The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1908-02-29

and then said:
Maurice, l will tell you-something
about 1t. have a little cross-you
would doubtless think It very, very
iittle-that concerns no one but my
self. IT'S the only one thing have
kept from you. And now I ask you to
trust me. and-and let me bear 1t In
peace" she ended whimsically.
"Tell me what 1t is and let me help
you bear it,
She shook her head. 1.-THE only
way you can tighten it Is to be pa
tient with me when-when l am 80
weak as to show have It,"
But"
She looked at him beseechingly, and
he forebore to question her.
Very likely 1t was small matter,
as she said. and perhaps the best way
was to ignore 1t or treat 1t lightly.
So, after this, when he fancied he
detected the shadow, he would ask:
"Ts 1t the little cross?" and be es-
pecially kind. No doubt she was
childish and notIonal. as his mother
had said: but then she was young, he
reasoned, and very likely her little
troubles seemed large to her. He
wished she had more Of his mothers
strength of character. He saw her
partly through his mothers eyes, and
though he would hardly acknowledge
1t to himself, was not quite satisfied
with her.
One autumn day 1t happened that
owing to repairs being made In the
IN boz IN IN M
home very early in the afternoon.
AS he opened the outer door he
heard some one talking. The voice.
curiously enough. instantly recalled
| to his mind certain escapades OF his
boyhood. 1t was strange, and yet IA
miliar. He went upstairs slowly, and
before he reached the top, he knew
| 1t was his mother who WAS speaking.
He paused at the landing. startled
look in his eyes.
These windows ought to be washed
on the outside" she was saying
scoldIng, rather. They're a dis
grace to decency! And there's no
excuse. no excuse at all. except slack.
| ness"
II was intending to have Mrs. Dris-
coli do them Monday" Bertha answer
ed, patiently. but there was large
washing. and she seemed SO tired"
Some people would do it them
selves" snapped Mrs. Gay, but other
people prefer to squander their hus-
bands money and be constant
drag"
II have learned by hard experience
| kI,nx . fNr tn n
work" The answer was still pa
| tent.
mo, 1t pays better to CAD about
the streets half the afternoon with
baby oh. you needn't speak
Il know what you'll say to that: 1t
Ia necessary to the baby's health"
sneeringly. He'd be deal better
of in the house. But, no-you want to
CAD, and he makes good excuse. i
never took my babies out at all when
1t was as blistering as It's to-day. He
seems little feverish, too"
II think that mince pie last night
didn't quite agree with him." Bertha
spoke deprecatingly. IL don't like
him ever to have It,"
Another of your cranky notions"
Mrs. Gay was angry now. 1.-THE idea
of a little mince pie hurting a-year-
and a-half-old boy! It's ridiculous,
and l tell you plainly. shall give him
pie, or cake, or anything l choose,
whenever ! get the chance.
Now sulk! Well, pity Maurice.
He must see by this time what mis-
take he made. Come, Freddie. down
to grandma's part, till poor foolish
mamma gets pleasant again"
Tell grandma. Freddie dear. that
you are going to ride now" Bertha's
voice was tremulous, but gentle.
"Ride!-Ride!" the child echoed Joy
ously, and there was the patter Of lit
tie feet. Mrs. Gay observed that she
had a good mind to wash those dirty
windows herself. and with this parting
shot she took herself to her own do
main by the back stairs.
Maurice retraced his steps down the
front ones and out onto the street. His
legs felt weak under him, and his
head swan. His mother to talk like
that! 1t was horrible! How dared
she treat his wife that way! He won
dered now that he could have stood
still and listened to 1t. 1t couldn't
have been the first time-there must
have been a long series OF such per-
secutions. And Bertha had never
said a word about them.
Then suddenly it flashed upon him
that this was her little cross. And
I have made 1t heavier" he thought
remorsefully. by telling her what
mother said and urging her to go by
IT, About Freddie, too! What right
had mother to advise? She had seven
children, and all except me died be-
fore they were ten years old-and
Freddie had never had sick day In
his Nfe."