The suburban citizen., 1900-10-13

nVe years, DelOIe Hc was D."
Il position to marry. Even
then, my family had said he
was not, since he had nothing but the
uuarter-section he had taken up in
Iowa, and only miserable howell
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, l
argued, what sort of love would mine
be, if l 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 showy
house we occupied i'm Washington last
winter.
And, indeed it was far beyond any
thing else on the prairles in the shape
Of q house, for many a mile. Our
nearest neighbors were nearly a 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
]
and tender and loving. If any one
had told me that Tom would ever be-
come a great statesman l should have
laughed in his face; but 1 should also
have believed him, because l always
knew that Tom had the real stuff in
him, and could do or be anything he
chose.
Did we never have n tiff? Alas,
there was one, thank Heaven, but one,
serious trouble between us! 1t grew
out of-well l hardly know what il
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 l 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
e 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 moi
e trusting him enough; and so it fell out
s that I spent many an anxious hOul
while Tom was away in the fields il
contrasting the blissful days when
had just come West, with the presen
time, the days when Toms eager hear
S could not express his joy at having
e me with him, with these days wher
p he sometimes never spoke except OF
. some business, and seemed to be,
thought, tired Of me and our life to
I gether Not that 1 put my thoughts
S into words; but vague fears haunted
d me, making me miserable by day, ant
rendering my nights restless with anX
ity and n half-regret that l had no
stayed with my mother.
One day, when my feelings were II
! this chaotic and truly unworthy state
y Tom came in from the field and said
g Josie 1 wish you'd mend my coat
I want it to wear over to COTS sta
tion tonight"
What for? Can go, too" l aske,
T. eagerly.
d NO" he answered promptly. Their
o seeing my face fall, he added: "Tha
, is, I'd rather you didn't. I've got som
business over there that, we'll
= that"
y "Oh! If you have business owe
d there that you don't want me to knoy
. about, all right / won't CO." l an
swered bitterly.
1t was the first, yes, the only, tim
$, I ever answered Tom in that way, an
ID he turned and looked at me in SUI
4 prise. Then he came over and kisse
me.
80 Eyes, dear, you can go. It's all rlgh
d Get ready, and Wen start early.
Is Il shall not CO." replied, in a hare
y set tone.
.. Tom was hurt, and went out Will
cut knowing how ached to have hir