Evening journal., 1899-03-18

T.
amt got any call fer complaint. S
Gun see. She'd best be thankin' her
stars she amt got husband that comes
home drunk an abuses her. or CANDLES |
ever ling he earns away in some Cd
BaloC. or otherl An amt the orr 90
be claimin' they amt right. al sc
want the one TO complain about atv.
thing. But what see with my g., IA
eyes | guess know. One night she
come over to our house for somethin'.
an when she comes in-well, If / do
say II myself. our little settin'-room
did look bright an cheerful. even II
we amt got much in IL. He always
builds up big hre'n the fireplace in
winter. an pops a big pan O. corn an
gets up some apples from the cellar, an
then sets down an reads an talks while
sew. An we was settin' there that
night when she comes in with blue
dress on an black lace scarf over her
head, an cries out: oh. how coy you
are! Why. Is your husband at home
evenings An she had the wishfullest
eyes ever looked into.
Yes says real quick. for didn't
want TO hurt her feeln's. he works so
hard all day he don't feel much like 60
in out nights.
why. he isn't home every night. is
he" she cries out
Yes, be. says he. before could
speak. WY, amt your husbandT
No, she says an she walked over
an stood ool.n down into the fire; an
then she says very slow: I'd be the
happiest woman on earth II he was.
WELL says he, loolin' at her close.
he's home sometimes 10 the evenin',
amt he?'
Don't you like POPCORN cries /.
jumpin' up quick. for l knew he never
was; an sure enough. her face was as
red as fire-an' II there want tears in
her eyes don't know tears when |
see 'emi"
lie was my idee Of a perfectly model
husband" said Mrs. Uregg. sternly. II
don't see how anybody can find II In
their heart 20 utter a word agen him. "
II amt a-utierin' a word agen him.
Mis- Gregg. I'm just tellln' you that
she was a turable lonesome woman.
even II be did give her everything heart
could ask. That time after her baby
died he stayed home with her every
gyenin'-he didn't go downtown a-once,
not a-once-"
"You got that seam most finished?'
demanded Mrs. Gregg. in n tone OF ex.
treme irritation. after you get IL all
finished we'll go out in the breakfast
room an get somethin' 10 eat. There's
nice lunch all laid out on the table
Well make some tea on the gas stove
But It didn't last long," went on Mrs
Medcalf, unmoyed. I'm less'n two
weeks he had to run downtow just foI
a minute"
"You like tea or coffee best. Mis- Med
ca'f? We can boil one as easy's the
other"
"Tea. An his minutes KEEP gettin
longer and longer. an in less'n TIVE
weeks more"
1--WE got my seam all done, Mis- Med
caf. Ca-ha-ca-ha-ha," coughed Mrs
q Gregg. There. I'm ketchin' cold"
5 "In two weeks more he was a-stayin
out just as late as ever. An then /
, seemed as If she just couldn't stay a
home alone evenin's-"
Mrs Gregg arose suddenly, scrapinI
] her chair back with a rasping sound
She went to the sideboard, ca-ha-ca-ha
a ha-ing noisily as she went. She cam
back bearing n heavy solid silver cake
tray in both hands. "Iieft that" sh
J said, sternly. Just heft it."
( Mrs. Medcalf hefted it.
2 "Unh-hunh-solid," she said, briefly
r unimpressed. $50 she took TO comm
D over to my house 10 set little while
+ with her white face and black dress
= looldn' as sad"
y She paused and bent sideways 10 picl
8 up her thimble. which had fallen. Bu
. Mrs. Gregg did not speak. She set tn
+ calxe-tray in its place on the 5000 side
5 board. She brushed some imaginar.
D dust of the embroidered coverwith he
r hand. He, lying in the dark hall. oh
}, served her movements with that un
e conscious interest in trivial thing
which takes hold of one powerfully j
u | kltdb AuoulSAAAss 2A1 DAHeiN NNN -
i folds of her white apron, and stood 10
g a second irresolute. Then she returne
= slowly to her chair and sat down wit
a a look of utter defeat Mrs. Medical
t continued her story with irritatin
complacenee. Mrs. Gregg turned he
v face entirely away. and leaning he
g head against the back Of the chaii
closed her eyes and sat motionless. q
a If asleep. Mrs. Medcalf had her II
n nings, and she made the most of then
: especially on windy nights, whe
y doors ratified an latches lifted mp. 81
couldn't stay alone. So she used
n come over and set there till bediilp
= an then go home in the rain an darl
5, an go into that lonesome house a
L alone-an' him down town without
habit"
" Mrs. Medcalf had finished; she aros
4 triumphant. She folded her wol
o neatly and leisurely and laid il on Il
table. Then she pushed her needle I'M
-, It and laid her thimble on top of IL
p balancing IL so It would not roll o.
. "He was a perfectly model husband
~ eof1 tbor fu,ffoffno Mrs Grouo