The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-06-14

her like a second Macbeth.
Dick looked down with kindly, hu-
morous eyes.
Never mind" he consoled. "'Angels
are bright still. though the brightest
fell "
"Oh. please don't quote Macbeth"
She got up hastily and walked to the
window If she could only tell Dick
all about II. But of course she mustn't.
This sacrifice, like most of the sacri-
fees women make for men. must be
kept dark secret. The pathetic part
about it being in this case. as in most
similar cases, that the man, had he
known, would have been quick to repu-
diate the sacrifice. But not knowing.
it so chanced that in the long days that
followed big, kind-hearted Dick had
the role of selfish brute thrust upon
him and watched the restless light take
possession of his little wife's hereto
fore happy brown eyes. without for a
moment suspecting that his supposed
sensitiveness was at the bottom of all
her bother. He imagined. as any other
sane man would have done. that she had
met with some discouraging rebuff that
had turned her heart against her favor
lite fad. But he scarcely expected her
heart to stay turned and he certainly
did not approve of that jaded air For
Helen was suffering the same sensa-
tion that induced Macbeth to COM
plain:
"Methought heard a voice cry sleep
no more"
Had not she, too. murdered her best
friend? That stanch ally that had
borne with her the brunt of so many
battles? Small wonder that she could
not sleep. Ghosts ever walk by night
Yet she had no thought of giving over
the attempt to seep the ghost under
ground. She shook her head at the
free glad thoughts that came clamor-
ing for perpetuation and shut her eyes
against pen-pictures praying to be put
on paper. With all the might of reso-
luton she closed her heart against the
tempting intoxication of that exquisite
elf-abandonment+"T clean, strong
joy Of creating''-which once known is
agony to forego.
But the incessant fight wearied her.
and II was with last flicker of her old
whimsical fun that she put up the
prayer:
With some sweet oblivious anti
dote cleanse the stuffed bosom of that
perilous stun which weighs upon the
heart"
And presently the plot began to
thicken. for the cook took a hand. Hell
en-, having found sheets and shams a
| sorry substitute for studies. went in We
hemently for housekeeping, prowling
about the pantry. fidgeting over closet
shelves and cleaning of cutlery, con-
cocting incredible cakes to be cried
over in private. but blamed upon cooB
in public-the upshot being, that cook
exasperated. gave notice.
| 1t was at this Unlucky crisis that
Dick, noting the worried wrinkles upor
the brow that was once serene and
thoughtful, put down his coffee with
the query:
| Don't you think. Helen, that yor
should do less fancy work and-er-
read more?"
| Il can't" she replied briefly.
Dick took a prospective glance at
long line of ng-aloud-evenings anC
felt that the time had come to set asid,
delicacy of feeling and dread of intrud
ing.
why can't your" he insisted. AM
poor. tormented Helen answered tart
ly:
Because I'm letting I dare not wal
upon I would like the poor cat + tn
adager"
why. Helen,"
"oh. didn't mean to be sharp. T.
Dick laid hand on either shoulde
and looked down steadily into he
troubled eyes.
do you know" he said gently. L"
used 10 have little wife that scribble
out all her frets and worries. and sh
was such jolly little wife?" He too
pad of white paper from his pocket
also a fountain pen and a beautiful
sharpened lead pencil. and laid ther
impressiyely side by side upon the ia
BILE. Then he kissed her between he
bothered brown eyes and went ou
quickly.
Helen sank back in her chair wit
an uncertain little laugh.
why. he'd rather did," Fror
some odd corner memory brought tn
line: 1--WE seotched the snake. nc
killed it," and she laughed exultingl,
: 81 haven't even scotched It." The
] suddenly sitting up. But. o Lord Os
t ris. whose feet are upon the crocodile
:, what title that would be: "A Scotche
= Snake,'"
n When Dick came home that evenin
S he found flushed cheeks and roughene
2 hair. flying pencil and scattered sheet
I of manuscript: and settled himse
a contentedly to pipe and paper murmu
ing tenderly:
i Lay on Macduff. and damned I
: him who first cries Hold. enoughi" :