Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1898-12-31

of whae meant to do. But 1t was too
much to do alone have not had the
heart. Ono must have sympathy-just a
little sympathy" e
"Just little sympathy" She MINI
icked his tragic tones; her lips twisted In
sneer. ''Bah! am sick--siok to death
of you fine, artistic people with all your
whining for sympathyi Other men can
dispense with such fine feelings and yet
earn enough money to keep their wives"
"Maude!''
''As for your work'-she leaned toward
him, and with her thin hands pushed the
hair back from her facet hate 1t! What
are they to lne-your artistic idealsY
want to have plenty to eat and plenty to
wear and plenty to spend, like other wo'
men,"
sob, it has all been a failure! know 1t
has been a failure! But swear to you,
Maude, that with another woman
"YesG Oh, go on! Do, please. want
to hear about the other woman. She had
sympathy no doubt. You would have set
the Thames on fire with the other wom-
an AS for me, was young and happy
and handsome when you married me.
Look at me now! Look!'
He walked unsteadily toward the door.
"With another mana man sufficiently
coarse minded to work to keep his wifeP'
With muttered word he lifted his hat
and went out.
In room of hotel in the same city o
woman sat pensively by the fire, her head
resting on her hands.
From below came the sound of much
laughter, and as the woman heard them
3hs sighed. Then she fell to lingering her
wedding ring, and her eyes held look
that might have made her mothers heart
ache.
She fell to wondering upon many things.
OF the gay crowd below, how many were
glad at hearth How many were sad at the
going of the year so slowly waningP How
many were a-merry to meet the newY Then
after awhile her thoughts went further
back and yet came nearer home, and she
rose from her seat and crossed and closed
the blinds which had been left open. She
lifted her skirts very daintily as she knelt
In front of one of the many packages in
the room, and it was with fastidious fin
gers that she united the knots in thu
strings around it and undid the wrappiE gs
She arranged them round the room, a hal
whimsical look on her face, one on this
chair, one on that "a heap of pencil
sketches, one half done, another but be
gun, some few finished and framed.
Then she seated herself on a little stoo
| in their midst, her hands clasped in from
| of her knees, and looked at them wistfully
"You," she nodded her little dark heat
toward one OF them, you were done TO
daddy on his birthday. I was II then H
gave me a kiss and said that he neve
wished to see q finer one."
| The gray eyes darkened little. Sh
went over and caressed the tiny odd sketcl
with her childlike hands, then went bacl
| to her seat.
'You got me the first prize at school,
she laughed, with nod of her head to
| ward another of her efforts, land you
| ah, you came a year after mother died i
She crossed her feet, and tear fell on he
little buckled slippers. "You were don
| when Mr.. Inchcape said that I had Gel
tainly tasent, and I wanted to do some
thing big to show him how much" Afte
little: "And you" firmly, 81 was work
ing at you when John asked me to MARI
him. And said, Yes. I wonder why?
On the stairs and up came firm, heav
tread-creak, creak, creak The door wa
thrown open.
ooh, / say, little woman, you haven
half light! What's this? Pshaw!
should put all that rubbish away-onl
makes litter. Where did you pick the1
upp Not half bad, but never could
bothered with those mystical arrange
ments. wouldn't give you good ciga
for the whole regiment
sI'm not sure that want one" with
tremulous little laugh.
sNo? Well, don't suppose you do.
flatter myself that my wife doesn't smok'
Give me my cigar case off the mantelpiecs
old lady. / came up for it. Better go
bed. It's all nonsense this waiting up fc
the old year. Or is it the new2 won
be minute I'm just going to have
chat with Wilson. But do clear all TIL
rubbish away before you go.
| He went away, laughing at his own jok
She put the drawings away, making
separate journey to the wrapper with eacl
And as she covered over the last with
rain of tears, why, oh, why did you NJ
tell me?" she whispered.
Outside the great bells Changed noisil.
calling to all the city: Zone, two, tire
four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, tel
eleven, twelve. Dingdong, dingdoni
ding-ding dingdong."
God bless you merry ladies and merrit
gentlemen! A happy New Year to you al
Black and White.
Tho Swearing Off Vice.