The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-08-05

'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 1t. Be a fine lady, If you please,
and see where 1t will land you"
BY way Of answer, Este marched out
of the room with all the dignity of a
royal princess. She only stopped in
the kitchen long enough to kiss Ruth,
who was in the midst of baking.
Poor darling" said she, "how
wish i could carry you off with me.
For stay, l WON'T"
Life is hard work, Essie, said Mrs.
Martin, beginning ia cry, in spite of
herself; land it's woman's duty to
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. 81 wonder
if she expects to sit on q satin sofa
all her days, with rose in her hand,
and her hair frizzled, in that prepos-
ferrous fashion, all over her eyes? But
warn EN-, they need never come to
me for help! Esther has treated me
with too much insolence for me ever
to receive her again.
81 am sure she did not mean any
IN cold NTrc Mo rfiY1 apo1Oootioo1
ly.
well, then, her words belied her
remarked Thomas Martin,
grimly COMPRISING his lips.
But Stephen Smith was apparently
undaunted by the possibilities of ruin
predicted by Farmer Martin, for he
married Esther and went to the city
to live, within three months.
"Ill give 'em year to come back
here and eat humble pie" said Martin
vindictively
"Oh, Thomas, don't talk SOL" said
his wife. Zone would think you would
be glad to- have some evil befall
them!"
"And so I should" said Martin,
viciously grinding his teeth together
THAT girl needs lot of humbling,
and l hope she'll get It,"
Three years afterward there came
one Of those terrible droughts that un-
do farmers life-work in a season,
and swept away his prospects as an
autumn wind sweeps a sere forest.
The cattle died, pestilence broke out
among the flock of sheep, which Thos.
Martin had just brought high wind
blew his best barn over, and diaster
stared him in the face on every side.
cts no use talking" he said. 81
can't meet this years interest on the
mortgage. The place will have to CO."
"Oh, Thomas!" groaned Mrs. Mar
tin, who, poor soul, now lay all day
on a hard wooden lounge, and groaned
to see how woefully she was needed at
the helm
Il can't help it," said Martin.
Everything is against me-"
Its only five hundred dollars" said
Mrs. Martin. you might borrow it,"
Who'd lend to me, I'd like to
know" said Martin, remembering
with a sigh how he had hardened his
face against every humble suppliant in
the golden days of his prosperity.
There's Esther's husband" sug-
gested Ruth. 1--WE heard that he is
doing we'll in Boston. And, after all,
Esther's my own sister"
Mr.. Martins features contracted in
to hideous grimace. OF all the Bit
ter cups which circumstances had held
to his lips of late this was the bitter
est.
But it had to be swallowed. There
was no help for it,
81 didn't suppose Smiths folks lived
as genteel as this" said he to himself,
as neat maid led him across an oc-
tagonal vestibule, f1oored with black
and-red marble, and fragrant with
flowers, under the golden fringe Of an
antique portiere, into a large, taste
fully-furnished room, where the sing
ing birds, the open piano. the low sat
in sofa all betokened no lack of
money.
Yes-Mr. Smith was at home. He
had not yet gone to the store, and
presently he came In, waving welcom-
ings to the man who had married Es-
theirs sister.
LEND you thousand dollars?" said
he. "Of course we can lend you
thousand dollars. What Is money for
If not to help each other with. Oh,
yes. We've a snug little sum laid
up in the bank. and we live very COM