The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1905-12-27

l III
"Jack, dear, wasn't it awful?' she
whispered.
"Why, no, Beth! 1 rather liked it."
"Tiked itr My hat is full Of rice
and your shoulders are simply covered
with 1t. The publicity Of it, Jack! II
they'd only let US slip of quietlyI Now
every one will know that we're just
married. You mustn't pay any atten-
ton to mel You must read your paper,
and them
"'And thenT" smiling whimsically.
'Why, then you must go into the
smoking car, dear"
When Jack abandoned his paper for
cigar the old lady behind Beth leaned
forward. Excuse me-" she said, "bur
are you going far?"
Eyes, a long distance" Then the
kind old face won her confidence, and
she added volubly: my husband has q
farm out west. We are going there
now, but we intend to stop at several
places on the way"
~ was thinking" the old lady said,
''of the many bridal couples that have
them, wonder, are as happy now as
they dreamt they'd be7''
"Oh, many, 1 hope" said the little
bride wistfully. Don't you think So"
sit all depends. OF course the honey
moon can't last forever. A man may
love his wife better every day-he prob
ably does-but he forgets to tell her so,
and woman's heart Is curious thing.
She can't live on faith and apple dump
lings." Then she added, my dear, If
your husband ever forgets to show you
any Of the little signs Of affection 1
want you to remember that he loves
you just the same and believes in your
love for him, but, being q man, he isn't
continually looking for a sign"
'Thank you," Beth whispered CRATE
fully, land I'll remember"
The old lady left the car at the next
station, and Jack returned.
In less than two months Beth was
the established mistress Of the farm
house, though Jacks Aunt Mehitabel,
who had ruled there SO long, was loath
to relinquish her scepter.
In Aunt Hitty's presence Beth's spir-
its were strangely subdued. Even the
Swedish girl in the kitchen felt the de-
dirge whenever Aunt Kitty entered
her domain.
The weeks went by, and the little
wife's happiness was seriously in dam
ger. Her nature was an active one, but
Jacks aunt opposed her every effort
to be useful. When alone with her
husband Beth was happy; their honey
moon had not waned. She longed to
tell the kind old lady so. But Jack
could not often be with her. The farm
work demanded his attention. Once,
when she supposed Aunt Hitty was
taking her afternoon nap, Beth gave
way to her feelings, and, burying her
face in Jacks old coat, she cried as
If her heart would break.
That evening, as she sat on the wide
porch, waiting for Jack to join her, she
overheard Aunt Hitty talking to him.
'She is so utterly incompetent"
Aunt Hitty was saying, land so child
ish! This afternoon I heard her cry
ing-actually crying! often wonder
why you. married her, john"
Because I loved her-that is suf-
ficient, think" Jack answered. ''Poor
little girl-crying, was she?"
Then he came out and found Beth,
standing white and still in the moon
light.
"This is a lonesome place, isn't it,
dear?' he said, very gently. 81 think
1t would do you good to return Mrs.
Lennox's call tomorrow. It will cheer
her up, and Tom too"
Mrs. Lennox and son seemed glad to
see them and insisted upon keeping
Beth until after tea "You needn't
come for her, Mr. Bradley" Toms
mother said my son VIII take her
home"
This was the beginning Of the great
intimacy between the two families.
Jack was very busy on the farm, but
young Lennox had more time at his
disposal. He frequently drove over for
Beth and brought her home in the
moonlight. Jack rejoiced in their
friendship and had no thought j" teal-
ousy until Aunt Hitty said:
"Beth is never happy Unless she is
with Mr.. Lennox. I'm sure it doesn't
IOOk well LUZ ASJ TO roe WIFI Q11u dS
often as she does" Jack laughed at
lie 1dttaf; but it came again and again
until he imagined that Beth shrank
from his caresses, and he resolved not
10 annoy her in the future. His wife
'elt that the honeymoon was waning
1t last and bravely tried to follow the
I'D lady's advice and believe that Jack
till loved her.
By and by the grain rose and fell in
golden waves and the sun beat pitiless-
y down on the tired men toiling in the
harvest fields. In the midst Of it all
lack succumbed to the heat and had
o be helped to the house. Aunt Kitty
ook immediate possession Of him and
prescribed rest in q darkened room.
lie slept heavily for some time, and
when he opened his eyes Beth was
,ending over him.
"Jack, dear" she said, els there moth
ng can do for your
Nothing" he answered stif1y. 81
hall be all right in a day or two. All
hat worries me is the wheat. It's sure