The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1907-09-12
u rSe-"s N''s'~'|s. .ft.'.ss-ss'sf, 81
LAURA !
TRIAL /
By FLORENCE HULL wINTERBURN. 6
I~NIvs~ss~It ,'~s~NIipa~e~NIA>l:
Copyright, by Joseph B. Bowles.)

When Laura McHenry quietly |
turned her back upon the wealthy and |
desirable sutton her family had de-
cided she should marry, and gave her
hand to William May, middle-aged
lawyer Of no particular standing or
prospects, everybody decided that she
had thrown herself away.
MIR. May began his married life up
on a windfall of 1880, his largest fee
in dozen years.
They were really happy. And It
lasted quite six months, till all the
t1,6OO dollars had been drawn out of
the bank, except the bare moiety nee
essaTy to keep the account.
When Bridget's wages were
month overdue, her substantial pres
ence disappeared out of the kitchen,
and Laura's dainty white hands made
acquaintance with dish-mops, stove
lifters and brooms. Such an igno-
ramus as she found herself! And
with what zeal she bent her mind to
the study OF cookery books and the
household corners of the newspapers.
And brains told. She left the -four
out Of her first cake, but her second
one was triumph Of art, and mullins.
veal outlets and eustards came out from
under her clever fingers with del
tcacy and deftness that surprised her
self and gratitied May immensely, al
though he was sorry to have her work
in the kitchen, and sorry to find her
now too tired to sing to him In the
evenings with the same spirit and
freshness that used to breathe through
her songs. But the worst thing was
that fatigue and uneRding attention to
detRils, united to those perpetual in
AeFrupti0ns from the door bell which
drive busy women almost distracted,
had their effect upon Laura's delicate
frame. She grew nervous" which IL
often a misnomer for combined worry
'and distasteful labors.
She usually forgot or neglected
70 take any lunch, and by dinner time
had no appetite, which had fits con-
-Eeniences. for 1t was rapidly coming
90 pass that the dinners she could
compass upon the scanty and irregular
'Bupplies Of money she received were
scarcely sufficient for more than one
DOrson, and she centrived that her
Husband should be that person.
She had thousand devices for in
uueing him to eat the bit of steak,
'sAe siAgle cap-custard, or the slice Of
msh. He was far from realising that
Ais delicately fair wife, with her
seainty tastes. was lily nourished upon
che tea and toast to which she often
confined herself. Nor did Laura realize
It.
But after all, 1t was not the house.
work, the scanty food, nor even the
lack Of variety and refreshment In her
life that was beginning to tell heavily
upon her health, that was spelling her
beautiful disposition and making her
apprehensive and irritable.
He was strong, robust man in the
\ Rrime Of life, with a professioA and
hosts OF acquatntancss TO help on his
interests. Why could me not at least
+. make the small income necessary to
keep their very modest establishment
going?
The explanation lay In a single fact.
May was man of visionary schemes,
always chasing some will.o'.the.wisp
which promised fortune and distinc.
,tion. finding his pleasure In holding
honorary posts at his political club,
which gave him chance to talk and
repaid him in cheaply gained repu-
tation for ability.
Little by little Laura's ideallzed
vision of her husband had faded be.
fore the presence of facts. But she
1OlNng to the shreds OF her faith as
women DO hold to their Illusions; as
tAey must II the world is to go on and
'llomes continue to exist. There was
something still for her to learn, how
over, and not the easiest lesson that
had been set Tor her.
She set rather indiferently about
her practicing that afternoon. Idly
Der fingers wandered, swifter her
thoughts few, till all at once a sen.
tsnce OF homely wisdom from q mod.
iern novelist came into her mind !:
''Many women are struggling under
the burden OF money.saving when they
had far rather spend their energies In
-noney-getting."
She arose impetuously, her eyes
suddenly full OF light What had she
been thinking Of? There was a fund
of unused wealth in her fine musical
education, In her beautiful voice, q
little impaired by hardships, but mag
snifcent still. Here was the way out
'ce ell this mirage Of poverty; with
what she could earn by taking a class
In Madame Cables school combined
with her husbands earnings. they
could live with comparative ease and
comfort oh. happiness. oh, relief!
1t happened that madame needed
her services. She had come at an op
perfume moment, and in few min
utes the business was satisfactorily
settled.
. May was little afraid their social
standing would suffer. He certainly
aid not like the idea of his wife teach
Ing In . school. 1t was contrary to al
his preconcepttons ofsher domestic
Aome.loving disposition.
EFT is reflection upon me" ne said
moodily, adding with a little passion
ate movement that brought her within
his arm, her cheek close to his lips:
II didn't marry YOU to let you work
my dariinR!"