Evening journal., 1899-05-16
A Perfectly Model Man
BY Ella Higginson.
NHE Law there alone In The dark.

II WIS near iuiuulbuNs Nntn III
lighis had been dimmed Throughout
the house. and stiffness had settird
upon everything. he had arisen Ia no
0earsble suffering and gone sori,
down stairs. Is was her last night in
the house. whose every chair and cur.
tain seemed TO thrill rs be passed. and
he must be nearer the room in which
she lay asleep--forevermore asleep.
He threw himself upon q couch in
the hall lie lay on his back with one
arm thrown over his eyes. lie was
trembling like an old. old manor like
a dog that lies out in the cold and wet
and hears a fire cracking within the
house.
A fine rain was beating ceaselessly
against the windows and doors. rhe
climbing rose against the side Of the
house moved It's arms as the wind bore
down uponit. II had not been a month
since she had asked him TO tack II
more securely. as the autumn winds
were coming on; and he had replied
that he would do il some other time
ne had an engagement now. The en-
gagement had been TO play billiards
With a man for whom be cared moth
ing, She was standing on the steps in
her pale blue gown. with lacks and bits
of leather and a long-handled hammer
In her hands. lie recalled the cloud OF
disappointment that had drifted sud
denly across her face. The following
mornln.s he had observed that the vine
was tackled in place. and he had not
thought of ii again. Until nowl Why
on earth should he think Of IL now
Was not his anguish deep enough? why
could he not remember rather the
things he had done TO make her
happy--the pleasant home he had given
her. the Jewels the pretty gowns. the
carriage-ah. the carriage! His heart
opened and closed suddenly. The car
riage in which she seemed 10 take nc
pleasure because be never went drv
ing with her. lie had told her that be-
was TOO busy. Good God! his hear
cried out roughly. why need he has'
lied 10 her? She must have kuowI
then that he was lying 10 her; surel,
she knew It now.
Presently he became aware that TIVE
women had entered an adjoining room
rhey drew their chairs 10 the !ire an'
sewed and talked. The door ieadini
INTO the dark hall was open. II seeme'
good TO him-less louely-thnt the
should be there. They spoke in IN
hushed voices. as il 10 make il NOR
cheerful for themselves.
Well" said one. after uhey bad take
OF other things. biting a thread an
rolling the rnd between her thumb an
furefnger. she had everything INA
hear, could want. He's good man. al
he was mighty good 10 her" She ben
toward the lamp 10 thread her ueedli
Ter eyelids flckered close 'ogethe
Tiny wrinkles ran around her eyes
The other woman was silent.
YES" continued Mrs. Gregg. begiT
nng 70 sew. there amt many men q
good 10 a woman's he was. She had
nice home. all furnished up nice-w.
that sideboard alone cost $500 II II col
cent! She had a cook an secou
GIRL never could see why they ca
EN- second girls-an' a kerriage. al
hne iewelry. an dresses. She bad
plenty o spending money besides.
The other woman was silent. WI
did she not speak. lie lifted his he'
aud looked at her. She rocked ba'
aud forth as she sewed. Her eyes we
on her work. lie knew her well-n pot
neighbor 10 whom his wife had Civ,
much sewing and Of whom she had O
ways been fond Only q few hours b
fore her death she had spoken 10 hi
Of this woman. you'll do somethiI
: for her sometimes. dearest" she hi
. whispered. even after speech was a q
ficult thing for her. "Do little thin
for her aud the children-and do The
delicately-so you win not-burt
her" She had sunk back In his arm
exhausted. and finished the Senten
n with s'smile.
a Look at her front door," went I
4 Mrs Gregg. "She wanted tue one. a
\ she got 1t. She got every blessed thiI
/, she took a notion for. from "a ourgl'
= Lroof closet for her silverware 10
\ Poppa Gonteer rosebush. You got ih
= seam done. Mis- Medcaf?'
Mrs. Medcalf held up the seam TO shC
that It lacked several inches Of bel
Il tEished.
r "Oh. you'll soon have IL done. III
a pity she amt got any children. lie
Ie he 30 much more lonesome, com
v. nome al night an not indin' anybo
le hcre."
Is Then of sudden the other won
ID spoke: Il reckon be won't be any loE
le scmer'n she's been all these yea
ID a.settin' here alone, night after mig
81 iii II o'clock"
No knife ever sent a more sickeui
10 pain through a heart than those woT
S. sent through the heart of the man "
n lay there 10 the dark and heard.
~ "Hum-er-hum." said Mrs. Gre,
I'd - expect It did get kind Of lones"
of for her. He--he--that is. ] guess
ut did have 10 stay downtown most Of /
time. llut he didn'thave any bad HI
k. its-didu't drink or gamble or look
o. other women. He was perfectly nj
" Ell husband"
n There was no reply to this, and pr
Id tnt.v Mrs Grepg continued: Il neve