Year: 1873

school-ioom, where | was just losing the
small modicum of decent looks had ever
possessed. Bat | thought | would rath-
cr teach Teddy Flynn and Bobby Jones
their primers all the days Of my life than
to marry disagreeable, stingy Ned Nor
rison, even if he threw wedge gold in
my lap every day.


So began to favor joe principally
show my independence for when Sue was
not by to put me down, had spicy lit
tie temper of my own.


We were married at home ia the little
parlor, and they all came to the wedding.


[ had none of the floating white drap.
cries that had enveloped Sue and eclipscd
Will on their bridal day only had a
plain brown silk-thc first silk dress [
ever possessed-my own earning and
making. | had a white rose of mothers
bash in my hair, and as | could easily
stand under Jocs outstretched arm, there
was no danger that he would look dwarf.
cd beside me.


1t was not much Of place where we
commenced housekeeping the rooms
were small, and not great many of them.
| did all my own work, washing included
and we ate in the kitchen so you see we
were very humble folks indeed. Sue
used TO rather scorn at my furniture and
surroundings when she sailed in upon us,
as she did once year. for long visit. |
always pretended l wanted nothing better
but in my heart of hearts | knew | did,


l possessed one treasure Sue did not
my fair faced boy, whom strangers stop.
ped to admire for his pearly skin and blue
eycs-Too lovely for a boy, as every one
said But tonight think | was hardly
glad even for Eddie: for Sue had come
again for one of her lengthy visits, DASH
ing in upon me that morning when | was
in the midst Of my baking.


She rehearsed all the new things Will
had bought her lately, ending with his
promise, if his venture proved successful
to buy her diamond ring, and bring it
when he came tomorrow night


| owned just one ring that Joe had
given me but it was only an onyx with
a dark background, the white upper layer
being cut in forget-me-not. She always
called it contemporary an old maid S
r;rl- Tho" H. ,-'o Diiiv {. Iapnli VI
candy and new picture book informed
rae that my eyes were as red as a ferret S
with STOPPING over the oven; asked me
why in the world | didn't buy a sitting
room carpet, and departed.


| had known she was coming to be
sure and it had been settled long before
that we were to spend an evening at
mothers, but nevertheless her visit had
somewhat disturbed me, and | had felt
vexed and worried all day over it, |
suppose that was one reason had broken
down so easily tonight,


The carpet was certainly old and faded
or we had lived on it ever since we were
married, and it had not been anything to
boast Of it in the first place. The alpaca
| had worked over so long would cut a
sorry figure by the side Of Sues brown
poplin walking suit, and velvet palctot OF
the same color, surmounted by n pretty
turban with Il pheasant's wing. My soil.
tary wrap was plaid shawl decidedly
more useful than ornamental and my
bat b., vas 9 fabrication Of my own Any
uOuy HiiSut nav S-~----
at it and the feather was so small and
scrimpy that | could not give it stylish
twist, turn it as | might, | had liked il
well enough at first, and Joe thought it !
marvel, but | hated it now.


had finished my mendng, and as
laid Eddie's striped stockings on top o
the pile, thought how Susie could com,
and 90 as she liked, with no little toddlcl
to hinder her footsteps. | had nothing
to sit up for after my mending was done
so went to bed and fell into an uneasl
slumbcr,


Some time in the night | was awak
encd by hoarsc shouting, mingled will
the sound Of running to an fro. list
encd moment aud knew what it was
something had happened up the road
and, Of course, to Joe's train.


sprang out Of bed, into slippers AM


ran to the back door, | threw it wild


open, ran down the walk little way


and listened. | could hear the rumbl


Of the derrick car, settling of switche


and catch an occasional word, but no con


nected sentence. 1t was smash-Jo


Thompson-and that was all. knew


then Joe was killed.


| went back into the house, neve


even closing the door. caught Eddi


out Of his crib, and crouched down in


corner Of the room with him in my arm


as if | were afraid soine one would tax


him away. wondered why they di


not come to tell mc-perhaps they dare
not.


had din vision that when the
came to tell me in the morning | woul
be stark mad-or dead. Would the


never guess how cruel | had been to JC
kind, faithful Joe? He had never gi
en- me Il cross word in the world, but ha
, layi,hcd upon me all his heart. WI


could not have seen it before?
. 1t was growing light now, and | heal


u step they were coming TO tell me J'
was dead | looked up-a tall igu
! with pale face stood in the doorway
: it was Joe's wrath come back to hau
. me.


Dear old Joe When opened Il


eyes | was lying on the lounge drippi
C with water, and Eddie was screaming
S the top Of his voice.


5 never understood it very well, b
C there had been an obstruction Of t
= track which Joe had seen in time to a
!. ply some patent contrivance for stoppi
;, the cars, which had lately been put
II the engine


e Jack Henderson, the regular engine


understood its working, and had {
IS planned its principle to Joe, who "
&c greatly interested in such things-a
" he had run the risk OF his life by stoppi
Of to work this when he might have leap
$. off safely. The engine was nearly