Year: 1879

a close observer and a deep thinker, took
the husband aside and asked.


ibid you know what brought this
fever on your wife, Mr.. Streeterp You
have worked her nearly to death.


"You are speaking of my wife, not my
horse.n


Granted; and / say again you are
working her to DEATH"


REALLY, doctor, such language is un-
pardonable."


"And yet you will pardon it. And
furthermore, by your great love for the
self-sacrificing woman we have just left,
l shall perform an operation on your
eyes that you may see as | see.


And then he placed the cold, hard facts
before him, from the time she became a
bride, beautiful and accomplished, to the
village, up to date of present illness, in
which domestic cares only had haunted
her in feverish dreams. In concluding
he added:


"I truly believe, if she takes up her
old burdens at once, that before the year
has passed the grave or an insane asylum
will receive her."


The strong man shuddered.


GAS Heaven is my witness, Sir, / have
only permitted, not exacted, this sacri-
fee She voluntarily took her place by
my side, and has uncomplainingly kept
step with me-"


mo, she has not kept step, to follow
your own figure. Unable to keep up
with your long, rapid strides, she has
fallen, faint and footsore, by the way.
| tell you she must have rest for both
mind and body, or willnot answer for
the result. And it would be better found
away from home"


Eyes; I begin to comprehend, and it
can be found away" And offering his
hand, 81 will take care, doctor, that you
do not gets chance to administer another
such dose to me-"


Mr.. Streeter went back to the room
where his wife was sitting propped up
by pillows, and gush of unutterable
tenderness swelled in his heart as he
glanced at her pale face and almost
transparent hands. He sat down beside
her and said, softly:


"You don't know how glad l am that
you are better"


THANK you. Yes; / am almost well
now-shall soon be able to be in the
kitchen. l an sure l must be sadly
| needed tnere Dy JnlS Time.


"No, you are not needed there. By the
way, would you like to have me put tie
farm to rent this summer, and you take
the boy and 80 back to the old granite
hills?"


"Oh, could you? May l go?" and
the voice quivered with excitement;
then wistful1y, "but the expense, New
ton. 1t would put us back SO much"


Eyes, there it is; the old doctor was
right" he thought. And then aloud,
"Do you know what went to the city
for the day you were ill?"


"To deposit some money for more land
l think you said," she replied, wearily.


Yes; but Edo not need that land. |
have far more land than can cultivate
now And you shall have that money
at least all you want of it-and go home
and stay all the summer, and try to get
some of your blood back. shall write
to-day that you are coming


Mrs. Streeter could not believe it was
not one of her feverish dreams.
| But it all came about in good time,
and she arrived safely at home, where
she was petted and caressed to her hearts
content.


you are all trying to spoil me-" she
would expostulate; II shall never be fit
for farmers wife any more"


And thus among loving friends, rid
ing, walking and, when at home, read
ing, music and writing long letters to
her husband, the summer wore swiftly
away.


And now he had written that he was
coming, and she was counting the days
that must elapse ere she could look upon
his face and be clasped to his heart. She
was eager to go now. Her holiday was
over. Health had returned, and not an
instant did she shrink from the old life


And when the husband came and saw
the wonder one summer had wrought
he again told himself that the good doc.
tor was right.


A few days were given to the ole
friends, and then they turned their faces
toward their Western home.


1t was evening when they arrived, ant
the wife looked with bewilderment OF
the change. A handsome front had beer
added to the old dwelling; and before
she had time to question she was ushere(
into parlor newly furnished and already
lighted. An elegant piano stood in {
recess evidently constructed for its re
ception.


She turned toward her husband tC
assure herself that he, too, had no
changed into something or somebody
else. But the merry twinkle in his eyC
told her he was enjoying her surprise
and slowly she began to realize th'
whole situation. Yes, now she under
stood his strange reluctance to mention
what he was doing, and his willingness
to have her remain, even after she haC
expressed her anxiety to return.


Come, | have more to show you!'
and he showed her into large, com
modious room, furnished for her owl
sleeping apartment, even to her baby
crib.


"This is for you. And now lay asid,
your dusty garments and prepare for tea
it must have been ready an hour ago.
will go and see."


When he returned he found his littl
wife sitting in her little rocker and weep
ing silently.


Have / wounded where l wished t,
healp" he asked, reproachfully.


Forgive me-" she said, smiling; :"
am goose, but tiredwinged one, yol
know. And | am so happy to be a
home in such home, that | have n,
words in which to tell my happiness.


He stopped to kiss the offered lips
And what different life it was-busy
not burdened. Time for the wants o
the mind as well as the body. Goo,
help in the kitchen all the time, an,
choice reading for any leisure hour.


The farm was an unfailing source O
income, fully defraying all expense, witt
balance in favor.


"Been improving, / see," said DR.
Meeker, as lie reined in his light car
riage to the neat fence.


HYas doctor Coma in I want n