Evening journal., 1899-01-28

amt got any can fer complaint. s
Gun see. She'd best be thankin' her
stars she ain'i got husband that comes
home drunk an abuses her, or CANDLES
everything he earns away in some old
saloo other" An amt the one ic
be c.amia' they amt right. an ,'t
want the one 10 complain about ANY
thing. But what / see with my own
eyes ! guess ! know One night sae /
eome over TO cur house for somethla'. /
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. lie always |
builds up big hre'n the fireplace in !
winter an pops 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 setiin' there that
night when she comes in with a blue
dress on an black lace scarf over her
head. an cries out: oh, how cozy you
arel Why. is your husband at home
evenings2 An she had the wishfullest
eyes ever looked into.
Yes says real quick for didn't
want TO hurt her feelin's. he works so
hard all day he don't feel much like go
in out nights.
why, he isn't home every night. is
hep she cries out
"'Yes, be- says he, before could
speak. wy, amt your husband?
NO she says, an she walked over
an stood lookn' down into the fire; an
then she says, very slow: I'D be the
happlest woman on earth II he was
"'Well.' says he. lookin' at her close.
he's home sometimes in the evenin,
amt hep
Don't you like popcorny cries 1.
jumpin' up quick, for knew he never
was; an sure enough, her face was as
red as fire--an' If there want tears in
her eyes don't hnow tears when
see 'eml"
"lIe was my idee OF perfectly model
husband" said Mrs. Gregg, sternly. Il
don't see how anybody can find IL in
their heart TO utter a word agen him. !"
81 amt a-utterin' word agen him.
Mis- Gregg. I'm just tellin 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
gvenln'-he didn't go downtown a-once,
not a-once-"
"lou got that seam most hnishedT'
demanded Mrs. Gregg. in tone Of ex-
IRENE irritation. after you get Il all
finished we'll 20 out in the breakfast
room an get somethin' 10 eat There's
nice lunch all laid out on the table
. Wen make some tea on the gas stove"
but il didn't last long," went on Mrs.
Medcalf. unmoyed. "In less'n two
weeks he had to run downtown just for
! q 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 two
weeks more"
I've got my seam all done, Mis- Med
caf. Ca-ha-ca-ha-ha," coughed Mrs
p, Gregg. There. I'm ketchin' cold"
n "ln two weeks more he was a-stayin
out just as late as ever. An then j
4 seemed as II she just couldn't stay a
4 home alone evenin's-"
n Mrs Gregg arose suddenly, serapinl
!, her chair back with a rasping sound
a She went to the sideboard. ca-ha-ca-ha
hn-irg noisily as sue went. She cam
, back bearing a heavy solid silver cake
= tray in both hands. "lIeft that sh
l. said. sternly. Just heft IT,"
. Mrs. Medcalf hefted IL.
- "Unh- -hunh-solid." she said, briefly
. unimpressed. $50 she took to comm
! over TO my house TO set little while
with her white face and black dress
n loolsin' as sad"
q She paused and bent sideways TO piel
4 up her thimble which had fallen. Blu
r Mrs. Gregg did not speak. She set tn
- cake-tray in its place on the $500 side
"a board. She brushed some imaginar,
- dust OF the embroidered cover with he
8 hand. He. lying in the dark hall, Oh
= served her movements with that un
conscious interest in trivial thing
n which takes hold Of one powerfully 81
n, great moments. She shook out th
q folds of her white apron, and stood 70
:. a second irresolute. Then she returne
slowly 10 her chair and sat down wit
=, a look of utter defeat. Mrs. Medical
continued her story with irritatin
81. complacence. Mrs. Gregg turned he
~ face entirely away, and leaning he
. head against the back of the chail
closed her eyes and sat motionless, a
=, if asleep. Mrs Medcalf had her il
=, nings. and she made the most Of then
's especially on windy nights. whe
. doors ratified an latches lifted up, 81
couldn't stay alone. So she used
~ come over and set there till bedtim
: an then 90 home in the rain an darl
- an 90 into that lonesome house a
=" alone-an' him down town without
habitl"
Y Mrs. Medcalf had finished; she aros
ls triumphant. She folded her woI
10 neatly and leisurely and laid 1t on Il
table. Then she pushed her needle ini
g. It and laid her thimble on top Of it.
ne balancing IL so II would not roll OF
be "Ile was a perfectly model husband
1e she said then. initiating Mrs. Gregg
D. 4oro. s.h,,t I raclnn sha'll never be M