Evening journal., 1899-05-16

aau see. She'd best be ihankin' her
stars she utn gh nus band that comes
home drunk an abnses her, or CANDLES
everything h. earn away in some old
,uiOon or othlf. IN amt The We 10
be caimin' they amt righ, an she
Want the one to complain about any
thing But what | see with my own
eyes | guess know One ught she
come over to oar house fui somcthin'.
an when she comes IA we'll " | do
say II myself our little srttin'-room
did look brlghi- 40 cheerful. even IL
we amt got much In H. He always
builds up big tire'n the fireplace in
winter, an pops u big pan o corn an
gets up some apples from he cellar, an
then sets down an reads an talks while
] sew An we was settin' there that
night when she comes in with blue
dress on an a black lace scarf over her
head. an cries out; Oh, how cozy you
are! Why. is your husband AZ home
eveningsT An she had the wishfullest
eyes ever looked INTO
Yes | says real quick. Tor didn't
want 10 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. ia
be-? she cries out.
Yes, I be-. says he. before | could
speak. wy. amt your husband?
NO she says. an she walked over
an stood lookin down into the fire; an
then she says. very slow: ia be the
happiest woman on earth II he was
well. says he. lookn' ut her close.
he's home sometimes in the evenin',
amt hep
Don't you like POPCORN cries l.
! jumpin' up quick. for | knew be never
was; an sure enough. her face was as
red as fre--an' Il there want tears in
her eyes don't know tears when !
see 'emi"
Tie was my idee Of a perfectly model
husband" said Mrs. Gregg. siernly. 81
don't see how anybody can find Il In
their heart to inter word agen him. "
u amt a-utierin' word ugen him,
Mis- Gregg. I'm just tellin' you that
she was iurahle lonesome woman.
even " be did give her everything heart
could ask That time after her baby
died be stayed home with her every
eyenin'-he didn't go downtown u-once,
not a-once--"
"You got that seam most lnlshed?'
demanded Mrs. Gregg. in tone Of ex-
IRENE irritation. after You get IL all
finished well 20 out in the breakfast
room an get someihin' 20 eat. There's
a 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, unmoved. In less'n wv,
! weeks he had to run downtown just fol
! q minute"
. "You like tea OF coffee best. Mis- Med
! CAT? We can boil Que as eaSy's tn
other"
Tea An his minutes KEEP gettin
;. longer and longer, an in less'n tw
;. weeks more"
1--WE got my seam all done, Mis- Med
eat. Ca-ha-ca-ha-ha," coughed Mr.
j. Gregg. "There, Pm lcetehiu' cold"
an two weeks more hewas a-stayir
a out just as late as ever. An then
seemed as II she just couldn't stay a
u home alone evening""
q Mrs Gregg arose suddenly, scrapin
u her chair back with rasping sounC
She went to the sideboard, ca-ha-ca-ha
"A ha-ing noisily as she went. She cam
back bearing a heavy solid silver cake
y tray in both hands. "Heft that sh
d said, sternly Just heft It,"
X Mrs. Medcalf hefted II.
e "Unh-hunh--s solid" she said, briefl,
'r unimpressed. $50 she took TO comiI
n over to my house TO set a little while
J. with her white face and black dres
E. loolxin' as sad"
M She paused and bent sideways to pic
g ND her thimble. which had fallen. III
% Mrs. Gregg did not speak. She set III
T cnke-tray in its place on the 5000 sid'
: board. She brushed some imaginar
u dust of the embroidered cover with he
hand. He. lying in the dark hall, oil
$ served her movements with that VI
&c conscious interest In trivial thing
which takes hold of Que powerfully
N great moments. She shook out Il
II folds of her white apron. and stood Il
g q second irresolute. Then she returnC
' slowly 10 her chair and sat down wii
a look Of utter defeat. Mrs. Medca
at continued her story with iDitath
complacence. Mrs Gregg turned h'
u.s. face entirely away, and leaning h
lg head against the back Of the chat
closed her eyes and sat motionless.
II asleep. Mrs Medcalf had her 4
II nings, and she made the most Of ther
n especially on windy nights. WHIT
~ doors ratified an laiches lifted up. s
couldn't stay alone. So she used
IN come over and set there till bedtim
e- an then go home in the rain an dar
rs. an go into that lonesome house
IT. alone-an' him down town without
habit"
ne Mrs. Medcalf had finished; she aro'
DIS triumphant She folded her wo
BIO neatly and lesurely and laid II on t
table. Then she pushed her needle in
70. IL and laid her ihimble Oh top Of II
ne balancing il so 1t would not roll @
be "He was a perfectly model HUSBAND
be she said then. initiating Mrs. Gregg
10 tone; "but | reckon she'll never he q
a. ! 1onecon,er I'M In thar windy nraveya