New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1905-12-27

the wood shed, his arms full of kin
dlings.
| He paused on the living room thresh-
old and said simply, II think I'll work
awhile in the study this evening, my
dear"
She did not allow herself to speak,
but nodded at him brightly. Later her
lips set themselves firmly as she heard
the study door close, She felt hurt at
the apparent lack Of confidence on her
husbands part even in slight matter
A tear rolled over her still rounded
cheek Then she took herself to task.
She ratified the dishes and said aloud
to divert her thoughts, II hope Niece
Mary will never learn about that cat"
My dear,' came a voice from the
study, ARE you speaking?'
She appeared, her hands full of dish
es, and smiled Loyalty at the doctor in
the study door opposite. YES, Jack, I
about Niece Mary"
Dr. Spud smiled and, closing the
door. quietly turned the key. This was
the straw that broke the camels back.
Mrs. Spud stood bewildered. She had
never heard that key turned against
her before. She went back to the
kitchen and remained there a long
time. She no longer conversed with
herself about the cat.
But an hour later, when DR.. Spud IN
locked the study door and backed up
to the living room stove in his favorite
attitude, his nearsighted eyes saw an
apparently placid Mrs. Spud comfort
ably seated in her big rocker, and
while he stood, his hands clasped be-
hind him, she read the locals aloud,
as usual.
The next morning she aWoke early
and began wondering with an uncom-
Portable heaviness of heart whether the
study fire would be built that day. It
was. Directly after tea DR.. Jack again
appeared with his arms full Of wood
and said in his mild, affectionate voice,
MY dear, l think I shall occupy the
study awhile tonight and his wife
whispered to herself over the dishpan
'Why did 1 go to Niece Mary's on
New Years day." and her lip quivered
pitifully with the whisper
Whatever the work was, it proved to
be daily task. Until a warm June
sun heated the study DR.. Spud carried
his arm full of kindling from the
wood shed directly after tea. II he no
| ticed that his wife gradually busted
herself in other parts Of the house al
! that time he made no comment, and
| the subject, after few weeks was
never mentioned by either.
AS the year wore itself out the peo
pie of Shemung began to remark tt
each other that at last Mrs. Spud was
beginning to show her age. II this
were true, it was due to the daily
turning Of the key in the study door
| That represented the only sore SPOT he1
! heart held
To DR.. Jack she was the same loyal
loving wife that he had always known
Not a shadow from the study door die
she allow to fall across her manner
| with him. Otherwise she would have
| scorned herself.
But to herself she acknowledged tina
/ it was the longest year she had evel
spent This thought was uppermost il
her mind as she sat on New Years eve
| beside the stove in the living room
| reading the daily paper. She was alone
/ and had been for longer time thar
usual, for the study door was closed
Suddenly the outside doorbell rang
Mrs. Spud laid aside the paper an6
arose to respond. Before she had
reached the door, however, it opened
and young man came tramping in
where's the doctor?' was his I'm
ceremonious greeting. "Mr Brown Il
dying
Mr. Brown was DR.. Spuds last pa
tient.
DYING cried Mrs. Spud, aghast.
She started toward the study door
Her hand was on the knob before she
recalled herself. She stopped. She
had not once during the year approach
ed that locked door.
1.-THE doctor is in his Office" she sale
In low tone. will you step in ant
tell him"
The young man gave her a surprised