The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-31

with its border of baby blue ribbon did moi hide
the pretty forearm or keep secret the blue veins
that pulsed beneath the soft, warm, pink, al
most white skin AT the elbow. Her violet eyes
were dull and c;.rc-worn and encircled by dark
shadows that marked sympathetic contrast
with the faintcst trace OF color upon cheeks
yet parted with their comedy slalelincSs which
we're once as the pink and ilmy cheek of the
uncut bridal rose. Her forehead, above the heavy
brown eyebrows and long dropping lashcs, was
white and tight. She was rs "a flower taken
from its garden, starved andleft willing from
neglect
Totrn looked al her as She came in and
lie felt an impulse 10 shmdder and away his
head. This was his wife. The boy, sobbing
and gulping at milk his sensitive little stomach
could not keep down, his son!
Give me the boy he said slowly if
acknowledging a duty and. as she handed the
child to him, she looked at him acciiSngly in the
eye. She had detected the odor of liquor. lie
had been lrinking-again
"Slicing those potatoes for snppcr?" he asked
in casual tone when she backed away from
him TO chair and had taken up the knife.
She nodded
''Ncver mind the potatoes. It's too much
trouble and I'm not hungry anyway he said
patronizingly.
Tut, Tom, perhaps might be hungry" she
suggested with an emphasis he could help
but notice and feel. He had forgotten that she
cooked for anyone else but him.
Get handkerchief or something, this
kids bib is SOpping wet" he complained in re-
turn for the emphasis.
SHE put the pan the floor and, without
the chiIds face and bib with her apron, Then,
passing back to her chair, she on Scing
the potatoes; he slowly rocking with the child
unconscouSy Struggled TO his breast.
After interval of silence, during which
he baby slipped OIL into little boys dreumand,
Tottcn cleared his throat.
well, it's the same old story" he began
with Sncer.
The little child wife could not suppress !;
unmcant smile at his way Of broachng the
subject which unnentcd smackcd of bitter hui
NOR. Totten caught the smile.
so YOU don't think write, either he
grumbed sourly you've turned against me and
Joined the knockers al the Office, have you? |
suppose you think going spend my whole
obituaries, and lodge notes for fifteen dollars n
week. If you do" he said, holly, you're mis-
taken. know what | could do if only | had
the chance and wasn't tcd down. he said lofi-
~; Il know what | could do. | know | can
write But they have turned me down again"
She did not argue. She couldn't without
crying; and she would not do that She knew
to serializc il. He had told her al least itcicc
that he had sold ii. She pressed her lips to-
gcther dctcrmincdy and continued prepare
The potatoes and rottcn, finding opposition,
shifted the issue ana went
Don't you suppose | know what the trouble
is? | too far away from the seats of the
mighty. Those editors never heard of
this dogeOnc- nc-horSc town, and they ,---
have suppose there is
anybody in il tha, has brains enough
TO write And they do open
my book manuscript, and they never
read my short stories, and as long
stay here I'll be not hing but
what ] And So" he concluded
cxplosivcly, even surprising himself, s.