The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1904-07-08

"Of course I could not" said the
wife, picking up her baby and the tray.
you will have a beautiful day; half
envy you the nice ride; but I'm sure
you need 1t, and If were you l would
not write another word to-day. Just
lie down on the lounge and take nap,
and you will be all rested and bright
by dinner time. If any one calls I |
will say you are engaged you are, you
know, engaged for dinner) and I'll call |
you In time to dress, and bring You
some hot water. Now take my adj |
vice." and nodding aud smiling, the I'M
selfish woman drew down the shades
and left him.
And this was but a sample of their
daily lives.
Mrs. Briant, Lucys mother, was a
widow of some property After the
marriage Of all her children she had
broken up housekeeping, and had been
making a long visit to each Of her two
married sons, and now she wrote to
say If it was agreeable to Mr.. and
Mrs. Holland, she would come and
make them visit of a few weeks.
OF course Lucy, who was the young
est child and only daughter, was de-
lighted. She came, all tears and smiles
and bushes, to show the welcome let
ter to her husband. OF course he was
not quite so much elated at the pros
pect; 1t was not to be expected he
should be; and most wives would have
resented his unsympathizing colducss;
but Lucy had such a pretty. winning
way, and then she had, all uncon-
sciously, learned the habit Of arguing
with him through his own interests.
Mother is so cheerful" she said,
land so pleasant, you will find her
excellent company; and then she is
such a splendid housekeeper, and
knows everything, and Katie and are
so inexperienced. She is a capital
cook, too, and makes things go as far
again as l can. And such nice things
as she can makel l am only afraid
after she has been here you will think
don't know anything; but l shall
keep my eyes open, and try to learn
her way of doing things. l did not
think half enough of it while l lived
at home. And then she has had so
much experience with children, she is
as good as a doctor; and 1 am such a
little goose If anything ails the baby
but 1 shall feel as If he is all right If
can pop him into mothers arms,
and l shall not have to rout you up
at night to go for the doctor every
time he screws his dear little face up
into a pucker; and then she is so fond
of babies dare say she will tend him
half the time; and think how much
more time l shall have to read to you
and make parish calls"
In due course of time Mrs. Brian
made her appearance. She was a deli
cate, pleasing, lady-like little woman
with sweet brown eyes and a marvel
: ously sweet voice, that "excellen
thing in woman" Never yet cam.
Nemesis in gentler form or more al
Turing guise; but 1t was Nemesis al
the same. She was an acute and oh
serving woman; there was quiet bu
keen penetration in those soft brow
{ eyes, but there was no bitterness abou
her.
She read her son-in-law's characte
at once: the soft brown eyes wen
straight through his shallowness dow
= to his selfishness and Incidence. o
course her motherly instincts were a
). on Lucy's side, who, she saw, wa
dropping under a burden of care b'
yond her strength; but she neve
. thought OF making her unhappy b
pointing out her husbands faults I
- her; on tho contrary, she always prai
- ed him wherever she conscientiousl
- could, treated him with marked defe
ence, and made him more comfortably
. in a dozen little ways, while she we
all the time quietly loosenlng his wife
bonds and transferring them to him.
Mr.. Holland" she said to him or
10 day, in her sweet, gracious way, xvi
you have the kindness to pick us son
M peas for dinner to-day?"
ME? l pick the peas?" asked IL
=. astonished son-in-law.
~ ~ "Oh, no. no. hastily interpost
- Lucy; II will get them; was just &
ing"
~ "My dear child, no. The vines a
" wet with last nights rain; and wi
Nv your thin dressl would not have "
do it for the world; and | am sure NJ
yI- Holland would not hear of such
nv thing"
"a, mo, mol certainly not" said the re
nv erend gentleman; lit is not fit for h'
be of course" though he remembered u
easily how many times she had done
II