Year: 1875

she continued after pause. "There
is core in every other one, and then
they are so sour that it will take their
weight in sugar to cook them, and
that reminds me that that last sugar
is as brown as a berry. l wonder
what you we're thinking Of"


"Quite list OF grievances truly"
said Mr.. Truman, rising and taking
his hat. ,,.+


"Don't 90 till you have brought in
a couple Of pals of water. That we'll
sweep is dangerous. I've made up my
mind not to go near it again till IL is
fixed. It is 90 shiftless to let things
go So"


Mr.. Truman was exceedingly un-
comfortable that afternoon as he
worked at his forge. He wondered
what had come over his wife. Was
she going out Of her mind? or was
she turning TO be vixenf neither of
these possibilities were pleasant to
contemplate; and. as he turned his
step homeward he consoled himself
with the thought that she must have
been distracted with the children's
noise, and would be herself again to-
night. He hoped, at least, that she
would have off the untidy wrapper she
had worn at noon, and have her hair
smoothed. He forgot that he had
never given his wife reason to suppose
that he even noticed the pains she had
taken to appear always neatly attired
in his presence. AS he neared the
house he caught sight of her face at
the window. 1t disappeared immedi-
ately, but one glance sufficed to show
that her appearance had in no wise
improved. The wrapper was open at
the throat, and every way untidy, he
was sure she had got it from the rag
man, and her hair seemed to stand on
end; her face was flushed and frown-
ing; and her. voice shrill and repel-
liant. The evening meal was taken
partly in sullen silence, and partly
amid storm of fault-iinding and in
vectiyes. .E


If he was annoyed at noon he was
stupe6ed now. Was he dreaming ? he
actually pinched himself to see if that
was the case. Was it nightmare2 No,
he was really awake and moving
around. Was it delirium tremens? he
would thing so if he was in the habit
of drinking. But be concluded at
last that the fault was with his wife,
and he determined to be very kind
and not seem to notice the change,
perhaps it would soon pass away.


But the same scenes we're enacted at
breakfast next morning, and again at
dinner, and at tea. He began to think
of going to California, or some far of
isle of the sea. lie was sure he had
never seen so uncomfortable a place.
Every room in the house and every
article of furniture seemed to sympa-
tbize with the new state of things, and a
spirit of disorder and dungeon-like
gloom settled upon everything. He
wondered that he had never noticed
how dark-complexioned baby was; he
had thought her fair but she WAS q
real little brunette.


Something must be done, and what
he mused as he paced up and down
the walk that led to his shop. He
could not live SO. He would sooner
cut off his right hand than live as
neighbor Halls folks did in a perpet
ual quarrel. "Ill talk to her kindly
he said at last. "If I can only gel
her to see how unlovely her conduct
looks before she gets the habit formed
1 think she will try to reform" and
! with degree Of hope he went heavily
into the house. ssf{ er


'Hattis," he said, softly-she was
Just tucking the sleeping babe into it:
orib-"I have been greatly panied fol
a week past with the course you have
taken. Excuse me for referring to it
but l feel It to be for your good and
mine."


ga week |" There was an amused
twinkle in Mrs. Truman's eye as she
gazed steadily into his, and asked witt
an innocent questioning look "What
is 1t James?"


He was puzzled for it was evident
that another change had passed oveI
her, but he stammered out, "You have
made me very uncomfortable Of late,


"James," she interrupted, and there
was world of tender reproaeh il
voice and eye. James, compare my
conduct for day or two with your
for years past"


He stood transhxed before her earn
est gaze, while she continued, ~ haC
tried every way to make you see, ant
at last concluded to hold up befor,
your eyes an example of what to m'
is the extreme of unlovliness. Hay,
/ i dana it nfincIiralr 2U