Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1897-05-28

'ne "dtcn. JOIN cOrDes n00 come back
grayer and older than he had gone
away, but he was richer and even
more able to afford a wife.
Time had not gone very well with
Jean. She was thin and small always,
and she had had hard life Of work.
Her sparse drab hair was beginning to
be sprinkled with gray. She looked
older than she really was. The vii
lage came to the conclusion that John
Forbes would 60 by nor and seek Il
younger and BONNER woman. Tie two
most concerned gave no cause for sos-
sip.
John Forbes would sometimes stop
as he was passing the little cottage and
say few words. There was never
any allusion to past vines between
them. They called each other Mr..
Forbes and Miss Lawrence studiously.
That was the only clew either of Them
had that there was a mutual past be-
tween them.
On the Sundays that Jean went to
church her thoughts were always divid-
ed between the BARN at home and the
psalms. TO her great discontinue
John Forbes would sometimes overtake
her. They talked Of the sermon, then
of the crops and the weather. By de-
grees these subjects gained an easy
familiarity, and only varied with the
seasons.
No one was more surprised than Jean
when John Forbes asked her TO marry
him. She stared at him in enotionless
calm.
"Ye must gle me time" she said.
John Forbes agreed to this quite pla-
cidly. 1t was hard to understand what
he saw in his first love in her faded
and aged old maidism. Possibly a ten
acity Of affection and the same instinct
of faithfulness that brought him back
to the little village-the little village
with no pretensions to beauty or pic
turesQueness-kept him true to Jean.
One was the home, the cthel the wom-
an he had loved. He saw no reason to
change because he had seen many fair
err homes and younger, prettier women.
Jean did not analyze her sentiments.
| 1t was not her way. Besides, love new
err entered her head as far as it concern
ed John Forbes. She merely reviewed
Thrift. The rumor that a new and
more modern dressmaker was going to
set up finally settled it, and she said
to John YES"
The day was fixed for the second time
in their lives. Jean had given up her
house. She was waiting with tranquil
ity for this new step i'll her life. She
had quite come to the conclusion that
she could not do better for Thrift.
One evening John Forbes arrived.
Thrift lay contentedly on the hearth
rug looking at him. The last time John
had been at the cottage Thrift had been
in one of his passionate fits. This had
set him bordering.
After this there had been several
well-meant efforts at kindness on the
part of his friends. They happened to
coincide with his own views. They ad-
vised him to send Thrift away. Jean
they said, would neglect every one and
everything for the boy. She would
wear herself out for Thrift. but not
bother with anything that did not con.
Germ him.
How far he believed this. or how fal
a mans dislike to scenes or natural
desire to have his wifes affection cen
tered in himself had to do with his
resolve, he could not have told He be
stirred himself, and with infinite trou
bic and by some outlay he secured M
admission for the child to q deaf anl
dumb institution.
1t was this fact he had come to tel
Jean. He rather wished Thrift woult
help him to lead up to 1t by scene
Thrift gave him no help. He lay smil
ing impenetrably.
Jean was not quick at reading signs
"Jean." he said at last, helplessly
"we'll be merritt Tuesday"
cay" Gssented Jean, cheerfully.
Her eyes fell naturally on Thrift, ant
she smiled at the boy.
"And Thrift" he added. with sus
piciously clear note of Interrogation il
his voice.
LAY, Thrift" she repeated.
Then finding this even did not prog
ress matters, he said desperately, will
a snatch Of humOr:
"Ye ken I'm no merging Thrift"
The old clock licked through tn
room. The peats splutterea on the low
hearth. in front Of which on curiousl,
woven rug Thrift lay.
There was absolute silence for a bit
, Then Jeans voice broke 1t.
Then. John Forbes, ye're no marry
ing me-"
! Again there was silence. John sal
. in quiet voice:
II haze made a the arrangements 70
him, Jean. He will gang 70 a schul
ia they'll teach him to read and writ
and understand talk of kind"
, will they teach him to talk like 1.-THE
. fowk?"
Her tone was expressiOnless.
r mo. they Gamma dae that"
..Then why should the BARN be boil