Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1895-01-21
'They will fit exactlv," said Ide.


! board. Then she sang them to SLEEP
in the long disused trundle-bed. They
were not particularly pretty children,
| they had never been we'll enough fed
and cared for for that; but Ide hung
| over the trundlebed and feasted her
hungry eyes. An empty place in her
heart seemed to be filled Mt last.
The poor little peaked-faced things
She would take such good care OF
them; she could keep them so much
cleaner and warmer than even their
own mother had kept them. She was
almost glad the poor woman had died.
81 will keep them for my own-my
very own ~ she whispered exultingly.
Night came on, but Ide was alb
sorbed in her day dreams, and failed
to notice the gathering darkness and
the bowling wind. Ringing footsteps
along the path reused her at last. She
hurried out into the kitchen, shutting
the bedroom door carefully.
Steve was coming Steve-what
would he say? The man let in great
gust of wind and rain as he entered.
The long drought was ended at last.
"What a night-what night !" said
Steve, in his loud, CHEEKY tones; and
Ide's hands shook as she lighted the
lamp, for fear he would waken the
children.
He was big fellow, tall and broad
and well knit, with suggestion of
strength in every line of his sinewy
body. His good-natured face was
half covered by bushy black beard:
and his crisp, black hair curled from
the very strength of it.
But this strong man had been par
tally shorn of his strength. The right
sleeve Of his blue cotton blouse was
pinned across his chest, limp and
empty. An accident on a sawmill three
years before had robbed Steve Bow
man of his strong right arm, and since
then things had not been going so well
in the little weather-beaten house on
the hill.
'Im wet to the skin, he said "The
fire is out Why, Ide, woman, what
are you doing without fire such a
night? There is plenty of wood. No
wonder you're sick if you sit in the
cold.
Ide commenced to put wood in the
stove with nervous haste. SIN a min
ute, Steve; I'll have fire in just min
ute, she said.
"And supper isn't ready. How does
it come you haven't supper ready?"
81 forgot it, stammered Ide.
! Steve did not say anything, but he
pushed away and proceeded to kindle
the fire himself. He was hungry and
cold; he had worked all day with moth
ing to eat but a couple of apples and a
piece of hard bread for dinner.
Ide spread the cloth and put plate
and knife and fork on the table then
she stood still and wrung her hands in
silent dIsmay. She had nothing to
give him; she had fed everything to
the children. He worked SO hard he
was SO good to her, and she took the
bread from his mouth to throw it to
strangers.
"Just some of the bread and pota-
toes left from breakfast, Ide. What
ever you can get quickest, said Steve,
drawing up his chair to the table.
Two red spots burned on Ide's thin
cheeks. The little boy had eaten the
last of the bread-the very last NOR
sci, fand she had smiled to see him de-
YOUR it so greedily.
''There's some boiled potatoes, that
is all, ," she said. 'I'll warm them up
for you. You like potatoes so, Steve :"
"Is that all there is to eat in the
house,"
Potatoes--that's ALL" said Ide,
family
"Well, let me have them. That
way-it doesn't matter if they are
cold. | could eat them raw. That's
the advantage of going hungry n
while. 1t cures one of squeamishness.
l never thought we would get down
this low; did you, Ide?" Steve said,
with pitiful attempt at a smile, as he
finished the potatoes.
He sat down with his back to the
stove, and leaned his head on his one
hand. Ide looked at his broad, steam
ing shoulders in dull wretchedness
she could not find courage to tell him
what she had done. Perhaps ne would
be angry. No one could blame him
even if he were to beat her. Other
men sometimes beat their wives fo1
much less. He had so much to bear,
and she had added another burden.
Two more hungry mouths to fill, when
they could not get enough for them.
selves.
care you hungry too, Ide?" Steve
asked, turning suddenly to look at her.
lde shook her head; she could not
speak. The man laid his head on the
back of the chair and groaned aloud.
II tell you it's hard It's too hard
when things go against man this
way" he said, between shut teeth.
"But / won't knock under SO easy
There's fight in me yet, if am lop
sided.
'FYou got the Job on the mill, didn't
you?" Ide asked, huskily. 1t meant
so much, tnat job on the mill.
ono they gave the place to Jake
Mortz Plunkins said he did moi
think o cripple would do. 1t was his
4 '