The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1904-08-12
FARMvILLE VA, FRIDAY, AUGUST p 1904

This sacrifice. Ike most OF the sacri-
fees women make for men. must be
kept a dark secret The pathetic part
about IL being In this case. as in most
similar cases, that the man, had he
known, would have been quick 10 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 wifes hereto
fore happy brown eyes. without for a
moment suspecting that his supposed
sensitlveness 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
ite fad But he scarcely expected her
heart TO stay turned and he certainly
did not approve Of that iaded air For
Helen was suffering the same sensa-
tiOn that induced Macbeth 20 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 b. night
Yet she had no thought OF giving over
the attempt 10 Keep 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 10 Dc put
on paper With an the might Of reso-
luton she closed her heart against the
tempting intoxicatiOn Of that exquisite
self-abandonment-"The clean, strong
Joy Of creating (Which once known IS
agony 20 forego.
But the ncessant fight wearied her.
and It 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
sorry substitute for studies. went in We
hemently for housekeeping. prowling
about the pantry fdeeuug over closet
shelves and cleaning Of cutlery. con-
cOcting incredible cakes 10 be cried
over in private but blamed upon cook
in pubic-the upshot being. that cook.
exaspersted gave notice
II was az this unlucky crisis that
Dick. noting the worried wrinkles upon
the brow that was once serene and
thoughtful. put down his coffee with
the query:
Don't YOU think. Helen. that you
should do less fancy work and err
read more?"
Il can't" she replied briefly
Dick took a prospective glance at
long line Of reading g-aloud-eveuings and
felt that the time had come 10 set aside
delicacy Of feeling and dread Of intrud-
ing
why can't you?" he insisted and
poor, tormented Helen answered tart
ly.
Because I'm letting dare not wait
upon I would Ike the poor cat T. the
adagel"
why Helen,"
"Oh. didn't mean to be sharp. +"
Dick laid a hand on either shoulder
and looked down steadily into her
troubled eyes
do you know" he said gently. "I
used 10 have a little wife that scrlbbled
out all her frets and worries. and she
was such Jolly little wife?" He took
a pad Of white paper from his pocket.
also a fountain pen and a beautifully
sharpened lead pencil. and laid them
impressively side by side upon the Ia
bic Then he kissed her between her
bothered brown eyes and went out
quickly.
Helen sank back in her chair with
an uncertain little laugh
why, he'd rather I did," From
some odd corner memory brought the
line; I've scotched the snake. not
killed H." and she laughed exultlngly.
II haven't even scotched IT," Then
suddenly sitting up. But o Lord Osi-
ris. whose feet are upon the crocodles.
what title that would be. "A scofched
Snakei
When Dick came home that evening
he found flushed cheeks and roughened
hair. flying pencil and scattered sheets
OF manuscript; and settled himself
contentedly to pipe and paper murmur-
Ing tenderly:
Lay on Macduff and damned be
him who first cries Hold, enough" '"