St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1899-02-25

say IL Hy Sell, our iittle S6tIlH -TOOu
did look bright an cheerful, even i
we amt got much in it. He Away
builds up big fire'n the fireplace il
/. winter, an pops big pan o corn an
gets up some apples from the cellar, an
then sets down an reads an talks Will,
sew. An we was settin' there tha
night when she comes in with blu,
dress on an a black lace scarf over he
head, an cries out: oh. how cozy yo,
are! Why. is your husband at hom,
evenings? An she had the wishfulles
eyes ever looked into.
"Yes,' l says real quick, for didn'
! want to hurt her feelin's, he works S,
hard all day he don't feel much like 60
in out nights
why, he isn't home every night, j,
hep she cries out.
Yes. | be- says he, before could
speak. Wy. amt your husbandT
NO. she says, an she walked ovel
an stood lookin' down into the fire; an
then she says, very slow: Id be thu
happiest woman on earth if he was
WELL says he, lookin' at her close
he's home sometimes in the erenin'
amt hep
Don't you like popcorn? cries /
jumpin' up quick, for knew he never
was; an sure enough, her face was al
red as fire-an' If there want tears in
her eyes ! don't know tears when !
see 'em!"
He was my idee Of perfectly model
husband" said Mrs. Gregg, sternly. Il
don't see how anybody can find it ir
their heart to utter word agen him. :
Il amt a-utterin' word agen him,
Mis- Gregg. I'm just tellin' you that
she was turable lonesome woman,
even if be did give her everything heart
could ask. That time after her baby
died he stayed home with her every
evenin'-he didn't 60 downtown a-once,
not a-oDce-"
You got that seam most finished r
demanded Mrs. Gregg, in a tone Of ex-
treme irritation. after you get it all
finished we'll go out in the breakfast
room an get somethip' to eat. There's
nice lunch all laid out on the table.
Well make some tea on the gas stove" !"
But il didn't last long" went on Mrs.
Medcalf. unmoved. In less'n two
weeks he had 10 run downtown Just for
q minute"
"You like tea or coffee best, Mis- Ned
caf? 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.
Gregg. There, I'm ketchin' cold"
I'm two weeks more he was a-sfayin'
out just as late as ever. An then it
seemed as if she just couldn't stay ut
home alone evenin's-"
Mrs Gregg arose suddenly. scraping
her chair back with q rasping sound.
She went to the sideboard. ca-ha-ca-ha-
ha-ing noisilY as she went She came
back bearing heavy solid silver cake
tray in both hands. "Heft that" she
said, sternly. -Just heft it,"
Mrs. Medcalf hefted it.
"Unh-hunh-solid," she said, briefly,
$50 she took to comm
over to my house to set = little while,
with her white face and black dress,
lookin' as sad"
She paused and bent sideways to pick
up her thimble. which had fallen. But
Mrs. Gregg did not speak. She set the
in its place on the 5000 side
board. She brushed come imaginary
dust off the embroidered cover with her
hand. He. lying in the dark hall. OBJ
served her movements with that un-
conscious interest in trivial things
which takes hold Of one powerfully in
great moments. She shook out the
folds of her white apron. and stood for
a second irresolnte. Then she returned
slowly to her chair and sat down with
. look of utter defeat. Mrs. Medcalf
continued her story with irritating
Mrs. Gregg turned her
face entirely away. and leaning her
head against the back OF the chair,
closed her eyes and sat motionless. as
ii asleep. Mrs. Medcalf had her in
nings, and she made the most of them.
Especially on windy nights. when
doors ratified an latches lifted up. she
stay alone. So she used 10
come over and set there till bedtime.
an then go home in the rain an dark,
an go into that lonesome house all
alone-an' him down town without
habit"
Mrs. Medcalf had finished; she arose.
She folded her work
neatly and leisurely and laid it on the
table. Then she pushed her needle into
It and laid her thimble on top OF it
it SO it would not roll on
He was perfectly model husband"
she said then. initiating Mrs. Gregg's
tone; but / reckon she'll never be any
lonesomer up in that windy graveyard
than she was here. Shall we 20 out
now an get somethin' to eat?"
She went slowly out Of the room.
Mrs. Gregg arose with her lips set to
gether grimly, and followed.
And he-he lay there alone in the
aark!-Womans Home Companion.