The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-10-14
"If YOU were half a mani"

wife to spade the garden while you sat
idling on the pier"
Theirs had seemed such suitable
marriage. six years ago; both young,
healthy and handsome, they appeared
then to have fair prospect before
them. Harry was the soul of good ma
ture, and Rose, though quick tempered,
had the tenderest heart in the world
and courage and uprightness that
made no compromises.
One day when Rose was chopping
wood for the stove the ak slipped and
her foot was badly cut. She hobbled
into the house and bound up the
wound; but it was several hours before
Harry returned from his idle saunter-
ings, and by that time she was faint
from pain and loss of blood.
DR.. Sansum came and dressed the
wound. How did you manage to give
yourself such gash?" he asked
1T was-just an accident" stam-
mered proud Rose.
'Humph!" responded the doctor,
with an information that made Harry
redden. Then, with a few additional
words Of caution to Rose, he left the
cottage, contemptuously ignoring her
husband.
1t seemed as If for once Harry was
started out of his cloth. He tended
Rose with the utmost care, set the
house in order-clumsily, it is true, but
assiduously-coobed the meals after q
slapdash masculine fashion and, in
short, did all in his power to repair
his neglect.
In his new found zeal Harry made
trip to a neighboring city in search of
permanent employment. On his re-
turn his first words were: Good
luck! I've got a steady job at last"
as though all the years Of his married
life he had been spent in that quest.
What sort Of job is it?" asked
Rose.
Fireman on an engine"
| "But-isn't that rather hard work?"
asked Rose, who had learned to
doubt his staying quality.
Hard" cried Harry, and he squared
his broad shoulders and looked as
| VI dAu udAly 90 III IhO Olu uoy
| "Aint l as strong as an ox?"
Roses face was rainbow Of tears
and smiles. Forgive me, Harry, for
doubling you, 'she said, half sobbing,
half laughing.
He was little at home after he began
his new work; but there were no cut
ing words, no looks that stabbed with
scorn. Rose sang over her work and
smiles came readily to her lips that
/, had grown SO stern and cold. What
did it matter that they were poor-that
their lot was now that of mere labor
| ing folk? She could respect her hus-
band once more.
One evening as Rose was getting
Harry's supper ready she heard a step
on the porch and ran out to meet him.
| Two men were standing there.
What is it?" she cried, feeling an
instant apprehension of misfortune.
| They looked at each other and shut
fed their feet awkwardly.
rs my husband dead?" she asked
| in a dull voice.
| mo, ma am" replied one of the men
| finding his voice, but badly hurt
There was collision near Benton and
we came to tell you about it."
When Rose reached Harry he was
| .ying insensible. Both of his legs,
hopelessly crushed, had been amputa-
ted, and his bruised and bandaged face
was hardly recognizable.
| Presently he was able to press her
aand feebly, tus indicating conscious
ness Of her presence.
| I'm half a man now, Rose, in good
melancholy smile"
20, Harry-dont!" sobbed Rose,
"only forgive me for all those hard
! words"
"They were deserved, Rose-that's
! the worst"
Little by little, with many pauses
! and in weak voice that often sank
| INTO whisper he told her of the COLI
sion, the result Of train dispatcher's
mistake TIE engineer saw the danger
at glance, became panic-stricken and
| jumped-only to be killed by the fall.
81 was going to jump, too" said
| Harry, but when I said to myself,
No, I'll play the man for once | did
what the engineer should have done
pulled the reverse lever and put on the
air brakes-to lessen the shock, If pos
sible. But it was Of no use-and you
know the rest"
| We'll, DEAR" he said 2 few minutes
| iafar omhop tic oil QUAR- upr, CON on
back to your people and forget about
the dreary life I've led you. I've been
poor excuse for man all along. /
realize that now"
"You shall not wrong yourself SO"
said Rose. "You had the heart of a
hero in you, and when the opportunity
came you sowed your courage"
He smiled-a strange, wistful, pity
ing smile.
LET her have the illusion, at least,
after I'm gone" he thought.
you shall not die, cried Rose, rails
| ing one little toil-marked hand, as If
to register an oath. You shall live.
Harry-you must live / will work for
you. You must not leave me-"
And he did not die.
THAT little woman just wouldn't let
| him CO." said the doctor.
Influence was exerted to secure for
Rose the appointment Of postmistress
in the little town. This insured them
a support; and there were many ways
in which Rose eked out their slender
income. Harry was licensed now to be
idle, and no one reproaches him fof
It, He was helpless hulk" as he
expressed it, but the best natured
cost patient hulk In the world.