Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1900-09-05

dance II there was nobody to see me,
for l guess one Of my feet must be a
Methodist, am 20 awkward on the
n0Or. And he chuckled softly.
The last tack was In now He stood
up and surveyed his work with an ex-
preston Of satisfaction. and then be-
gan to gather up his tools.
Tell me about your marriage and
what it is that makes you SO happy"
said the mistress of the house per-
suasively.
He was quite willing to comply with
her request He slipped on his thread
bare coat and. leaning. tall and un-
calmly. against the doorpost. he folded
his arms and began half apologet1-
cally:
II know very well that hadn't
ought to marry. there being circum-
stances In life when a man has NO
right to think Of his own comfort.
The rest all took 1t for granted that
I'd never marry. and 1 always said
wouldn't But that was before I'd
seen Lizzie.
'She was also alone in the world,
poor little thing. and worked in a res
taurant downtown. l couldn't afford
to take many meals at restaurants, as
you may guess, but I used to drop into
that one sometimes and order a dough
nut and a cup Of coffee. II couldn't
get q seat at Lixzie's table. 1 could
watch her wait on other people. and
even that was worth a good deal"
You considered her pretty, OF
Yes. ma'am, as a picture. You'd
never see a prettier complexion, or
clearer blue eyes, or nicer hair, of q
light color. and soft a. q child's, and
her hands were little bits Of white
hands like a born lady's. She had
such a kind look on her face, too, and
wearing Ter white apron, always SO
spic and span clean. and that little
white cap. she looked like an angel to
me. though l expect angels don't ever
wear aprons and caps.
Il don't know. l don't indeed, how
I ever mustered up courage enough to
ask girl like that to marry me. But
did. and she said yes though I was
4 good deal older than she was, and
was poor. and nothing to look at. Then
there came the dread of telling the
folks at home. I knew mighty well
they wouldn't like 1t. and they didn't.
and mother were both awfully
huffy about II, and Aunt Jane was Just
said she'd always known that
men were selfish. but she hadn't
thought that even l could be so bad
as to take the bread out Of my own
mouths to give to a stranger,
4 silly girl, she said, who'd daunt
round and put all my wages on to her
own back.
We'll, did feel little guilty when
they called me selfish. and 1 could un-
ierstand Just how they felt about it.
but l lost my temper and made Aunt
Jane keep quiet when she began on
Lizzie.
four years agony wife wanted to
keep right on in her old place, but
wouldn't hear to II. I'd married her
70 take care Of her, and was going to
10 1t II l worked my fingers to the
bone. But she was such q good house
Keeper and fine manager that she saved
money cut Of what gave her for the
butcher and groceryman, and We just
had loads Of pleasure ON what she
,aved. Saturday she'd flx lunch in
/ basket. and when my work was done
we'd meet some place and 60 to the
,ark, where we'd have q little picnic
Ill to ourselves. In the winter We
sometimes went to the theater, not
he expensive ones where they cut and
lash around In grand style. but to the
O-cent shows. where they come out and
ing and dance.
1T wasn't reasonable to expect that
uch luxury and happiness could last
ong, and II didn't. Lizzie was taken
lick and had to go to the hospital, AMI
here was weeks and weeks Of misery
or her and me. When abe came out |
he was Ike a little ghost. and though !
Ter eyes were as pretty As ever, she |
ouldn't SEQ out II then any more"
His voice faltered and his listener
aid alphabetically:
That 10 very sad for both of you"
Tho doctors gave US a little hope,
'ut told Us not to build too much on II.
they said that as her blindness was
aused hy q surgical operation, and
ot by a disease Of the eye itself, she
night get her sight back some tine,
nd suddenly.
..She must have led q miserable life
II day with the old people, all Of 'em
o fretful, and she all in the dark. but
he little woman never complained.
When "a ask her about 1t she'd beg me
ot to talk about her. but to tell her
rhat I'd seen during the day. And !
sed to tell her of the nne houses I'd
een in and Of the ladies I'd seen. and
escribe what they had on. though
ont think could write for q fashion
ook. I'd tell her the funny things
nat happened to make her laugh, and
3 I don't SEQ much really. being al
'ays SO busy when I'm in peoples
ouses. got to making up lots and lots
things that never happened. Why.
was only Yesterday that told her
ID man and a cross-eyed woman. and
either of 'em ever lived in this world,
r any other. Ananias amt in 1t with
le!
But this morning. this blessed morn
lg. while was taking my breakfast,
~ wife got up from her chair. and
utting her arms around my neck, be
an to cry. oh, Joer she says. just
ke that; oh, Joer
1T wasn't a bit like her 70 act 20.
nd says, astonished:
Why, Liz. what's the matter with
our And abe says. I can seov