The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1908-02-01

HOulu uOuDltens lnluk II very very
little-that concerns no one but my
self IT'S the only one thing / have
kept from you. And now l ask you to
trust me, and-and let me bear It In
peace she ended whimsically.
Tell me what it is and let me help
you bear It."
She shook her head. THE only
way you can tighten it is to be pa
tent with me when-when | am SC
weak as to show l have it."
But"
She looked at him beseechingly, and
he forebore to question her.
Very likely it was a small matter,
as she said, and perhaps the best way
was to ignore it or treat it lightly.
So, after this, when he fancied he
detected the shadow. he would ask:
Is it the little CROSSE" 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
it to himself, was not quite satisfied
with her.
One autumn day it happened that
owing to repairs being made in the
Office where Maurice worked he came
home very early in the afternoon.
AS he opened the outer door he
heard some n talking. The voice,
curiously enough, instantly recalled
to his mind certain e~scapades of his
boyhood. 1t was strange, and yet ia.
miliar. He went upstairs slowly, and
before he reached the top, he knew
it was his mother who was speaking
He paused at the landing, a 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 nc
excuse. no Excuse at all, except slack
ness"
Il was intending to have Mrs. Dris
coli do them Monday Bertha answer
ed, patiently, but there was a large
washing, and she seemed so tired
Some people would 60 it them
selves" snapped Mrs. Gay, but othel
people prefer to squander their hus
bands money and be a constan
drag"
Il have learned by hard experienc,
that it doesn't pay for me to DO sucl
work" The answer was still pa
tent.
NO, 1t pays better to cad abou
the streets half the afternoon with
~baby-carriage. oh, you needn't spea.
II know what you'll say to that: Z
is necessary to the baby's health
sneeringly. He'd be a deal bette
off in the house. But, no-you want t
CAD, and he makes a good excuse
never took my babies out at all whe
II was as blistering as It's to-day. H
seems a little feYerish. too"
q think that mince pie last nigh
didn't quite agree with him" Berth
spoke deprecatingly. IL don't Xix
him ever to have it,"
Another of your cranky notions!
Mrs. Gay was angry now. "The ide
of a little mince pie hurting a-yeal
and-a-half-old boy! 'Tis ridiculous
and tell you plainly. l shall give hi1
pie, or cake or anything l choose
whenever l get the chance.
Now sulk! Well, l pity Maurice
He must see by this time what a mis-
take he made. Come, Freddie, dow
to grandma's part, till poor FOOLS
mamma gets pleasant again
Tell grandma, Freddie dear, tina
you are going to ride now" Bertha
voice was tremulous, but gentle.
"Rldel-Ride!" the child echoed 10,
ously, and there was the patter of Ii
tie feet. Mrs. Gay observed that sh
had a good mind to wash those dirt
windows herself, and with this partin
shot she took herself to her own d.
main by the back stairs.
Maurice retraced his steps down tn
front ones and out onto the street. Hi
legs felt weak under him, and hi
head swan. His mother to talk Xix
that It was horriblel How dare
she treat his wife that way He wor
dered now that he cofld have stco
still and listened to it. 1t couldn'
have been the first time-there mus
have been a long series of such pei
secutions. And Bertha had neve
said a word about them.
Then suddenly it flashed upon hir
that this was her little cross. "An
| have made 1t heavier" he though
remorsefully, by telling her wha
mother said and urging her to go b
II. About Freddie. too! What RICH
had mother to advise? She had seve
children, and all except me died BIZ
fore they were ten years old-an
Freddie had never had a sick day i
his life"
He kept on walking aimlessly. Whe.
at last he became used to his troubl
somewhat and looked about him, h
found he was four miles from hom,
n oocurrad m him that partho No