presently. II feel as if L had done right
so tar as | could know. But it will al
most kill Joe to know how things have
been. Won't you read that last part and
see what you think?" she handed me the
letter eagerly.
but are you not better Judge than I
of what he meant?' [ demurred.
II don't know. You would see it from
the outside some way, as [ cannot. And
l feel as if had perhaps judged hurriedly
OF what was right, and now l am blind
TO all but my baby.'
l took the letter and read where she
pointed, and it ran:
and now, dearie, you must come at
once. This country isn't much to look at
close by, but the mountains, such as you
never saw out East, are all around US.
L u, L
have you again, dear. But now about
coming. l late terribly, sweetheart, to
speak of money matters. when you are
coming to me after so long time, but
must, and you are sensible little woman
and want me to do what is best for both
of us, l know. Now, pay attention, Ma
mie. In the first place-now don't be
disappointed-Ih have not altogether made
a home for you yet, though otherwise l
am ready; but l am anxious TO do so, and
want to save all l can towards it. Ii
send away any money now it is going to
cripple me badly, but | can't walt for you
any longer, so you must borrow the
money of your father. OF course I'll pay
as soon as l can.
"If you come at once, as I bid you to,
you will be here in three weeks. o,
Mamie, it will be good to have you with
me again-sOme one to tell my troubles
to. l can just see those big eyes of yours
getting round aud serious over my trials,
until l have to laugh myself. You'll be
a comfort, for l am having lots of trouble
just now, aud am horribly in debt, Ma
mie, and it's killing me. You see, with
you and the boy depending on me now, L
feel as If 1t was an injustice for me to be-
saddled with these debts. And then, too,
a fellow can't look the world square in
the face if he owes a lot, and for your
sake and the boys. Mamie, l must do
that. l am pinching at every corner that
| possibly can, pet, but when you are
here it will be easier.
Now, don't let anything that / have
said make you feel bad, or make you
scrimp on the journey expenses, Mamie
/ couldn't think OF that. PHI do the
scrimping myself Borrow all you like,
Pll pay it soon. Now, don't write, but
telegraph, dear, when you start. | am
working hard, hard, to pay those debts,
and L need you to kiss and rest me.
There ISM anything more to say. guess.
dear, only come Your own JOE.
''Of course, Mamie, when I say bor-
row all you like, l don't mean you to be
in any way extravaganza. JOE"
The date was within three weeks.
Truly she had come at once!
/ couid say little. I had no faith in the
writer of that letter. 1t seemed TO me
half-naudlin and wholly heartless. GER
tainly did look at il from the outside, as
she said. and yet l could see how utterly
irresistible it would be TO one like her
who loved him, lnnocently blind to the
almost deliberate cruelty of it. She knew
that it hurt and troubled her, but then
Joe was troubled, and was sufficient
explanation of that to her.
She had been watching my face as I
read, and when / had finished she spok @
at once:
Don't you see he would never have
put that last about my not borrowing
any more than l needed in if he hadn' t
really wanted me to come just as cheaply
as possibly could? Aud you, of course,
don't know how terribly Joe feels being
in debit almost kills him. He never
would have said word. but don't you
think 1t would have surprised him if
had come in the PullmanY
| oil tfat Gi,a
shadow in my face.
You did quite right You could not
know the circumstances" | replied.
She was silent for while, and then
grow suddenly attentive to the child.
he is getting all hot again." she ex-
claimed, and the desperate look of terror
renewed burned up in her eyes.
ssIr ia pattit,u rn11cb