The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-27
LOVES SECOND DEGREE.
BY D. H. TALMADGE.
bI D' 1Hs INkz11'f~E"~ - 1901. by Daily Story Pub col

fcopyright. 1901. by Daily Story Pub Col a :gs.xx $ ss ss ss wicker perambuiator and opened ledger | account with the leading doctor. Life for the blissful couple was on in real earnest and life in real earnest is a pretty serious matter. | It was then that the covering of the | ideals began to loosen in places and fall | off By the end of one more year the \ the cost of living. Emma neglected her back hair. He discovered with a shock | that the cooking was badly done and I that the house was badly kept. He ut. was momentarily paralyzed by the sight | of Emma shedding great soaking tears. | He had thought her superior to such petty weakness.
 Alas and alas! Matters did not improve during the next year. They unimproved.N Johns business affairs went wrong. It was the year of panic and collections were diffi- cult to make. Instinct prevented him from grooming in the market place. hence he brought his groans home and dis charged them in an avalanche at his wife.
 This was not pleasant for Emma She had troubles of her own, which troubles she verbally discharged at John in re- taliation. She wanted many things which could be obtained only by the outlay of
 
 John became soggy and ugly. Emma became loggy and spitefui. A figurative fog settled about them, and through the murkiness they saw themselves as
 Then John failed. He came home one night. and sat for long time beneath a cobweb in a corner of the sitting room, staring with wide unseeing eyes at saying nothing, needless of the food upon the table.
 Emma sat in the kitchen. rocking ceaselessly, their child asleep in her arms. She knew what had happened. glance at John had told her all she cared to be told.
 So the minutes became hours, and the fire died out, and chill came into the
 En-" said he. its all over"
 T know It." she returned. What are you going to do about it?'
 discouraged-beat. I'm a poor stick"
 "You are" she agreed promptly.
 He started violently. What" he cried You say that? I reckon, madam. I'm as much of success as you-you that deceived me-that lured me to marry you under false pretenses! You that made out to be helping your ma so good with the housework! You that run when your apron and rolled up your sleeves and dabbled your hands with four or grabbed up a fiatiron! You-O I know all about 1t! I should think you'd have been ashamed of yourself, letting your ma do all the work while you just lazed rcundi I should think you'd be ashamed of yourself this minute sitting there on that floor that hain't been swept Tor week. Did you think I wouldn't find you out? O, you deceiver you" He arose to his Feet, excitedly pacing from one room to the other; then paused, ment in his eyes, for Emma was smiling at him through tears.
 John" she demanded, quietly. "who told you that?'
 Wigham,' he said, "and they seemed to think twas the best joke ever was. But 1t hurt me fearful and rolled me up. You've no idea how 1t rolled me up, Em!''
 Do you think I'm blind and deaf? But 1t wasn't so bad as pa made 1t out to be. honest, 1t wasn't. Just once run and put on an apron and rolled up my sleeves to deceive you, and that tune twas because I'd torn a big hole in the front of my dress and the sleeves were all stained up with raspberry juice. Pa was always teasing me about 1t after wards. He thinks he's an awful rich jok- CT, pa does. And as for my falling to keep house good for you, John' there wasn't any trouble till baby came. and then I didn't have time nor strength to do it, and you couldn't afford to hire help and you wouldn't tell me why and-and-O. John!'
 She placed the child in it's cradle, ana with delib crate impulsiveless threw her arms about Johns neck. His arm SLOW ly wound itself about her waist
 Were just as foolish es-as the fools' John," she sobbed. ~
 "Fooler" declared he, decidedly. T hain't given you a fair shake, Elm. I'm going to be different
 They were silent for an interval-an interval of close wordless communion such as in the popular love tales tales pre- companies it. Emma broke the silence at last with whisper.
 John. Pm awful sorry about the
 Don't you worry about that" sail John. I'm no worse off than lots of others. It don't fret me mite-not
 Then he turned up the lamp and re- kindled the fire and drew the curtains. and they sat down comfortably with beaming faces to tea and mullins just as the clock struck ten. Read