Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-10-14

the weary are at rest" Beneath chat
were the names of Martha and Cor
della and AnDa.
That night the tuneful breathing OF
his fourth wife stung Abner with muir
derous thoughts. He rose and went
out into the star-strewn blackness OF
spring. A night-owl hooted in the oak
tree. and on the spur of the mountain
a coyote howled The cloak of dawn
was trailing the east when he decided
what to do. II possible he would can
Gel that order at the stone-cutter's-if
not At least he would try.
Emmeline prepared the breakfast.
1t was a good breakfast, but she used
a spoonful of coffee to cup. She
neglected to skim all the cream off for
butter, and she had mullins and ham
and scrambled eggs. Abner, watch
ing in fascination, saw her take the
grain-sacks off the rugs and throw the
rooms open to the light. 1t was eight
o'clock when he started for town.
At bend of the county road he met
big load of lumber. There were
shingles and scantlings and boards.
A half-dozen workmen swung their
feet from the rear of the load.
enc of them addressed him.
Its fine weather for building" he
said.
Abner drove on, his mind intent on
the monument
In town women smiled at him; men
nodded; Emmeline's sister waved as
sole passed.
= .;,rs s'S nice day for building" she
called Va -.
Abner tied odrom II when
office. He was turning fr.S so.bv the
the constable grasped him .,tajlan
shoulder The constable was pn.. s;ra
thropic and he hac once been fond O.
Emmeline.
Well, Abner Bennett" he exploded,
I'm glad to see you doing the right
thing by that fourth wife of yoursi
You can afford good house. And
you're giving work to unemployed
men. I'm glad to see you do it, Alb
ner. | must say I'm glad!"
Abner stared; he took off his hat;
he raised one hand to his head and
felt of the scanty hair at its crown.
The editor of the Weekly Courier
tapped him respectfully on the arm.
I'VE want few items about the
new house, Mr.. Bennett" He smiled.
What new house?" Abner roared,
his face purpling. "Thunderation,
whose new house?'
"Oh, come" coaxed the editor.
We've got the item about the monu.
ment In for to-day. Next week we
want news of the house. The week
after we're going to ask you for a few
words on progression Just a sort of
stimulus for the town, you know. You
fellows"
But Abner was unhitching his horse.
He went through the town at a pace
that Gen. Sheridan might have envied
on his memorable ride. The springs
OF the old buggy creaked and hit to-
gether Dust, born of the last hot days.
sifted around him. 1t chung to his
moist face. A wind swept down the
canyon; it blew off his hat. but Abner
did not care. His heart was an awak-
ening volcano.
The little house, when he reached
It. was deserted. The sun blazed
down on its implanted sides, the daz.
zle of heat-wave rose from the rocks
around the doors.
"Emmyline!" he shouted. Emmy
line!" and then he saw her.
She was coming toward him in a
cool print frock she looked care-free
and young. There were men on tho
knoll behind her. There was lumber
under the trees. He tried to speak.
but she put up her hand There was
look in her eyes which he had never
seen in the eyes of Martha or Cor
leila or Anne. 1t mingled mirth with
"Abner," she dubbed, "the men
think our plan for the home is lust
perfect"
He duly stared at her, trying to
Her face softened as she turned
rom him and gazed toward the town
A patch of white-fecked green stood
'or the cemetery.
i wish they could have had com.
'orts,' she whispered. "But--tbat
monument we've ordered is lovely,
is all we can do for them now. isn't
{, dear?"
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