The Republican., 1895-05-09

of daughter, but fate had decreed
that she should miss this pleasure.
She entered the kitchen. with its del
icate odor. betokening exquisite clean
illness. and was building fire for sup
per when a man entered the house. lie
appeared ten years younger than her
self, although unkempt and shabby.
His complexion was ruddy, and his
beard, of about weeks growth, was
of that peculiar bright blonde which
nearly touches red. His forehead was
broad and projected at the temples.
Some might have called him handsome,
but there was a weak expression about
the mouth. coupled with steely CLEAN
from his blue eyes, that would make the
thoughtful pause before trusting him
Supper not ready, Mary? Well!
we'll! that's too bad. | have to go to
town tonight to attend the Theosoph-
ical society. It's too bad you don't take
any interest in intellectual pursuits.
If you had, l might have had a differ
ent career; mans wife can pull him
down so if she isn't constituted to en-
courage him. All my life have been
struggling against odds. My father
never gave me start, as most IA
theirs think it is their duty to do by
a son. After graduated he positively
refused to do another thing for me.
Then I married, which is the greatest
misfortune that can cross the path of
genius. The saying that there is tide
in the affairs of all men, etc, is mis-
take. But no more of that; you do not
take as much interest in these things
as you should. Have you read that
Light on the Path gave you yester-
day?"
Mary acknowledged that she had not,
and silence reigned for some time.
Cant you make some fiapjacks for
supper? | think | would like some
with some maple sirup. With all your
drawbacks, you are a good cook, l can
say that much for you. 1t has been
the rule of my life to give credit where
credit is due, but all people are not SO
just to me-
Mary, or Mrs. Raymond as most
people called her, stopped a moment in
her hasty preparations and surveyed
HIM. She looked at him more from the
standpoint of a stranger than she had
in all the forty years of her married
life.
What are you staring at me for?"
he asked querulously. "One would
think you hadn't anything in the world
to do but put in your time star-gazing."
His countenance changed and he
added jocosely: I'm the star-see! 1
think l can work that over for my
'Lounger' column in the Times. Have
you got the butter packed for the
grocery? And be sure you weigh it.
Those Smiths are cheats and have to
be watched pretty closely. l some
times wish | was built more on the
physical plane than the intellectual,
and l could look after these matters
myself. AS it is 1 simply abhor all the
details of trade"
Another silence followed, during
vi;eh Mary carefully measured two
spoonS>.s of coffee and put them in
the cotfeepo6 with some crushed egg
shells.
Make my coffee good and strong,
Mary, you know | shall have to make
long talk tonight. 1t wearies me, but
they all depend so much upon my fill
ing in the greater part of the time,
that l cannot disappoint them. You
had better pour out my cup first, and
then weaken it down for you bit. If
you drink it strong it will probably
keep you awake, and there's no use in
your sitting up for me. A few of us
fellows will probably adjourn to the
club-room for social game and glass.
l enjoy those little convivial times. It's
about the only recreation l get from
my writing. 1t has always been my
motto that it's better to wear out than
to rust out If l hadn't always been
kept in an underling position by those
jealous of my literary talent, would