Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1900-08-24

less" because her husbands mother
lives in the village also. If had not
been accustomed to her appearance l
should have supposed some dreadful
thing was the matter. She had on an
old calico wrapper which never was
pretty, but by frequent washing had
become faded and streaked; half the
buttons were gone, the sleeves and
waist in rags and the skirt torn. Her
hair was done up in hairpin screw;
she wore no collar, and over her head
she had pinned faded plaid shawl
which had seen more than once doing
duty as an apron while she washed
dishes.
She nodded to me without a smile,
and, sinking down on a chair, look
dismally round my pretty room. | W.
used to her ways, so only said Good
evening"
After a few moments she began in a
fretful voice to speak.
"Oh, Mrs. Sunny, how comfortable
you do look! You never have any trou-
bles, do you?"
A shiver ran through me as l thought
what my troubles had been, but l
knew the little woman had come to
speak Of herself. SO just said, quietly:
Doesn't every one? Don't you"
"I? Oh, l am full Of trouble! But
where Is your husband this evening?
He is always at home"
"Oh, no, not always" l answered.
''This evening he has gone to political
meeting, and there are other evenings
when he goes to two different lodges he
belongs to-"
But surely, Mrs. Sunny, you don't
like him to go to lodges? Why, think
they are horrid Nobody knows what
they do"
laughed, she looked so tragic.
"Well" said, Il don't want to
know, for suppose should not under
stand. urged him to go to this politi-
cal meeting because he wanted to-"
urged him to go! Well, call that
queer! Why, coaxed John"-John is
her husband-"to stay with me, and we
find pleasure in his home sometimes,
but John goes out every evening; he
goes to his mothers often"
"You never accompany himT ]
asked.
"Oh, dear, no. I'm too tired. Why, ]
haven't been to see Mother Hapless for
a whole month. She's dreadfully smart
and has everything just so; it's just
spoiled John. He seems to think every
one ought to be like his mother; he
doesn't say much, but he just looks
around so, and then goes clearing off a
chair to sit down. He hardly says any.
thing but to ask If supper is ready, and
then, soon as 1t is over, he puts on his
hat and 1 never see him tillf bedtime,
and not then often, for l go to bed
cause I'm lonesome"
could not but pity the forlorn little
wife, left alone all the day and even
Ing; ;but knew that she made no home
for her husband, while at his mothers
he found everything bright, the house
orderly, and the still pretty mother
prettily dressed and only too glad to
have her boy with her. l had often
pitied his wife, even while l blamed
her. However, now that she herself
had broached the subject, felt that
might offer some advice and assistance
so l said:
would you like me to help you tc
keep your husband at homer
She opened her big brown eyes as she
answered:
"Of course, 1 would. / often wonder
why Mr.. Sunny seems to really enjoy
his home so much"
/ proposed going over to her house
and with blush she consented, saying
wearily:
ut doesn't look like yours"
No, it did not, acknowledged to my
self as we entered the sitting room
passing through the dining room on oul
way, where the supper dishes were
spread on the table, just as she had
dumped-I can think Of no more fitting
term-them after they were washed
There was no table in the middle OF
the sitting room, but on a small one IL
a corner an oil lamp burned with
one-sided flame, which partly smoked
the chimney. Every chair in the room
had something on 1t, for Mrs. Haples.
said she had been looking over he
dresses and things" There was lit
ter of scraps, spools, pincushions anC
other paraphernalia for sewing on tn,
table, two fashion magazines, and ,
paper pattern unfolded; the fire wa
lew and the room chilly. suppos,
the contrast to my own made 1t appeal
more uninviting to me, and could no
but wonder where John could hav,
sat.
cleared part Of an old dress off
chair and sat down by the almost col,