The Monitor-register., 1896-08-21
HULDAH TURNER'S MISTAKE.
BY HOPE DARING

l ~NNN"N
granary bins were piled high with grain
and the machine, it's work done, was
slowly steaming down the road.
In the large, old-fashioned house the
day had been busy one. To prepare
dinner and supper for Is men, their appe-
tites whetted BY work in the open air,
involves no small amount of work
However, it was nearly over; Mrs. Turner
and her 13-years- daughters were
finishing the dishes.
"All done, girlies, but the milk things"
the mother announced. mother hates
to ask you to do them, for she knows you
are tired. But father is sitting ON the
porch, looking so tired and discouraged"
"Oh, we'll do the milk thingen Edna
cried.
''Do you think the wheat is bad,
mother ?" Edith asked, note of deep
concern in her fresh young voice.
| Edith was smaller than her sister.
Both giIls were dark. but Edith had
soft, luminous blue eyes, like those OF
her mother Huldah Turner stood wiping
her hands at the kitchen sink. She was
a tall and strikingly handsome woman,
with warm, white skin, clear-cut
features, delicately moulded hands and
feet, and masses of chestnut hair in
which were glints of gold. She hesitated
before answering her daughters question.
At last she said gently: 81 fear it is.
But we will not mind, you know we are
all together. Oaly father has worked
very hard aud we must comfort him."
She passed out of the room. For a
few minutes the girls worked in silence.
Then Edna said, little fretfully, 'It's
too bad.''
Pm sorry" and Edith shook her dark
head soberly. "Still nothing can be very
bad while we have our dear, beautiful
mother. Edna. she is the very best
woman on the earth"
"Of course. That is the subject we
always agree on"
Meanwhile Huldah had joined her
husband, who had thrown himself down
on the upper step of the west porch
She sat down by his side and slipped her
hand silently in bis.
as the wheat rusted. Johns"
eyes"
Huldah moved her beautiful head SO
that it rested against his arm before she
asked her next question:
sis it very bad ?''
It will sell for half price. The differ
enoe on the thousand bushels will be
enough so that after all our scrimping
this year We can pay nothing but the
interest on the mortgage"
"We will be no worse off than last
year." she began, but he interrupted her.
Don't, Huldah. No worse off o
wife, have tried SO hard"
| II know, John. And we are happy in
spite of it all. While I have you and m
girlies l am content"
81 made the mistake years ago." he
said bitterly. ut was when fathers
estate was settled. l was eager to buy
out the other heirs and keep the old
place. We could have paid for the farm
by this time, Huldah, had it not been for
the cost of the buildings that were on it,.
This house cost six thousand dollars to
build and added two thirds of that sum
to the price paid for the farm"
| eve have done well," she said sooth-
iDgly. "The debt is only twenty. fl We
hundred now.'
when can We pay that with these
times? l wish l had the money the house
is insured for, three thousand dollars
Why, l could build q cosy little home fol-
half that and pay the rest on the mort
gage"
"Don't worry so much about the mort
gage" lifting his hand to her lips.
sit is on your account, DEAR" he SAID
wearily. "Huldah, when you gave your
self to me 10 years ago l expected ere
this to restore to you the Injuries yor
renounced for my sake. You, my dar
ling, with your college training, you
beauty and your talents, to spend al
these years in my kitchen doing the worl
of servantr'
John, her voice was grave,-s'il
place of the luxuries you say 1 renounceC
for you sake you have given me love
tenderness, trust. You may not hav
made money; you have made somethin.
better-character In all these years, mi
husband, | have found no flaw in YOU
perfect honor. AS to my education an,
early advantages, am better woman
consequently better wife and mother
for them. And they will enable me t.
teach our daughters. I would rather b
your wife and live in one room all m
life than to be the mistress of a mansio
: without you. Can l say more?
Something of the bitterness faded ou
of his face as he drew her to him.
Early in October came a raw mornip
with high wind. John had a few day
) before put up the stove in the sitting
room. He built fire and when called t
breakfast left the door into the dining
J room open, saying eve made a goo
, fire and it will warm this room too. w
; must have stove up here soon.'
docs your head ache % Huldah ask
S as she took her place. "Your ewes a,
| SO heavy"
|
"No, am perfectly WELL" he replied
r with mans irritation at his healt
, being made subject of comment. No
? withstanding his assertion he ate YER
little breakfast. The fragrant coffee
served with thick. yellow cream, th
, graham gems, steak, baked potatoes
l fresh grapes and doughnuts were a,
unsuocessfully pressed upon him by hi
? wife and daughters. He fingered a
the table, though, listening to Edna
, merry voice add Edith's graver one.
Suddenly a cry reused them. Befor
[ they could leave the table a neighbor ra
up on the back porch. crying, "Fire
Fire! Turner, your house is on fire u.
stairsr'
. Then followed the most terrible hour @
Huldah Turner life. For months altar
ward she used to wake from a trouble
sleep with the sound of the rushing
! surging flames in her ears.
The fire had caught from the sitting-roor
chimney and had gained too much head
way to be exiting uished. A few preciou
moments were wasted trying to do thi
, At her fathers command, Edith, cali