Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1898-11-17

out before him, and he read the sem
tence. "a kind, cheerful word spoken
in gloomy house is the little rift in
the cloud that let's the sunshine
through"
Lee struggled with himself awhile
longer. His own ill-nature had to be
conquered first his moody, accusing
spirit had to be ,ubdued. He thought
Of many things to say, and yet he
feared to say them, lest his wife should
meet his advance with a rebuff. At
last, leaning toward her and taking a
hold upon the shirt bosom at which
she was at work, he said, in a voice
that was carefully modulated with
kindness
"You are doing your work beauti-
fully, Mary
Mrs. Lee made no reply. But her
husband did not fail to notice that she
lost, almost instantly, the rigid earn
estness with which she had been sew
ing, not that the motion of her needle
had ceased.
my shirts are better made and
winter than those of any other man in
the shop" said he, encouraged to go
on.
care they ?"
Mrs. Lees voice was low, and had
in it slight huskine.s. She did not
turn her face, but her husband saw
that she leaned little towards him.
He had broken the ice of reserve, and
all was now easy. His hand was
among the clouds, and feeble ray
was already struggling through the
rift it had made.
"Yes, Mary he answered, softly;
"and I've heard it more than once
what a good wife Andrew Lee must
have"
Mrs. Lee turned her face towards
her husband. There was something
light in it, and light in her eyes. But
there was something in the expression
of her countenance that a little puz-
zled him.
"Do you think so?" she asked quite
soberly.
"What a queer question - ejacu-
lated Andrew Lee, starting up and
going round to the side of the table
where his wife was sitting. "What a
queer question, Mary !" he repeated,
as he stood before her
"Do you?" was all she said.
"Yes, darling - was his warm
spoken answer and he stopped down
and kissed her. "How strange that
you should ask me such question"
"If you would only tell me SO now
and then, Andrew, it would do me
good" Mrs. Lee arose and leaning
her face against the manly breast Of
her husband, stood and wept
What a strong light broke on the
mind Of Andrew Lee He had never
given his wife even the small reward
of praise for the loving interest she
had manifested daily, until doubt Of
his love had entered her soul, and
made the light around her thick with
darkness. No wonder that her face
grew cloud.d, or that what he con-
sidered moodiness and ill-nature took
possession of her spirit.
"You are good and true, Mary, my
own dear wife l am proud Of you,
and my great desire is for your hap
piness. Oh, if I could always see your
face in sunshine, my home would be
the dearest place on earth.
"How precious to me are your words
Of love and praise, Andrew, said Mrs.
Lee, smiling up through her tears into
hi, face. with them in my ears, my
heart can never lie in shadow"
How easy had been the work for
Andrew Lee He had swept his hand
across the cloudy horizon, and now
the bright sunshine was streaming
down and flooding that home with JOY
and beauty.
on ought to have seen Mr. Mar
shall when he called on Dolly the 9TH
er night" remarked Johnnie Conklin,
enthusiastically, to his sisters young
man, who was taking tea with the
family. Il tell you he looked fine
asserting there alongside of her, with
his arm
johnnie" gasped his sister, her
face assuming the color of the boiled
lobster.
well, so he did" persisted John
ME. "He had his arm
"Jobn," screamed his mother, fran
tic,lly, as she made reach for his ear