The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-06-25
SeIf=SaCrifiCe

BY the open door of Caleb Peaslee's
corncrlb Deacon Hyne came to a
standstill and looked in without speak
Ing. His whole figure seemed to move
In a nimbus of gloom, and Caleb felt
spasm of rheumatism.
Rheumatic plaguin' ye, Lysander?"
he inquired. %5%s5& ..
Mr.. Hyne shook his head dolefully.
"Wuss'n that" he replied. 1T amt
aches and pains that's botherfn' me.
I'm jest tryin' to Dc %somethln' un-
selfish. and it's hurtln'''me wuss'n
haulirl' 4 TOOTH"
Mr.. Peaslce's look of concern gave
way to grin, and Mr.. Hyne strove to
smile with him, wrily.
I'D been lottin' on gettin' me new
boss hoe this spring." the deacon ex.
planned, "and 1 can spare jest bout
'nough money to buy it with. And
now I've got reason to believe my wife
wants to go off with that passed. of
women to some kind of a c'nvcntion
or other at Bangor, and that'll take
Jest bout the money I've saved for a
boss 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" 'a...'. -" ~:
Mr.. Peaslce looked up with curl
GUS expression in his eye. "Did your
wife tell you she wanted to got" ne
demanded.
Mr.. Hyne shook his head dcjectedly.
"She amt Wiped a word bout it to
me 80 far" he admitted. But most
all the women in the village plan to
go, so I don't see no comfort there
Caleb scrutinlzed an ear of corn
carefully, and his mouth turned up
little at the corners. "My wife amt
goin'-I heard her say so," he oh.
served at last. ".toren that, happen
to know" He broke off abruptly and
his smile widened. II guess I've g0I
little story to tell you, if you want
to listen to it." he finished.
Mr.. Hyne gave patient sigh. 81
s'pose I've got to listen, if you're sol
on tcllin IT, he conceded glumly.
"Wcll, I've got reason for wantin
you should l!sten," asserted Caleb
wears ago, when my wife and I was
fust married, somethin' come up jest
bout like what you've been goin
through for the last two days, and II
teached me somethin' that 1 amt for
got.
''This special junket was somethin
that wanted to go to jest rs bad as
she did, felt pretty sure, but never
let on to her that I did. Instead of
that KEEP tellin' her what good time
she'd have, and picturln' it 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 didn't give her much chance
to plead with me to 60 in her place.
but I packed her off and stayed at
home and nussed my Disappointment.
So she went Off alone, lookin' pretty
sober.
II amt goin' into p'ticulars Of what
my thoughts was that day. or her of
havin' a good time instead of me-
amt never felt any greet pride in 'em.
ever. I'll jest say that I pitied my.
self c'nsid'able, and let it go at that.
"Come night. she got back home,
and went out to help her out of the
wagon-shed rode back. with one of
the eighbors-and when she struck
the ground I see right off that some.
thin was wrong. She looked tired
and sick 'nough to be put to bed and
have the doctor-'s q matter of fact,
she had to have him fore she got
through with it. And helped her into
the house, and in less'n minute
found out what Cool I'd been!
"Come to get at the rights Of it, 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 |
haye rather been to home, a 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 beginnin'! But it teaches me
somethin', and you. better believe it