Gilpin observer., 1902-01-16

next year. They unimproved. Johns
business affairs went wrong. 1t was
the year of panic, and collections were
dithcult to make. Instinct prevented
him from groaning in the market
place. hence he brought his groans
home and discharged them in an av-
alanche at his wife.
Then John failed He came home
one night, and sat for long time be-
meath a cobweb in a corner of the
sitting room, staring with wide unsee-
ing eyes at the picture of Garfield upon
the wall, 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.
A 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 air. The clock struck nine. John
spoke.
EN-" said he, cts all over"
II lAow it," she returned. What
are you going to do about it?',
II don't know" he replied. "rm
clean discouraged-beat. I'm a poor
sticb."
You are." she agreed promptly.
He started violently. What" he
cried. you say that? 1 reckon, mad
apl, I'm as much of a 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 whenever you saw me coming
and put on your apron and rolled up
your sleeves and dabbled your hands
with flour CT grabbed up a flatiron!
You-O. know all about it! should
think you'd have been ashamed Of
yourself. letting your ma do all the
work while you Just lazed round!
should think you'd be ashamed Of
yourself this minute sitting there on
that floor tina. hain't been swept for
a week! Did you think l wouldn't find
you out? o, you deceiver you!"
He arose to bis feet, excitedly pacing
from one room to the other; then
paused, an expression OF surprise and
bewilderment in his eyes. for Emma
was smiling at him through tears.
John" she demanded. quietly, who
told you that?"
Il overheard your pa telling Squire
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. Emil"
"Yes. I have. john said she.
Mercy! Do you think I'm blind and
deaf? But 1t wasn't SO bad as pa
made 1t out to be. honest. it wasn't.
Just once l run and put on an apron
and rolled up my sleeves to deceive
you, and that time 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 al
ways teasing me about 1t afterwards.
He thinks he's an awful rich joker, pa
does. And as for my failing to keep
house good for you. John, there wasn't
any trouble till baby came. and then
| didn't have time nor strength to do
1t, and you couldn't afford to hire help,
and you wouldn't tell me why, and
and-O, John!"
She placed the child in its cradle.
and with deliberate impulsiveness
threw her arms about Johns neck.
His arm slowly wound itself about
her waist. r,
We're Just ~ foolish Gs-as the
fools, John" she sobbed.
"Fooler," declared he. decidedly. "I
hain't given you fair shake. EN-. I'm
going to be different = ~.
They were silent for an 'intertal--s
an interval Of cioss, uwordless rcom-
munion such as in the popular love