Gilpin observer., 1917-05-31
SeLf=Sacrifice

Ing. His whole figure seemed to move
In nimbus OF gloom, and Caleb felt
| spnsm of rheumatism.
Rheumatic plaguin' We, Lysander?"
he inquired.
Mr.. Hyne shook his head dolefully.
"Wuss'n that" he replied. "It amt
aches and pains that's botherin' me.
I'm jest tryin' to do somethin' un-
selfish. and it's hurtin' me wuss'n
haulin' a TOOTH"
Mr.. Peaslee's look of concern gave
way to grin, and Mr.. Hyne strove to
smile with him, wrily.
'rd been lottln' on gettin' me a new
boss hoe this spring." the deacon ex-'
planned. "and 1 can spare jest bout
'nough money to buy 1t with. And
now I've got reason to believe my wife
wants to go off with that passel of
women to some kind of c'nvention
or other at Bangor, and that'E take
| jest bout the money I've saved for
hoss hoe. I've been tryin' for two
days now to give up to her cheer
fully, and I guess I've made out
hope so, anyway"
Mr.. Peaslee looked up with a curl
GUS expression In his eye. "Did your
wife tell you she wanted to GOT" he
demanded.
Mr.. Hyne shook his head dejectedly.
"She amt yipped word bout it to
me so far" he admitted. "But most
all the women in the village plan to
go, so 1 don't see no comfort there"
Caleb scrutinized an ear of corn
carefully, and his mouth turned up
little at the corners. my wife amt
goin'-I heard her say so," he OBJ
served at last. "More'n that, happen
to know" He broke off abruptly and
his smile widened. II guess I've got
a little story to tell you. If you want
to listen to it," he finished.
Mr.. Hyne gave n patient sigh. ~
s'pose I've got to listen. If you're sot
on tellin it, he conceded glumly.
swell, I've got reason for wantin
you should listen," asserted Caleb.
years ago, when my wife and was
fust married. somethin' come up Jest
bout like what you've been goin'
| through for the last two days, and it
! te9ched me somethin' that amt for
got.
"This special junket was somethin'
that 1 wanted to go to jest as bad as
she did, felt pretty sure, but I never
let on to her that I did. Instead of
that I KEEP tellin' her what a good time
she'd have, and picturin' 1t all out.
"Them days when we was Jest
startin' in, money want very plenty,
and we both knew that If one of us
went, t'other one'd have to stay at
home. So I didn't give her much chance
to plead with me to go in her place.
but I packed her off and stayed at
home and nussed my Disappointment.
So she went off alone, lookin' pretty
sober.
"I amt goin' into p'ticulars of what
my thoughts was that day, or her off
havin' good time instead of me-l
amt never felt any greet pride in 'em,
ever. I'll jest say that 1 pitied my
self c'nsid'able, and let 1t go at that.
Come night, she got back home,
and I went out to help her out of the
wagon--she'd rode back with one of
the neighbors-and when she struck
the ground see right off that some
thin was wrong. She looked tired
and sick 'nough to be put to bed and
have the doctors a matter of fact
she had to have him fore she got
through with 1t. And helped her into
the house, and in less'n a minute
found out what fool I'd been!
Come to get at the rights of 1t, she
hadn't wanted to go at all, but I'd
made such a touse over her goin' that
she thought my heart was set on it.
and she'd swallered her wishes and
gone. She hadn't had happy minute
for the day, or one when she wouldn't
have rather been to home, dozen
times over. And she'd jest tired her
self sick.
There I'd been and gone and split
the day for both of us. on count of
not havin' little clearin'-up talk In
the beglnnin'! But it teaches me
somethin', and you better believe 1t
never happened again, nor nothin' ffke
II. Nowadays l know fust If there's
anything to worry bout, fore I do
any sacrificin'.
Comm back to what started to
say in the fust place." Caleb went on
placidly. 81 happened to hear your wife
and mine talkin bout the conven-
ton, and they both agreed that they
couldn't be dragged there by Wild