Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1904-06-10

TIER husbands friend had been
I'll making series of severe remarks
anent the inkspot upon her finger, her
flushed face, disordered hair and several
sheets OF scattered manuscript:
"'Ye cannot serve two masters, and
1t is my duty as your friend and his
friend to tell you SO plainly. And
must say that 1t seems to me that this
inspiration-I believe that is the word
you literary people use-this love of
scribbling, could be easily buried be-
meath love Of husband and home"
1T is not an easy something to bury
beneath anything" the young wife OBJ
jected. "or rather, like Banquo's ghost,
1t refuses to stay in the ditch"
Rises at the feast and mars 1t, Ell?
Well, I'm sorry for you'll am sorry
for you both" Severe gray eyes looked
down critically into bothered brown
ones, and her husbands friend smiled
loftily. We'll, I've said all that feel
justified in saying. Good-by, dear child.
l suppose you know what generally
happens when man begins to feel
himself neglected." hsE
Helen murmured that she did and
watched the erect figure sweep down
the garden path. Co." she quoted soft
ly, land stand not upon the order of
your going" Then she sat down to
think. Was she neglecting Dick, the
dear old darling? Conscience came
a ready accuser. Last evening she had
written from tea until bedtime. True
he had seemed to be. enjoying his
paper, but he was so kind and patient
so strong and forceful, and so much
older than she. OF course he wouldn't
complain. And this was not the first
time 1t had happened oh" with 9
thrill of uneasiness, "he might just al
well have gone on being an old bache.
lor' Then, with quick self-reproach
81 should be ashamed. am. 1t IL
silly. My stories never amount to any.
thing anyway. Half the things l write
are rejected. Why can't bury thi,
ghost that Is haunting our feast ant
keep 1t buried?" She dropped her heat
into her hands. 1t would be hard Il
foreswear scribbling-how hard onl,
4 those who have scrubbed know-ant
she shrank from making resolution
that she might not be strong enough tt
keep. But as his step, with a tire,
sound to 1t, struck the stair she starte,
up, seized the scattered sheets an,
thrust them into the CRATE &.
1T is concluded she muttered
whimsically, |" Banquo, thy soul
fight if 1t find heaven, must find it GU
tonight.
"Oh, Dick. dear, am SO glad yo
have come. have just been plannin
one of those cosy, chatty little even
ings like we used to have when W
were first married"
Sure, sweetheart" Dick said. COT
daily, but his spirit groaned He ha
just been planning repetition of las
evening. Peace and pipe and paper
with his little wife scribbling happil
al his elbow. 1t rested him to lea
back and smoke and watch the light a
1t came and went in her dear youn
face 1t is so much easier, this siler
presence, when one is tired. But Hele
was saying:
"Or If you feel like reading aloud T.
find some fancywork." Dick was d.
lighted, of course, and after the tie
table was cleared and the curtain
4 drawn, he took down a book and b.
gan to read like little man. Hele
listened with conscientious alertnes
Frequently, at the suggestive turn {
phrase the ghost would arise and S
y down in the chair opposite; but lool
s ing at her dear boys tired face an
feeling the WEAKNESS in his voice, 81
e found it easy to order her Banquo bac
: beneath the sod.
: II will hem those sheets tomorrow
e she reflected exultingly, "and make
r pair of pillow shams. l must not II
Q to read. That would be regular picl
It ak for letting the ghost out. Poor fe
S low, wonder If he has been feelir
It neglected"
s And the next day and the next, Die
no longer neglected, came YEARLY hon
% to read aloud until he began to thir
e wistfully of bachelor days. At last u
n inevitable evening came that broug
1t the despairing question::
h what has become of your writin
e. little woman?" t7a W>
.e ooh, l don't know" Helen repli
h hurriedly. Just then she was longil
t. for her writing" with all her SOUL al
re this abrupt entrance of the ghost shoe
st her like a second Macbeth.