The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1900-11-01

then. my family had said he
was not, since he had nothing but the
quarter-section he had taken up IN
Iowa, and only q miserable hovel,
as they called the little one-story
house which must be our first home.
But five years is long time to wait,
when two hearts are as impatiently
loving as ours were. And besides,
argued, what sort Of love would mine
be, if I would not go with Tom until
he had a mansion to put me into? And
SO, in spite of everything, Tom had
come East for me, and we were mar
ried.
We were very happy. 1t did not
seem to me that two mortals could
be so happy on earth as we two were
for that first year. The house, it is
true, was very small, with only two
rooms below and a loft above; but l
had brought my old books and pic
lures, with the few new ones that had
been given us when we were married,
and after we had papered our tiny
house, with our own hands, and put
down the bright wool carpet in the
front room, we felt more proud of our
little home than we have ever been
of any other since, even the snowy
house we occupied in Washington last
winter.
And, indeed, it was far beyond any
thing else on the prairies in the shape
of house, for many a mile. Our
nearest neighbors were nearly mile
away, so that we were obliged to de-
pend entirely on each other for COM
pany; but we were so abSurdly in love
that neither of us minded that; on the
contrary, it would have been a great
trial to either of US had there been
neighbors to come dropping in upon
our cosy tete-a-tetes as we sat just out
side our door on those first summer
evenings.
But young folks can't always be
young folks, and Tom and I, fond as
we are of each other, can never be SO
romantically happy again as we were
during those first two years. Tom
was so strong and manly, so patient
and tender and loving. If any one
had told ne that Tom would ever be-
come great statesman, should have
laughed in his face; but l should also
have believed him, because I always
knew that Tom had the real stuff in
him, and could do or be anything he
chose
Did We never have q tiff? Alas!
there was one, thank Heaven, but one,
serious trouble between us! 1t grew
out of-well, I hardly know what 1t
did start from. Tom had become used
to seeing me always around, and hav-
ing me spring to meet him every time
he came in; he was happy and con-
tented in the fact that l was always
there; but 1 grew foolish. AS time
went on and Tom grew accustomed to
my presence and helpful ways, he
gradually dropped the tender word Of
thanks, the appreciative Smile, or the
parting kiss. Crops did not turn out
well the third year, and he had some
debts to meet. He grew worried, and
sometimes restless.
Like some other young wives, mis-
construed his carelessness and alb
straction. and. on my part, fell short
in my duty, all unconsciously, by not
trusting him enough; and so it fell out
that 1 spent many an anxious hour
while Tom was away in the fields in
contrasting the blissful days when l
had just come West, with the present
time, the days when Toms eager heart
could not express his joy at having
me with him, with these days when
he sometimes never spoke except on
some business, and seemed to be, l
thought, tired of ne and our life to-
gether. Not that 1 put my thoughts
into words; but vague fears haunted
me, making ME miserable by day, and
rendering my nights restless with anx-
fly and a half-regret that had not
stayed with my mother.
One day, when my feelings were in
this chaotic and truly unworthy state,
Tom came in from the field, and said:
"Josie, I wish you'd mend my coat.
want it to wear over to Goff's sta
tion tonight"
what for? Can I go, too:" asked
eagerly.
"No," he answered promptly. Then,
seeing my face fall. he added: THAT
is, I'd rather you didn't. I've got some
business over there that, we'll
that"
"Oh! II you have business over