The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1902-04-18
No. ss
4 Bit Of Life.

he drove into the big gate, "if
didn't forget that present ! was
goin' to bring Mary, again.
thought Of it when l was in the
Grmeses store, and again at The
postoflice, but then it clean went
out Of my head" f"
lie gave the nigh horse cutwith
his whip to express his annoyance,
and rode up with something Of o
flourish to the barn.
Mary heard him coming, and a
thrill Of expectancy stirred in her
heart.
Wouldn't it be funny If he
should remember what day this is,
she whispered to herself with a
smile, "and bring me a weddin' re-
minder? OF course, I'm foolish to
think OF il. Our folks amt great
hands to make presents; but last
year pa told me that he certainly
would a-fetched me something from
town if he hadn't forgot all about
it,"
She walked back and forth, lay
ing the neat table as she talked to
herself aloud, after the manner OF
country women who are much clone.
IL do wonder If he'll bring me
something for silver weddin' pres.
ent. | made up my mind when
Christmas passed that he was savin'
my present for to- day. Dear mel"
She put her hand up to her thin
cheek that was now as rosy as q
girls. 81 declare, I'm as frustrated
over gettin' little gift as | can
bel"
She stood on tiptoe to peer into
the blurred kitchen mirror, and
patted her hair into smoothness
with trembling hands.
"lf pa should remember" she
said. IF he should"
"Why, Hiram, what brings you
home so early?"
She stood before him blushing
and smiling, and trying to keep all
the eagerness out Of her voice. But
his vague regret made him cross.
II guess can come home when
Il want to, can't II" he said.
"There amt any reason why l
should stay in town when get
ready to come home as | know u.
!, Where's my slippers?"
i Without q word the articles were
fished out from under the sofa and
handed to him. Hope was not
quite yet extinguished in Mary's
breast, for she saw a number OF
bundles on the table. Maybe after
all
4 She felt OF each as she put it
, away. The first was heavy. Her
timid hands touched its irregular
| sides speculatively. 1t contained
shingle nails. The next package
was sugar. The next coffee. The
1.-TWO jugs held molasses and vinegar
respectively. Then in the breast OF
the farmers wife took place the
I change which battles psychologists
and doctors alike. She had been
| this mans wife for twenty-five
: years. She had met the sorrows
and tragedies Of that period without
: moments faltering in her love for
/, him. But when she looked over
that table and did not find that lit
Tile remembrance Of that long-dis-
: Itant wedding day, her love went out
} like a candle flame, and went out
: forever.
: She went into her room and be-
E gan picking up her keepsakes and
: belongings and packing them in q
| huge carpet-bag with determined
/ tlhands. Then she put on her bon
s met and shawl and in a few mo-
d |ments more was hurrying away with
tlindependence in her very tread.
1 III guess I can earn my own keep
q somewhere" she said; 81 never did
s get any moIe'n my board and
lclothes.
And late that night, when Hiram
had resigned himself to getting his
: own supper, Mary was washing up
'fIthe tea dishes in her new place"
a in wn.-Chicago Journal.