Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1898-01-14


mysterious to him, and the feverish
rapidity with which it was done all.
cured to him o certain nervousness in
the worker. AT last he spoke to her
for the shoemaker was woman.
"You have certainly become expert
at your trade, Mrs. Webster. Your
husband never made better shoes. BY
the way, have you heard from him
lately?'
The woman flashed pair OF great
black eyes at him angrily. She did
not answer for half minute. When
she did, there was world of sup
pressed feeling behind her calm
words.
II haven't heard from him since he
went away. That's three years. 1
believe he is alive--but he knows bet
ter than to let me hear.
'T-always thought your husband
meant WE'LL" he hurried to say.
"Have you had letter from him2"
she demanded, fercely.
"No."
II thought maybe he wanted to come
back and had sent you to prepare the
way for him. That would be John
.Webster--he hasn't the courage of q
mouse. treated him well. was a
good wife to him. Just because debts
were pressing, and was sick, and
there were four little ones-and the
youngest was only three months old
his courage gave out. He left letter.
ua oa;d ba ,nuldn,t ta,Jn,o, - onv
longer. Oh, he couldn't! And how
was to endure it, I'd like to know?
sick, only dollar or two in the
house, not friend to turn to except
the neighbors. 1 tell you, Mr.. Mac
kenzie, / never can forgive him
neverl'
The woman choked and had to wipe
her eyes with her hard, backened
hand, but presently she fell to peg
ging again more passionately than
ever. Just then n blue-eyed little girl
appeared, carrying tray of supper.
give me your handkerchief, Trot-
ty," said the shoemaker. "There-
set down my supper. I'll eat II pretty
soon. Now you put the children to
bed This pair of shoes is promised
for tonight"
The little seven. year-old maiden
ran off obediently.
''I'm afraid I've hindered you"
apologzed the minister
"No," she said, gently. "Ive
worked right along. Maybe pouring
II out has done me good can't
talk to the neighbors. just work.
The best thing John ever did was to
teach me his trade when we were
first married -and I've always helped
him off and on. He said / had
knack at it-but we didn't think |
should have to support the family
with it sometimes. Maybe he went
off to give me chance" she added,
bitterly.
'Perhaps he was not so much to
blame AS you think" the minister
began after pause, encouraged by
her manner to continue. Gle"
''Now, Mr.. Mackenzie" she burst
forth, angrily, ''you said something
like this to me when he first went off.
know you always liked him, and he
WASH bh buu mum III SOlliO WuNN-DWtu t
has shamed me and my children, he
has brought my pride down cruelty"
the strong thread snapped like wisp
in her fingers as she pulled it fiercely,
land never wish TO hear his name
again"
Tears coursed slowly down her pale,
handsome cheeks and dropped on the
last in her lap.
''But you had said something to him"
he began again.
"Not much. l may have been
sharp with him, now and then--but
who could blame me? 1t was no ex-
cuse for him."
John Webster had built little shop
for himself, several rods from the
house, so that the noise of his ham
mering would not disturb his wife and
the babies. In this quiet retreat the
shoemaker could now talk without
being overheard. She stopped sud-
denly, however, as she saw dark
eyed boy of nine or ten pausing beside
Z the half-open door and looking some
what alarmed at the vigor of her tone.
The minister spoke to him kindly.
''He looks like you," he remarked to
the mother, she and the second hoy
but Trotty and the baby look like
your husband, "
"I wish they didn't" she muttered
almost viciously.
swell, I'm glad you are getting on
so comfortably" he sighed, rising to
go.
"Thank you," she said, with an air
of logged pride. "Six months ago l
paid the last debt John left me. This
pair of shoes will bring me in enough
a keen us for DAYS. | have work