Year: 1865

shadows of a trailing honey suckle, through
the full flowing folds of loose white cur
tain which shaded a cottage window, and
touched the face of woman sitting within
with pale amber geam. 1t was child
like face with its pure, pale complexion, and
its eyes blue as an ivy flower, holding the
souls light, like fame shining within
them; chestnut brown hair rippled across
low broad forehead and was caught abruptly
and shaken out of curl into knot behind
the ear. 1t was mouth sentineled by dim
pies from too near an approach-a soft
crimson mouth upon which the man she
loved might meet the soul that loved him.
She was sitting beside a sewing machine
from beneath the needle, leaning back with
look Of rest and satisfaction at its com
pletion in her eyes.


1t was afternoon-almost six-as the hand
of a little French clock pointed out the hour,
and she had a great deal to tell him. What
little wife has not? Grace was asleep
Grace her little seven months old baby
asleep; and her rlttle silver belled rattle, her
tooth ring and her sea shells were all scat
tered about the carpet. Her hair brush and
one tinney slipper lay just under the folds
Of her mother calico dress-wood colored
field with a white vine meandering across it.
Marian stood up and shook out the little
rose colored dress Just finished, folded it care.
fully and laid it away; then went up the easy
calico sleeves to the white polished elbow,
and the little woman counted herself ready
I for her kitchen-the one room lying beyond
this. She was the wife Of nechanic--one
of the happy poor men who earn their
bread by the sweat of their BROW" yet live
the life of the soul on a level above that Of
the body. And this woman was like many
other women throughout the country. She
had been in refinement and comparative
ease, and her heart was as sensitive as a
mimosa plant. Her mind was not common,
nor yet, at that other extreme, that OF being
intellectual. 1t was an even mind-a finely
balanced one-a mindwhose width and depth
was wide and deep enough to take in the
true issue of the truest life Here was a
happy home; humble and neat, simple, but
elegant in its simplicity. 1t was made sweet
by love, and that free, easy independence
which is experienced by those who live with
in certain limit, and feel content not to go
out Of it, knowing enough is enough and
more is superfuous addition.


Only one shadow lay across this little home
only one cloud reached downward, seem
ing ready to deluge it with darkness. But
Marian locked the skeleton up and turned
the key, and though it was still there, she
tried to think it could not pick the lock.


John Elmer came in presently and sat
down by the shaded window. The soft sum.
honeysuckle without, and the white curtain
swayed languidly up and down, back and
forth The temple curl of John black hail
which Marian was proud of, was lifted caress
ingly from his full forehead, gently as hel
dear hand was wont to touch it. He was @
tall slender fellow, yet finely built, with ;
full broad chest and slender sinewy arms tina
looked as if made for protecting just sucl
thing as Marian all through the days o
her life His hands did not look much as
they had worn kid gloves, but they were jus
such hands as weary woman would cllni
to for assistance and upholding when troubl
was near or a hope had failed her. He sa
very quiet, with the soft, scented air blowin
over him, and looked about the sitting room
1t was very pleasant-Marian' pretty littl
> triHes We're scattered here and there-pic
lures Of her drawing hung in modest frame
made OF pine cones and shells against tn
wall. There was the mirror in its dar
polished frame that had often reflected he
:. tace-there was her low rocking chair sh
sat in every evening and rocked their bab
to sleep-her work basket, with an end Q
ICuSihS HuuSlHS Ny pliC SluCs HCi llC iOph
!, ed at the rattle, and took it up and shook il
1t sounded like funeral bell. The slippe
he touched as reverently as a little child put
Q. out its hand to touch the white face of il
dead mother Marian came in smiling, wit
pink flush on her cheek she had bee
- making tea


"Why John You here? You came i


SO silently never heard you. Tea is read


for you"


She came up close to him as if to dra
him with her. He took her hand and DIRE


her to his knee he looked long and gent


into her clear ivy blue eyes, and then b
. asked her:


, 'Do you love me, Marian?"


Playfully drawing his face against hers 81


kissed him for an answer


She drew him closer and shuddered {


she embraced him.


'lfthere were noskeleton there?' thougl
, Marian.


J, John Elmer sighed and put her from b


knee, and rose up and followed her into Il


kitchen. No silver graced their table, b'


the plain queensware dishes were spotless
= clean-the table linen like snow. A fresh


gathered boquet stood by John S plate, col


posed of honeysuckles and late roses, and


few leaves from Marians only house pla
"a rose geranium. The faae was simp


but savory Marian poured John tea, al
Il. watched him drink it feverishly, but he wou