The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1908-02-01
A Brave
Little
Wife
By ADA BENTWICK STONE.

/
Nonsense! What would ] have to
trouble me?" she challenged him.
Il don't know, unless | have been
remiss in some way. wish you'd
tell me when l make foolish blunders,
for mean WE'LL really do
Her eyes had a smile in them as
they met his frankly. Il haven't the
least tiny bit Of fault to find with you,
Maurice. So run along, or you will be
late in the office" she answered
lightly.
You are sure you are ~contented?"
"Of course" She had hesitated an
instant before answering, but he did
not notice it and went away salts
fed.
She stood at the window and he
looked up and waved his hand as he
went down the street. Then she went
about her mornings work with a
thoughtful face.
They had set up housekeeping In
Maurice's mothers house. Mrs. Gay
herself lived downstairs. Maurice had
been his mothers idol, and when she
found that he had serious thoughts
Of marrying, the discovery nearly cost
her a fit of sickness. There is no
body in the world with whom / am
first now" she walled. Il have
given you all my love and devotion for
rs years, and now-now you see a
foolish young girl a few times, and
she is more to you than ! am"
Maurice argued with her, but she
refused to be comforted.
Maurice was deeply stirred. He even
thought of asking Bertha to release
him. But when next he saw her, he
knew he could not give her up. 1t
was right he should marry, he ar,
gued, and when his mother came to
know Bertha, she would think differ
entity. She would see that instead Of
losing a son, she would gain a daugh
ter.
Everything seemed to have turned
out as he had hoped. Bertha always
called Mrs. Gay Mother and no
own daughter could have been more
thoughtful. I'VE must not leave her
out of our good times, Maurice" she
said, "or let her feel lonely" and Mrs.
Gay went about with them, enjoying
their visits, and no longer wept or
wore an injured expression.
Bertha, you are unhappy about
something" This was several weeks
later, but Maurice Immediately con
nected it in his mind with the first
time.
DO you know, / think you should
write novels-or plays she teased.
You have such a strong imagination"
And she put her hands on his shout
ders and looked at him ~intently, till
he had to smile. There, you imagina-
tive boy!" she %triumphed. Dare to
tell me I'm unhappy" and again he
was treasured.
But there came a time when he
would not be put off so easily. It was
several months later. Aren't you
getting a little-just a little morbid?"
he yentured. 1T isn't natural that
anyone should be depressed without
reason. Mother thinks you keep too
quiet, that you should exercise more
don't you think it would be better?"
He saw her lip culver and a tear
creep out from under her eyelid. a
fear 1t is as mother said" he thought,
land she hasn't much strength Of char
acter.' and he smothered a little sigh
of disappointment as he soothed and
petted her.
Il don't mean to be silly" she said.
as soon as she could control her voice;
but sometimes l feel so-tired."
Afterward he reminded his mother
that Bertha did all their homework
except the washing.
"a mere nothing, and she only half
does 1t at that" Mrs. Gay answered
sharply. you spoil her, Maurice"
His mother had always ruled him,
and her opinion had been law. He
had not known but that Bertha's
housekeeping had been perfect: and
even now, though he was critically OBJ.
servant, he could see no fault in it.
Still, he supposed his mother must
be right, and the thought made him
unhappy. He wished she hadn't said it.
The baby was born in the spring,
Bertha had pleaded that her sister
might be with her, and though Mrs.
Gay said It was a foolish whim and
a needless expense. he could not re.
fuse. He loved his wife dearly, even
If she did lack in strength Of char
acter and housewifeliress. II was
hard to 80 against his mother. never.
tbeless, and he keenly felt her disap.
provsl and ~displeasure.
The sister came and stayed TIL the
baby was six weeks old. Mrs. Cav
took a strong dislike to her for some
reason, and seldom came upstairs
while she was there, but Bertha's sis.
ter didn't seem to mind il at all. and
was as Jolly as q lark from morning
to night. Bertha and Maurice agreed
that they hadn't laughed so much
since they were married.
One evening when the boy was
asleep Maurice drew his wife down
ONTO his knee as she was passing his