The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1905-04-14

talk Tor miles. Never before had the
farm yielded such potatoes and corn
The butter was not up to the usual
standard, but one man cannot do it all
and when his wife does not do her
part as we'll as he, his neighbor cannot
blame him. They did not, but cur.
iously enough they did not blame
May, either. While she had dropped
out of their lives almost completely
they all remembered her as she was
when no hay-ride or country dance
was complete without her.
Christmas was only three weeks of
when the postmaster and his wife
drove over to see Tom and May. The
ground was covered with snow, and
the air was filled with the music ol
sleigh bells.
"Married almost a year; only three
miles from home; and yet I've only
seen you four times since you shook
your old daddy" her father exclaimed
taking her in his arms. "How light
you are, pet" he said, holding her of
so as to look at her. His face clouded
but he said no more.
Mrs. Douglas was looking curiously
around the cherries parlor. If Tom
was so wonderfully successful and his
father had left him a snug bank ac-
count, why should Mays home be
more barren than any home in the vii
lage. And May herself was positively
shabby.
"You will need new furniture, May
I'm ashamed of your letting things
run down so,' she said. Before May
could answer Tom spoke up:
ave will get things for the home
after we get the ten-acre field on the
north and the woodland adjoining ours.
Just now we feel positively poor, fol-
l have bought Silas Jones' herd Of
Jerseys. We are going to make a
speciality of butter next year. Betty
Horner has promised to teach May the
art of butter making. I'm afraid she
hasn't enough to do to keep her out
of mischief"
He pinched Nays cheek as he said
this. His fingers made queer pur-
pie mark, but did not bring the shad
ow of rose.
The buying of the cows and Betty's
promise were news to the little wife
but she evinced no surprise. She was
sitting down, and it was vel that she
was, for she could not have stood up
right The knowledge that the four
hundred dollars which Tom had drawn
from the bank had filled her with a
sense of utter desolation. The fact
too, Of what was before her made her
sick and dizzy. Must she, too, do as
coarse, mannish Betty Horner did?
ave cannot stay longer" Mr.
Douglas said. 1--WE wanted you to
promise to spend Christmas Day with
US. The town folks are going to give
dance, and it will be rest to you
both; make you feel like children
again."
Mays eyes frightened. "How
lovely!" she cried. Then the smile
died from her lips. eve can come
to dinner, but neither of US have any
thing suitable to wear to the party
she contidued.
"It is not too late to get something .
Mr.. Douglas said, roughly.
Mrs. Douglas pulled his sleeve
timidly. She was nervous, and did
not believe in coming between husband
and wife. To her mind; w;fe's first
duty was to obey, and if fobeying good
kind, faulty George Douglas was an
easy task, she did not realize that
with others it mig ght be different.
Tom rose to the defense at once. He
did not intend to be dictated to by
any man-especially one whom he
could buy and sell a dozen times
over.
eve cannot get over to dinner
May, and you know it." he said. "All
the men will be off, and cannot leave
the place."
None of them had expected this
but since it came the three looked to
Tom for an invitation to have the old
folks come there. He did not give it.
however, and Mr.. and Mrs Douglas
said goodbye in a strained fashion.
May did not say word after they
had left. She went about her work
as though nothing out of the ordinary
had happened. Tom glanced at her
curiously from the corners of his eyes.
"She will make a good wife, yet.
All she needs is proper training" be
thought.
He did not notice the tagging steps