Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-01-26
ONLY HALF A MAN.
"If you were half a mani"


wife to spade the garden while you sat
ldling on the pier"
Theirs had seemed such a suitable
marriage, six years ago; both young,
healthy and handsome, they appeared
then to have a fair prospect before
9em. Harry was the soul Of good ma
cure, 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 frcm his idle saunter-
ings, and by that time she was faint
from pain and losv of blood.
DR.. Sansum cane and dressed the
wound. How did you manage to give
yourself such a gash?" he asked.
1T was-just az accident" stam-
mered proud Rose
"Humph" responded the doctor,
with an intonation that made Harry
words Of caution to Rose, he left the
cottage, contemptuously ignoring her
husband
1t seemed as if Tor once Harry was
started out of his cloth. He tended
Rose with the ut most care, set the
house in order-clumsily, 1t Is true, but
ssiduously-cooked the meals after
oil nd oil, Co ~,
short, did all in his power to repair
his neglect.
In his new found zeal Harry made a
trip to neighboring city in search of
permanent employment. On his re-
turn his first words were: Good
luck! I've got 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
bright and manly As in the old days.
Amt | as strong as an ox?"
Roses face was a 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 80 stern and cold. What
did 1t 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 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.
"Is 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
lying 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
hand feebly, tus indicating conscious
ness of her presence.
"I'm half man now, Rose, in good
earnest" he whispered one day with
melancholy smile"
20, Harry-don't!" 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 a train dispatcher's
mistake. TIE engineer saw the danger
at a glance, became panic-stricken and
jumped-only to be killed by the fall.
Il was going to jump, too" said
Harry, but when l said to myself,
No, I'll play the man for once l 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 . few minutes
later, when it's all over you can go
back to your people and forget about
the dreary life I've led you. I've been
poor excuse for a man all along. l
realize that now"
You shall not wrong yourself So"
said Rose. You had the heart of
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, rais-
ing one little toil-marked hand az II
to reSister an oath "YOu shall 1.-Two