Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1916-07-12

the children" leila leafed slowly
through the bulky book.
aren't these catalogues full of
beautiful things?" she said. There's
two things in here I'd love to have-a
folding bed and a kitchen cabinet.
Look at this bed, Jud. Wouldn't that
mirror be fine to dress by"
Rather have them than the sur
rey?' Jud leased. Both together
would cost right smart less than the
surrey"
mo, No, No." she protested quick
ly.
On sunny afternoon in February,
leila rode over to the store. With the
turkey money in mind, she bought
riotously-for her. Bingham, lawn,
lace, embroidery, and for herself, af-
ter much persuasion of her conscience
pink dimity for dress and a string
of pearl beads.
Jud and the babies were an admir-
ing audience while she unwrapped
her packages.
81 was afraid this wouldn't suit me"
she held the pink dimity up to her
face for Jud to see, "but I used to wear
pink. I'm goin' to make it without
a collar That's why 1 got the beads.
Mrs. F'Iesher says every one wears
them / just naturally long to have
some pretty things before get too old.
You don't think I'm silly, do you,
JUDI" She looked wistfully at her
husband.
Huh! me think you silly! Don't
know what you're talking about" gruf-
fly.
And day by day Jud looked at her
in wonder. She had never been so
happy and light-hearted and gay, or
looked so pretty.
you're just a kid yourself" Jud
told her one day when he found her
making a playhouse for the children.
Holding her at arms length, he pre-
tended to examine her critically.
Don't look day older than when
courted you"
81 can do lots of things for them,
now, she apologized, 81 never had
time to be a very good mother when
they were all babies and it took every
minute to care for them"
'You always were good mother"
he assured her tenderly, and thought
of the many nights he had wakened
to find her in the big wooden rocker
in front of the fire, baby Graded in
her tired young arms.
The days slipped into weeks.
what are you smiling at, Zella?'
They were setting out onions in the
garden.
"Only my thoughts" she jumped
to her feet and bowed tremendously
to him. give just got back from the
Fourth of July celebration. Jud and
/ and the children went in our new
surrey. / had lovely time. l saw
so many people 1 knew. The babies
were little afraid of the band at first,
but they soon got used to it. I wore
my pink dress. Jud said it become me
fine. and 1 thought, though l wouldn't
want you to mention it, that my hus-
band, in his new blue suit, was the
best-lookin' man there"
She dropped to her knees again and
reached for an onion.
weren't we the gay birds?" Jud
laughed happily.
leila was never idle. When she was
not busy at the homework, she sewed
for the children, ruffied curtains, en-
broidered pillow slips.
Mrs. Flesher, the storekeeper's
wife, had sent her a pattern for the
pink dimity, bue she was leaving it till
last.
Pm most afraid to cut into it for
fear, I'll spoil it." she told Jud.
Then in a day the blow fell. leila
dropped. became silent, listless, preoc-
cupied, as one in a dream. The little
house assumed a forlorn air. Dust col
4 lected, beds stood unmade all day
dishes unwashed. The chair were
piled with clothes. The sewing was
pushed out of sight. Toys were scat
tered over the floor.
For hours at a time leila lay face
down on the bed in the front room.
Sometimes she paced restlessly back
and forth from one room to another
She ate little, became wan and pale
She did not complain except that her
whole attitude was an apathetic re
sentiment against natures scheme and
mans desire.
Jud watched her, deeply troubled.
One evening, hunting some bit OF