The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-01-08

s;ewing over the stove, doing all kinds of
woman's work, trying 20 make things easy
for her I've seen him run along the walk
and up the steps--three steps at q tiule~he
was 50 glad To get home, then work like
niger when ne got there
She hung the towel on the back OF a chair
and shook out the fringe of another.
''He has never done a lick " work since
we have been married. she said, her
mouth ;witchiug ''IIe has never had 10
help me IN the kitchen or In the garden or
even in the flower beds IN the front yard,
but he never comes hurrying home. he
never runs up the steps three steps q; a
time, and he never smiles when he meets
me at the door"
Maybe he is worried about business.
suggested Susan. measuring the thumb OF
the glove she was knitting by her own.
Men have lots of things 20 worry them
that they don't tell their wives
NO. Il ain't that; It's remembering her.
He can't forget her. and l can't make him
forget her.
Sometimes wish I didn't live In the
same house where they lived together.
That makes # worse There's the little
front porch where they used 10 sit OF even
lngs. When he and | sit there In the sum
mer time ana see his eyes way eff yonder,
know he's thinking Of her
She ironed slowly, staring through the
window. her own eyes moist Il know"
she reiterated softly. "that he Is thinking
how he used 10 sit there with her. and he Is
wishing II was him and her again instead
Of him ard me-
She took 70 ironing faster.
''Iil never forget the day she died" she
continued. ''She died three days after the
hairy was born. She never liked me some
how bat | didn't let that interfere with
doing my naigfboriy duty by her. I went
over and helped take care or her.
'sThe baby was born dead but she
gT'ieved after IL the same as II Il had been
living child. She would lie there staring
up at the ceiling and grgesiug until Il was
paffut "a sae her. ! believe IL was that that
Killed her. She didn't wan; 10 live and II
dead One day she made me bring out ia
little clothes and lag them on the bed all
around her. She fingered the sleeves the
tears rolling down her cheeks "rhere'n
never he any little arms in them she
said and turned her face 10 the wall
II put the things back In the drawer
where she couldn't STE them any more.
That last day she war burning nr, with
fever Her little feet were hot az fire. 80
ge-e her hands. she talked Eighty about
fhe baby. about how she wanted 10 see Il
ansi they wouldn't let her How could
they ard II dead? sat on the edge Of the
bszi ssroktssg her poor hot feet. when sud
denly they began 10 get cold. and she STOP
ped talking.
Il ssr9s for John IN q hurry. When ne
came ne was like a mailman He kg.sIt
down by her and begged her TO listen ~
hisn. 'Don'1 20 away without telling me
ge0ahy. sweetheart he said a-solsbfng
between the words Don't leave mo Ike
this. Say goosihy. sweetheart"
Il put Fay hand on his shoulder. ( wanted
"a Tell him that she was past speaking. and
past hearing for that matter. bar he stared
~ at me IL he had never seen me BE-
fore. Go away he said. leave ne alone
alta her can't you? Go awaye And he
gave me push.
II went otst and shut the DOR
She leaned her elbows on the hoard and
looked hard at Susan. ssin had dropped her
knitting In her lap.
Il think thu oyity reason he married me-
she sail sadly, was hF>f-a lsse / took good
cage 81 ner, But sometimes 7 wssh he
hsdn'y. He'll never forget her. and cant
make him DO everything car Is, plea GO
hsrT2 / keep this place like wax from gar
ret 70 cellar. bet IL uigfg; be heller skei,sr
from oFie weeks eaA 10 the other sor all
the notice As@ takeg ~ IL. | stand in fs4s
kitchen for hours cooking things 70 please
him. ard &c hardly tastes them lie xges
AID s.Ares across the table a. s.a. and I