Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1904-07-15

leSSIy Oh the trees, anu uull CiOSIiiO
fires blaze along the east, foreboders
of storm.
1t had been very hot all day, the
farm-hands had Jagged at their work
on the lowland meadow, and all the
worlds wheels seemed to revolve as If
they were weighted. Mr.. Martin was
very tired, and withal, little cross.
Perhaps Mrs. Martin was tired, too.
She, poor soul, had been up since four
o'clock in the morning. She had
washed, taken care of four cows blk,
prepared three meals for the hungry
farmhands, been up in the quarry
woods to search for a family of ad-
venturous young turkey-chicks, sooth-
ed the sorrows of teething baby,
and mended up the suit of clothes
which Betsey Blim, the tailoress, had
declared mot worth needleful o
thread" because Thomas, her hus-
band, had said that "willful waste was
woeful want" and that there was a
deal of wear in the suit yet, if only
that was stitch taken here and there.
But her checks were pink and her
eyes sparkling when Thomas came in,
for all the heaviness of her heart and
the dull pain in her back, for little
Esther had come home from boarding
school,
Esther, the youngest sister of all,
the dax1fng of the family-circle from
which Mrs. Martin came, the pet for
whom they all had scraped and pinch
ed so that she, at least, might have a
Boston education"
And Esther sat in the window-seat,
grown into a blooming young woman,
with bronze-brown hair lying in
fluffy masses over her fair forehead,
porcelain-blue eyes, and dress all
trimmed with ribbon bows.
Look, Thomas!" cried Mrs. Martin,
excitedly, 'it's Essie! Essie come home
two days before we expected her!"
Yes, l see," said Hr Martin, in the
cold, measured tones which always
dampened his wife's enthusiasm like
so many drops of freezing water.
How do you do, Esther? Ruth, what
are you putting cold chicken on the
table for? Corned-beef is plenty
am sure. You had great deal bet
ter save the chicken for the mems
breakfast. Working folks have hearty
oppetites."
Esther Is fond of cold chicken,
whispered Mrs. Martin.
mo one need want anything better
than good corned-beef," judicially pro-
nounced Mr. Martin. Put the chicken
back into the pantry, and the apple
Jelly with it. Good stewed gooseber-
ries are relish enough for anybody
We must economic in little things as
well as large ones if we don't want
to end our days In the poor-house."
And Mrs. Martin sorrowfully obeyed
while Essie watched her brother-in-
law with large, grave eyes betokening
inward surprise.
At the end of a week, Mr.. Martin
addressed his sister-in-law with seri
Gus purpose.
well, Esther" said he, you've
been here week noy."
"Yes," said Essie, 1--WE been here a
week"
"a week is good long visit" re-
marked Mr.. Martin.
Its long enough for some things
said Essie.
Mrs. Martin thinks she would like
to have you stay" went on Mr.. Mar
ton, after a puzzled glance at the blue
shining eyes. "And although OF
course every one adds to the expense
in a family like this, I've no objection
to giving you home, provided you
are willing to earn it by hard work.
"Stop!" cried Essie, jumping up. 81
haven't asked you for a home yet
And / don't mean to. And you are
only making me the offer because
Doctor Dorian says Ruth will break
down unless she has a strong maid
servant to help her with the house
work. But there is no money that
would hire me to make myself such a
drudge poor Ruth is"
"Hoity-toity!" said Mr.. Martin
Young woman, you don't consider
whom you are talking to-
Eyes, / do" said Essie, with en-
phasis. ITO Bluebeard, to a stock
a stone, a man who is grinding his
wife's life out on the pitiless wheel OF
III, In IN ;xyr
as Ruth does, not if you would put me
in a palace!"
"Humph." said he. Zine ideas you
have got at this fashionable boarding
school of yours. Well, if you don't
like my offer, you're not obliged to ac-
|cept it. Be a fine lady, if you please
and see where it will land YOU"
BY way of answer. Este marched out
of the room with all the dignity of g
royal princess. She only stopped in
the kitchen long enough to kiss Ruth
who was in the midst of a baking.
Poor darling said she, how
wish l could carry you off with me
For stay, l WON'T"
Life is hard work, Essie, said Mrs
Martin, beginning to cry, in spite Of
herself; land it's woman's duty t.
help her husband"
And l mean to help mine-when
have one" said Essie, blushing bright,
ly. But not by wearing myself out.
Mr. Martin shook his head
eff Stephen Smith is foolish enough
to marry that saucy gypsy, she'll Lead
him a pretty life," said he. Il wonder
liz she expects TO sit on a satin sofs
all her days, with a rose in her hand
and her hair frizzled. in that prepos
ferrous fashion, all over her eyes? Blu
/ warn 'em, they need never come t.
me for help! Esther has treated M
with too much insolence for me evel
to receive her again"
Il am sure she did not mean any
thing" said Mrs. Martin, apologetical
ly.
We'll. then, her words belied he
meaning" remarked Thomas Martin
grimly COMPRISING his lips.
n,,f Cforhnu Smith was aunarnnfl7