The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1901-11-14
EI
MRS. BROWNS
VACATION.|
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES


spotless white against its sides. A new
range was set up in the kitchen; re-
frigerator took the place of the swing
ing shelves In the damp cellar, and
some thousands of steps were saved,
or would be when she came home.
The farmer arose early, ate in silence
his lonesome breakfast, and walked
thoughtfully out through the gate and
down the lane In the rank grass behind
the brown-eyed cattle he was driving TO
pasture. At noon he rested.
Shoulderlng his scythe, he walked
briskly up to the lonely dwelling TO
which, by this time, he was becoming
reluctantly accustomed, and stopped
with one foot on the sunken doorstone.
He had left the door shut. Now 1t was
wide open. The top of the new range
sent out waves of fervent heat which
mingled with the scintillating sun
waves outside and set the air to throb-
bling. There was great Gathering of
stove-llds and kettle-covers; and in the
midst of 1t all little woman In clean
calico gown, red spot glowing bright
ly in either cheek, and half-laughing,
half-deiant light In the eyes raised as
he entered.
"Well. JOSIAH" she said, shortly, as
he dropped into a chair near the door.
He regarded her with look of sheep
lsh admiration.
$50 you've come home, Mirandy," he
said. pleasantly. wall, rs powerful
glad. I've missed We all the time you've
been gone. It's been lonesomer'n thun-
der, an he rose, and coming to her
side, looked down on her from his SUI
perior stature-"an'," he continued, the
least bit shamefacedly, 1--WE fixed
things up a bit better for ye. Do you
like It'll"
There was an almost lover-like ear
nestness in the tone In which this ques-
ton was asked. and she hesitated a
moment In genuine surprise before re-
plying.
why, yes. Josiah, 1t looks real nice.
This stove is a fine baker. I've been
awful busy sence come back"
A little smile curved the corners of
her mouth as she made this reply, but
he did not notice that. He was FUN
bling In his vest pocket with his thumb
and finger.
There's some things, of course" he
said, quite humbly, tibet a woman can
git handier'n a man. I'll give you the
money, any day you say, an you an
nell drive over to the city an git what
ever you think you need. guess 1
hain't noticed how the house was run
MIN down." he added, half apologetic-
ally.
A real twinkle cleaned in the droop-
! ing eyes for a moment. then faded as
look OF genuine compassion dawned
in its stead.
II knew you was lonesome" she said.
trife irrelevantly to his last utter
ance, but | thought you could stand
/ 1t, an'-an l needed the rest"
"Oh, yes, | got along all rights
wells a man can alone, l reckon" he
made reply. Then with a sudden
movement he pulled himself together
and asked the question he had been
dying to put to her since he had come
In from the field.
"Mirandy," he said solemnly, and
she turned to him again as his voice fell
ON her ear, Il want ye to tell me one
thing, eff you will; amt askin' IL If We
amt willin' to tell, ut"-hesitatingly--
II would like to know"
"WellY' she interpolated, coolly.
where hev you KEEP yourself
where'ye you been visitln' all this
time? His wife was a woman who
never laughed. Her life had been too
rugged for that But the faintest rip
pie qulvered about her mouth as she
answered him.
I'm the attic"
He started as il she had struck him.
"WhatY he said, quickly.
Eyes, in the attic; no further an no
nearer than that"
Her voice showed her keen apprecia-
ton of his surprise as she continued
her explanation.
II thought 1t all over, an thought If
you could be SO mean an selfish as to
refuse your wife a little bit of pleasure
after all the work she had done for you
why, she must take a rest herself,
that was all. l hadn't any money to go
anywhere with, so ! just slyly carried
yictuals an things enough to last me
into the attic. and there I've stayed
the whole blessed time. Seen every
thing you've done, too" she added tri-
umphantly.
A shade of discontinue passed over
the farmers face, but it was succeeded
by a smile. "Wal, that's a good 'un,"
he said; then presently. wouldn't you
like to go to Helen's now for littleY
He showed her the edge of a bank
note he was holding in his closed hand.
But her reply was prompt and ener-
getic.
mo" she said. decidedly, you've
done enough. I'm satisfied; an be-
sides" -glancing about her at the neg
lected kitcnen-"this house Is terrible
dirty | think shall stop at home till
that's cleaned"
And she did.-The Household.
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The OYSTER.