Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1903-02-20

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had made up her mind to assert herself
that night: She would conquer. Her
mind was master of Toms, even though
she could no longer quite turn him round
her finger by a frown or a tear as in
olden days. She was not quite sure what
would be the best way to take him, but
she would certainly begin by coaxing, wen
though it had failed once or twice before
when tried on that particular subject.
After dinner, when they went upstairs,
she pushed him gently into a chair, sat
on his knee, laced her arms round his neck
and laid her cheek against his. He re-
ceived her attentions with the complacent
calm of a two-year husband who loves his
wife, the compliment calm that is so emil
nently provoking and unsatisfactory ),
wives Of June's temperament.
"Tom," she says, ceasing to embrace
him, and laying her head against the
back of his chair, while an involuntary
mist comes across her brown eyes, "Tom,
l don't feel happy"
Tom heaves a deep, deep sigh.
mo, my DEAR" he replies. 81 don't
see how any one can be happy in this
sitting hole"
: But this answer is by no means what
June desires, or what she has wished to
lead up to.
ut isn't that" she says, feeling much
depressed. II like London, and should
enjoy myself amazingly if l didn't see
that you are not happy"
Tom heaves a still deeper sigh.
81 must bear it as best I can," he ut
tiers, in a doleful tone.
ut makes me feel selfish" says June,
ito thlnk 1 have dragged you here ana
that you are so wretched." Secretly she
thinks he is a little bit selfish not to try
to seem happier. ut takes away all my
enjoyment"
~Thereupon Tom kisses her kindly.
"Never mind, dear" he remarks. II
must manage as best l cam And" bright
ening, 81 shall run down and see the boy
for a couple of days shortly"
my darling! cries June; "do, do let us
have him up here! Do get over your
ridiculous ideas about London hurting
him, and then we should all be quite hap
py. There was a time" jealousy, "when
l could make, you happy, but now it seems
l am not enough"
Don't say that, child!' exclaims Tom,
giving her slim waist a squeeze. why,
you surely wouldn't nave me not love our
boy"
"Not more hal me-" says June, rebel
liously.
"No fear" he answers, heartily. "But
it's a different sort Of feeling. Why"
with an accent of reproach which June
feels keenly, do you think that if you
had him in your arms all day, and had
hardly even a kiss or a look for me. I
should feel a bit jealous? Why, l should
knowat was the right and natural thing"
Tom Is not the least aware that he is
planting a dagger in his wife's heart. She
does love her child dearly, but he cannot
be all in all to her. She can spare his
presence a great deal better than she can
TOMS; he would be an utterly Inadequate
consolation to her IL anything happened
to her husband.
las it," she pleads, "there were not
hundreds and thousands of healthy chill
dren in London, and here it is so airv
and nice"
"Airyw echoes Tom; "why, I feel fit to
De stihed myself; and think how much
more his tender lungs would suffer"
That is mere prejudice" answers June.
a trife shortly.
But, my DEAR" says Tom, "only think
now well the little chap is at home. and
how rosy he looks. And there is Agnes
always looking after him."
June vacates her position on Toms knee
and walks to the window. on which sbe
drums with her fingers. An angry SWELL
ing rises in her throat; it is a full minute
before she can speak.
Il do not know what business it Is Of
Agnes" she observes, presently. "And
as she has never had any experience with
children, her looking after him can hard
ly be of much value"
Il think that is rather ungratefuI of
YOU" says Tom, with more warmth tbon
is usual to him, especially when address.
ing his wife.
This was too much for June. She ainc.
herself into a chair and gives vent TO n
passion or sobs and tears. For a wonder
Tom does not fly at once to stanch her
tears, but sits looking a shade sulkv and
perturbed. This, naturally makes lime
worse. 'Ne
Il wish we had never come tn Londor
at all!' she sobs.
Tom echoes that wish most sincerely
He, however, has the wisdom to remain
silent, But silence is always exasperat.
ing to a veXed woman.
Let us give up the house and 90 back
homer sobs her ladyship, who is in q
considerable temper. IF l am only 70 ha
made miserable here, 1 wish I had never
Gomez n''ef
He does not speak, and June's wrath
increases. She pulls her handkerchief
from her face, and, looking at him with
eyes flashing through her tears, she cries.
The child is as much mine as vours,"
much more mine! What right have yo,
to separate him from me or to decide
what he shall do or not doY"
This is the first time that Tom has oro.