Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1899-01-26
A Perfectly Model Man
BY Ella Higginson: !; (: !!
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g HE FAY there alone in the dark. -:
~ 1t was near midnight. When the
lights had been dimmed throughout
the house, and stiffness had settled
upon everything, he had arisen in I'M
bearable suffering and gone softly
down stairs. 1t was her last night in
the house, whose every chair and cur
tain seemed to thrill as be passed, and
he must be nearer the room in which
she lay. asleep-forevermore asleep.
He threw himself uponfa cough in
the hall. He lay1on his back with one:
arm thrown over his eyes.1~He was
trembling like an old, old manor like
a dog that lies out in the cold and wet
and hears fire cracking within the
house. -:,
A fine rain was beating cease1ess1y
against the wind ows and DOORS. The:
climbing rose against the side; Of the
house moved it's arms as the wind bore
down upon it. It had not been month
since she had asked him to tack it
more securely, as the autumn winds
were coming on; and he had replied
that he would do it some other time
he had an engagement now. The en-
gagement had been to play billiards
with a man for whom he cared moth
ing. She was standing on the steps in
her pale blue gown, with tacks and bits
of leather and long-handled hammer
in her hands. lie recalled the cloud of
disappointment that had drifted sud
denly across her face. The following
morning he had observed that the vine
was tackled in place, and he had not
thought of it again. Until now! Why
on earth should he think Of it 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
ciage in which she seemed to take no
pleasure because he never went driv-
ing with her! He had told her that he
was too busy! Good God! his heart
cried out roughly, why need he have
lied to her? She must have known
then that he was lying to her; surely
she knew it now.
Presently he became aware that two
women had entered an adjoining room.
They drew their chairs to the fire and
sewed and talked. The door leading
into the dark hall was open. It seemed
good to him-less lonely-that they
should be there. They spoke in un-
hushed voices, as. if to make it more
cheerful for themselves.
"Well," said one, after they had talked
OF other things, biting a thread and
rolling the end between her-thumb and
forefnger, ''she had everything that
heart could want. He's good man, an
he was mighty good to her" She bent
toward the lamp to thread her needle.
Her eyelids hickered close together.
Tiny wrinkles ran around her eyes.
The other woman was Silent: ~
"Yes,,'s,S cQi tinued Mrs. Gregg, begin
ming to sew, there ain't many men as
gcod to a woman's he was. She had a
nice home, all furnished up nice-w'y,
that sideboard alone cost 5000 if it cost
1t cent! She had cook an a second
girl never, could see why they call
'em second girls an heritage, an
file jewelry, an dresses. She had l
plenty O. spending money besides"
The Lother woman was silent. Why
did she not sreal1. He lifted his head
and looked at her. She rocked back
and forth as she sewed. Her eyes were
on her work. He knew her well-a poor
neighbor to whom his wife had given
much sewing and of whom she had al
ways been fond. Only a few hours be-.
fore. her death she had spoken to him
OF this womb. you'll: do something
for her sometimes, dearest" she had
whispered, even aftef'speech was a diff
fcult thing for her. do little things
fcrSher and the children-and do them
delicately-so you will not-hurt-
her" She had sunk back in his arms,
exhausted, and. finished the sentence
with smile.
''Look at her front door," went on