Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1907-08-09
A POWERFUL BLEND.

man who had begun life as an errand
boy, and now had more money than he
knew what to do with, had only one
dread, which was that the wife he
adored, who had fought by his side
through long years of hardship and
helped him to win success, might be tax
Ell from him?
On this occasion Mrs Martin had a
bad cold, and the doctor had advised her
to stay i'll bed for a day or two. With
his wife confined to her room John Mar
tin was absolutely lost He had insisted
on her having trained nurse, and he
spent all his time in wandering discon-
solately about the house
You are quite sure" he said to the
doctor, perfectly certain there is moth
ing seriously wrong; she-she-is not
sickening for anything"
Only the old mans intense anxiety pre-
venter the doctor answering him quite
sharply, but he replied again that Mrs.
Martin had merely Il severe cold.
You'll come in and see her again this
afternoon. won't your" asked Johu Mar
tin. as he accompanied the doctor to the
door.
Il really don't think began the doe
tor, but something in the trusting blue
eyes. more like those of child than of a
man who had looked on the world for
seventy odd years, stopped him. Very
well, | will look in again." he said and
went
John Martin had miserable, lonely
luncheon and then betook himself to the
library, where he sat in front of the fire
and regretted that riches had come to
him. In the old, far-otf days when Mary
had cold he looked after her himself.
Now, if he went into her room, the nurse
seemed to resent it.
His thoughts went back longingly to
the rare occasions when she had had a
headache, and he had made her Il special
cup of tea, which always cured her He
smiled as he remembered she always said
no one could make cup of tea as he
could. How Perkins, the immaculate
butler. would scorn such a proceeding!
Still, if his tea could cure Mary's head
ache, why should he not make some?
Why should he not make tea if he so
desired? He was master; he could do
as he chose.
He looked at the fire; it's glowing en-
bcrs were ideal for toast, and Mary al
WAYS liked a bit of hot buttered toast
Wltn ntl Jtt 4Siii why iIcb liS'iNt ~ :
Not in the kitchen, of course, under the
disapproving eyes of the servants, but
here, in the library, in secret and alone,
There were difficulties certainly, but they
could be overcome; he squared his Shout
ders and sat up very straight. He would
do it. Mary should have tea, not the
weak, washy stuff the housekeeper pro
vided. but tea with q good, strong flavor
HOY hnJ oniproI II, 10
old days of poverty and freedom. He
would buy the things and smuggle them
into the library.
He decided that his purchases could
not be made in the shops where the
tradespeople knew him, so he walked tor
some distance till he came to a side
street. and here he found what he want
ed. And what number of purchases
we're needed Tea first, of course; half n
mound at one and six pound, good,
pungcnt, black tea; quarter of pound
of sugar, bread for the toast, and q
quarter of pound of best fresh" Even
milk he had to buy, so he bought a pen
nvvorth and a bottle in which to car
ry it.
But this was not all; cups, saucers,
plates, knives, toasting forks, all were
needed. He might, he though, abstract
two spoons from the dining room while
Perkins was downstairs, and at the same
time he might secure the silver teapot.
But for the silver teapot he felt only
scorn, his soul hankered to again see on
the tea tray a little brown earthenWare
pot SO he bought brown teapot and
two blue cups and saucers, which re-
minded him of some Mary and he had
bought when they were furnishing their
cottage.
Fate was kind in allowing him to enter
his home unobserved; he shut himself IN
the library and began preparations. with
what Joy he examined his purchases
Mary always said he cut bread for toast
better than anyone else, and his hand
trembled with conscious pride as he cut
two even slices. Then he put the kettle
for he had bought a kettle, tool, on to
boil How busy he was, how happy. how
Important He sat down before the red
Goals to make the toast, holding 1T at
exactly the right distance, so 1t would
brown without burning.
He almost fancied himself back in the
old home; he could see the dresser COW
cred with blue plates and dishes, the
vhitcwashed walls gay with pictures, the
wide. old-fashioned fireplace, on one side
of which sat Mary rocking a cradle. \
sob choked in his throat; If the baby
had only lived wealth would have been
of some use. the money that he did not
care about for himself would have been
a iov and delight to spend on hls SON
His eve travelled to the window; he dld
not see the elaborate lace curtains or
the dreary London street beyond, but
over row of pink geraniums in scar
leet pots he saw through diamond, shaped
panes Il cottage garden bright with now
ers; the singing of the birds rose above
the roar of the traffic.
4 strong smell of burning brought him
hack to the present. The toast was on
the fire. He took another slice and de-
voted all his thoughts to it. When it
was cooked to perfection, he buttered it
and mt Il down on the fender to keep
hot. Now the kettle was singing loudly;
no heated the pot, put in generous
supply of tea and was just about to pour