The Washington times., 1903-11-22


arise as it We're out OF a crease in the
level earth. Her husband on his horse.
How many hundreds Of times she had
seen him appear over the rim OF the
world. Just as he was appearing now.
She lit the LAMP and put it in the win
dow. She blew the log fire to a blaze.
The flrelight danced on the wooden
walls, crowded with cheap pictures, and
on the few precious daguerreotypes that
reminded her she, too. had brothers and
sistsrs. ana kin of her own far away in
one Of those Southern cities where the
war was snoldering grimly on.
Her husband took his horse around
and stalled him. Presently he came in.
They stood moment together In silence,
as their custom was, and she leaned her
forehead against his shoulder. Then
she busted herself with his supper. and
he sat down heavily at the little table.
Had you any difficulty this time in
getting the money together" she asked.
Her husband was rent collector.
None" he said abstractedly. 'at
least-yes-a little. But 1 have it all.
and the arrears as we'll It makes a
large sum"
He was evidently thinking Of some
thing else, She did not speak again. She
saw something was troubling him.
II heard news today at Phillips" he
said at last, which I don't like If I
had heard in time and if could have
borrowed a fresh horse I would have
ridden straight 10 - But it was
too late in the day TO be safe, and you
would have been anxious what had be-
come of me If 1 had been out all night
with all this money on me. shall go
tomorrow as soon as it is light"
They discussed the business which
took him to the nearest town. thirty
miles away. where their small savings
We're invested. somewhat precariously as
it turned out. What was safe. who was
safe while the invisible war between
North and South smoldered on and on2
It had not cone near them, but rs an
earthquake. which is engulhng cities
in one part OF Europe viii rattle a tea
cup without overseeing it on a cottage
shelf half continent away, so the civil
war had reached them at last.
I take hopeful view he said: but
his face was overcast Il don't see
why we should lose the little We have.
II has been hard enough TO scrape il
together. God knows. Promptitude and
joint action with Reynolds will probably
save it. But l must be prompt. He
stin spoke abstractedly, as even now
he were thinking of something else.
He began to take out OF a leathern
satchel various bags of money.
Shall help you count it?"
She often did so.
They counted the himsy. dirty paper
money together and put It all back
into the various labeled bags
1T comes right" he said
Suddenly she aid. But you can't
pay it into the bank tomorrow if you
go to -"
I know. he said. looking at her;
ever since / heard Phillips news. 1
don't like leaving YOU with all this
money in the house. but I must"
She was silent She was not frightened
for herself. She was not nervous, as he
was. but she had always shared with
him certain dread Of those bullying
bags and had always been thankful 70
see him return safe-he never went twice
by the same trac&-after paying the
money in. In those wild days. when
men went armed, with their lives IN
their hands It was not well to be known
10 have large sums about you.
He looked at the bags. frowning.
4 am not afraid" she said
There is no real need to be-" he said
after moment. When I leave tomor-
row morning it vii, be thought 1 have
gone TO pay it in. Still"
N.NON-~ON~N-N.NJO0N.NUN