The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-11-25

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they are cheaper than horses and don't
lose the trail as easily, but sometimes
they will get stuck and then-well then
you might have had to get out and
unload the children an as many grain
sacks as would make that wagon light
enough for those stupid oxen to think
that they could bulge it. And then
you could load UP again little further
on. An if the road was very bad, you
might have done that once, twice, may
be three or four times on trip. An
then your good-looking husband might
have grumbled if you had not brought
the money home and let him have the
honor of paying the interest at the
bank himself.
AN then when the loose wood in
the Pine barrens was all gathered up
you might have had to rent the farm
ard move into town. There the In
terest would eat up the rent and you
would have to sew as hard as you
could to dress and feed the children
and buy your husbands tobacco, while
everybody thought that you sewed
just for little pin money. AM
The saving in the lean-to was broken
again by the sharp cough. Mary Lees
face twitched as if the CONFUSION hurt
her. She went on in lower voice in
to historical sob, AN your good
locking husband might have sent your
kalf-sick boy out into the cold to saw
the wood which he should have sawed
while he smoked and slept behind the
stove. And yet you might have
thought it was best to keep your
mouth shut and go on trying to keep
your children from taking after their
own father"
There are lots Of people in the
world, Nellie Hyland that have learn
ed more than you have ever dreamed
of farming about keeping their mouths
shut. Don't you ask Jack any fool
questions. Go home an pray for him if
you want to. an cook him a good
Thanksgiving dinner. It'll be the best
way to keep in his mind the duties
he owes you an his family. which L
don't think he has ever forgotten.
HE did go with Rose Harvey, but,
and" she hesitated, 81 have said some
things this afternoon that have never
crossed my lips before, an I might as
well finish. He went with Rose only
to plague another woman, that he
wanted very much. Do you know who
she was?" she asked as a faint flush
crept to the roots Of her hair.
Nellie Hyland had not known Mary
Lee in the days before her marriage.
spread over the lined face, down to the
throat, grown wrinkled and scraggy
and corded from work and burdens,
the flash of light in the tired brown
eyes. and the tender softening of the
close-set mouth, she caught her
breath. She had worked herself into
a frenzy of jealous anger over Rose
Harvey's supposed attractions for her
husband, but this was different. 1t
+,I- 81, h11yoo
atingly clear to her inner conscious
ness that if the woman before her had
wanted Jack Hyland she herself would
never have been his wife.
Go home" Mrs Lee continued, more
softly, "be good to Jack We're all Of
us fools sometimes an you're not the
worst Here's John"
The door opened and John Lee came
in, serene, plump, untroubled and
good-looking as ever.
I've good news for you, but I'm
afraid it will start you right off, Mrs.
Hyland. I saw Jack get off the train;
shook hands with him. He's lookin'
well. Didn't expect to get home till
Wednesday night. but said he was
mighty glad to get here Monday in
stead and have a whole week at
home"
Mrs. Hyland was reaching for her
hat and coat. Mrs. Lee helped her,
and neither heard any more of Lees
talk. But when they were at the door
Mrs. Lee said:
eff you want to do Rose Harvey a
good turn, let Jack take the dress up
to her when he goes back; it will be
done tomorrow night"
, The two women looked at each other
a moment and then Mrs. Hyland said,
81 will"
Wednesday morning Mrs. Hyland
called again. The nervous, strained
look Of Monday was gone. her face
radiant.
Jack has done so much better than
he expected. He's gone up into the
logging camp to assist the superin-
PENDENT for the winter. It'll be good
that he was sick. off an on, with his
old stomach trouble while he was at
River Falls, an that Rose Harvey put
herself out a good deal to fix him
things. 7 thought it would be ntce-an'
Jack agreed with me, to take the dress
up to her all paid for. An here's ten
dollars. Maxim silk dress is worth
ten dollars, even if you wouldn't have
charged it to Rose"
Mary Lees hand shook a little as
she took the money She wouldn't
have liked even Mrs. Hyland to know
how much it meant to her, but under
her dropping eyes Mrs. Hyland
thought she saw a glistening like a
tear. SO she herself went on talking
very rapidly.
"I'lI take the dress right along with
me and you needn't send Tommy out
in the cold with it. Don't believe
there's goin' to be any snow for
Thanksgiving anyhow Well. we'll
have enough when it does come"
But when Mrs. Lee handed her the
package and opened the door for her
she gave a quick look around to be
sure that John Lee was not in the
arm chair and then put her arms
around Mary and kissed her.