The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1912-07-04

sigh, chat pension wasn't very big
one for two people to live on
81 should say it wasn't!" agreed
Mrs. Rood vehemently. II call it pref
ty doin's!" she went on fercely
Here's you all broken down, and all
those years your salary was SO small
that though I've been as saving as l
knew how, we've just managed to
pay for this place and put few hun
dred dollars In the bank"
WED never have done that much
If it hadn't been for you, Lucy" her
husband said gratefully You're a
master hand at contriving. But it
amt the company's fault that | got
all crippled up with rheumatism, SOS
l couldn't do my work"
I'D like to know if it amt, Amos
Rood" she flashed. I'D like to know
If you want kept all those years in
damp, underground Office and not al
lowed half the help you'd ought to
have had?'
well, we'll, Lucy" the man said
Practically. 1.-THE company was good
to me that time l had typhoid, ten
years ago. Didn't get three months
leave of absence with full pay and
passes for us both so we could take a
nice trip?'
Three months leave in twenty-five
years!'' moaned Mrs Rood. "And now
that new managers going to take
away your pension. Oh, / know you
think I'm awful, Amos, but l just hate
that grasping, greedy old company
that works its men to death just the
way It does it's poor horses, SOS to
save a little more money!"
ut hurts me to hear you talk like
that, Lucy" Amos Rood protected 10y
ally. "The company does the best it
can't has troubles of it's cwn.'
We'll, won't say another word II
you don't want l should, AMOS" the
little woman promised.
I'D calculated to finish up that job
Of Browns this afternoon, but when
| got that letter ! sent 'em word not
to expect mel didn't feel equal to
tacklin' figures today. But I'll paint
them storm-doors you wanted done,
Lucy. It'll be quiet out there In the
barn, and IL want to think things
over"
Mrs. Rood looked after him visit
fully 81 guess maybe he would be bet
ter by himself" she thought humbly.
But although Amos Rood had found
the solitude he craved, there was
something terrifying to him in the
emptiness of the great barn, and as
he resolutely set himself to the task
of painting the storm DOORS he had
mentioned, he began to wish vaguely
that old Dolly were still alive to stamp
her iron shod feet and to nicker to
him socially from her STALL
Then, with a sudden pang, he real
lied that he was glad that the old
horse who had been his and Lucy's
friend and companion for so many
years, had died last month, Tor how
could he have brought himself to sell
her when their little home was broken
up?
Lucy said that they would man.
age some way, but Lucy, with all her
CHEEKY common sense and thrift, had
a woman's ignorance of the grim fact
that two and two always make four,
and never by any chance five or
SIX
Perhaps, by selling their little place
and living on the proceeds they might
manage to keep together for a few
years more, but the end was inev.
table Sooner or later Lucy would
be obliged to go to the well-to-do sis
ter who had never attempted to con.
ceal her conviction that the pretty
energetic girl might have done better
than to marry Amos Rood.
AS for him. there would be nothing
left but the shelter of the county poor
house.
Something seemed to snap in the
mans brain. Why shouldn't he quiet
ly get out of 1t all, while there was
still something to keep Lucy from en-.
tire dependence on a woman like pros
porous. self-satisfied Jane Thorn? She
would mourn for him he knew, but
death is easier to bear than some 9th.
er things.
Suddenly he paused, arrested in his
grim preparations for the deed on
which he was resolved.
"Amos! Amos!" his wife was call
ing.
Ten. yes, five moments more and he
would have been forever deaf to that
tender voice, and Lucy would have
come and found him-he shuddered
with a sick repulsion. He had been
owardly-mad-! But Lucy's
light feet were running along the gar
den paths and she. was calling again:
amos! Oh, Amos, do please
hurry!"
The man stumbled blindly to the
door. The next instant he was stand
ing in the warm sunlight he had never
thought to feel again, with Lucy's
ARM about his neck; her happy tears
upon his cheek
ooh, Amos" she was bubbling joy
ously. "the general superintendent
himself is in the house! It's perfectly
lovely to hear him swear. He says
the new mana ger has exceeded his au-
thority altogether, and that the COM
pany does know how to appreciate
faithful service such as yours has
been! And only think, instead of TAX
ing away your pension, he intends to
increase it! Why, Amos, we'll be
rich!"
w TO REASON?