The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1901-04-10
MRS. SWANS $40 GOLD PIECE.
~ LOUISE MARTIN HOPKINS.

well" continued Mrs. swan, the
spring we built this house the 40 acres
of land enclosed Jy that fence was for
sale. Hiram wanted to buy 1t, but
wanted to build a house. We had
money enough to do one of these
things, but not enough for both. Hiram
thought the house might walt year,
but IL we didn't buy the land at once
Rube Thornton would.
II had my heart set on the house.
The old shanty that we'd lived In ever
since we kent house wasn't Mt to house
cattle in. II was leaky and dirty. and
the walls were full of mice and reaches
and bugs unmentionable. | didn't feel
as II I could live in 1t another year.
So we built, and before the summer
was out Rube bought the land and run
was out Rube bought the land a2d run
his line fence within ten feet Of 6cr
barn door.
Hiram was mad, and, OF course,
blamed me; although the next year,
when we got ready to buy, we got bet
ter land for less money oil the other
side-good smooth farm land, while
while Rube's 40 will never be fit for
anything but pasture. But, somehow.
the site of that fence so near has al
ways seemed to rile Hiram.
IL said then that I'd never ask him
for another thing that could possibly
get along without, ana | never have
until | asked him for that dollar last
night. I've paid for all that we've
eaten and most that we've had to wear
with butter and poultry. and I'm six
months ahead at Longs now"
Mrs. Swan rested her chin in her
hand and relapsed into moody ST.
lence. Althea folded her work and
went upstairs to get the money. A
great many things that had puzzled
her before were made plain by Mrs.
Swans confidence. She had often
wondered why Mr.. and Mrs. Swan
treated each other with such studied
coldness. She had also wondered at
the meager furnishings of the house.
The house itself was a handsome and
commodious farmhouse, but the fur
niture was the same that had been
used in the old log shanty. And Mrs.
Swan loved pretty things.
Althea liked both Mr.. and Mrs.
Swan. In the eight months that she
had made her home with them she
had, in spite of srs. Swans peculiari-
ties, come to esteem them highly. Mr..
| Swan as director of the school district
| in which she had taught, had especial
| ly won her respect.
He had seemed to her almost an
ideal officer, entering heartily into all
| her schemes for the Improvement of
the school, and showing no sign of the
parsimony of which his wife accused
him.
AS Althea opened a drawer to get
her purse. photograph lying face up
wards confronted her. She lifted the
velvet case and looked long into the
| pictured face. The clear eyes seemed
to gaze back at her with a new signifi-
cance.
1t was Hugh, dear Hugh. who was
working so hard and so patiently to
| prepare the little home for her COM
ing. Althea saw the dear face through
the mist of an almost overwhelming
desire to see him at once. She wanted
to lay her arm around his neck and
listen to his heart beat, while they
made their VOWS all over again.
Would they, could she and Hugh
ever come to be to each other what Mr.
and Mrs. Swan were? The suggestion
was altogether abhorrent to Althea
| Che bad not pracumod to bopa tbot
their united lives could be all sun
shine; sickness would come, and
troubles and worries common to hu.
mankind; aye, even death itself might
for time separate them. But not this
other
Althea laid the little picture dowr
on the bureau and bowed her face uror
1t. mot that, she murmured "oh
anything but that" 1t was almost 6
prayer.
Althea walked slowly down stairs
and laid the dollar in Mrs. Swans
hand.
81 guess Hiram's afraid we'll all di'
in the poorhouse," Mrs. Swan re
marked facetiously, as Althea re
sumed her work.
But Althea could not make a Jest o
1t. To her it was very serious mat
ter. She tried to see her own futur,
from Mrs. Swans point of view and /
frightened her. She looked up quickly
almost deflantly. She must speak.
Mrs. Swan, you are mistaken. You
husband wants you to have that So
gold piece" Althea's voice was yer!
stern.
"Wha-wha-at did you say?" gaspet
Mrs. Swan.
'He wants you to have that none
for your very own. He's sorry that h
wss cross with you about the houDe
and he wants to make 1t up IN som
way. Oh. Mrs. Swan, please forgive m
for speaking. But you have all been s.
kind to me, and ] cannot bear to Sc
you misunderstood each other in thi
cruel manner"
Althea was getting incoherent. Tn
Inc hA Lea