Rensselaer Republican, Volume 15, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 April 1883 — THE DESIRE OF HER HEART. [ARTICLE]

THE DESIRE OF HER HEART.

“I tell you, Jack, the farm is not your vocation. I become more and more convinced of the fact every day, and lees contented with the life we are leading." “You are dissatisfied with your lot—l see that plainly, Nell,” said Jack, a trifle sadly. “Oh, nonsense,” I put in. “Not with my lot, nor with you, only .with the farm, Jack. Pm tired to death with this prosy, humdrum life, and I hate to see you delving and toiling like a slave from one year to another.” “But, my dear,” suggested Jack, “one must live and have bread and butter.” “To be sure, Jack; but why not earn it in a more genteel fashion?” “Honest labor is always genteel, NelL” “O pshaw! yon understand me, Jack I mean that you have capacities for something better. You only cling to the old farm to please your father, when you could do a hundredfold better elsewhere. And besides, where is our society in this place, Jack? What chance is there tor our children as they grow up?” “Ah, Nell, that is looking so far ahead, ’ be said; “and, my dear, you seem to forget that I have lived here aJ my life.” “Oh, no, I don’t forget And pray,what have you done, Jack?" “Have led an upright life and married you.” “But yon didn’t pick me up amid the dover blooms, J ack, don't forget that You found me in town, Jack, dear. Pm anxious to get back again to my native element lam tired of all this. Youna c get on ever so nice in town, Jack, and there we can get into society.” “Our means are not inexhaustible, NglL” “Pm aware of that, Jack; but we have enough for a start, and Vanborough offers you a good place in his bank.” “At a limited salary, Nell.” “Oh, yes, but yon can work your way up, Jack—right up to the topmost round of the ladder. Do let’s go, Jack! I have lived here to please you ever since our marriage; I think you can afford to please me a little now.” “That’s true,” he said; you can’t be expected to care for the farm as I do, NelL ' i promised to make you happy when you consented to become my wife, and Pll try to keep my word. You shall have it all .Four own way, NelL” The continuous dropping of the water rears away the solid stone. I had conquered my husband, and the desire of my heart was about to be accomplished. When Jack once made up his mind to do a thing he did it with all his might, the matter was soon settled. Cherry Hill, as we called the (arm, was sold at a great sacrifice; and one sunny morning we turned our backs upon the breezy downs . vnd golden grain fields and journeyed Cityward. “Pm afraid you’ve made a great mistake,” said Jack’s father as he bade us good-by. “You’d better have stuck to the farm. You remember the old saying about rolling stones?” j “I don’t believe in old sayings, sir,” I answered loftily,“and I think I can appro iate my husband’s ability better than any one else can.” Our new home in town was a stylish residence in a fashionable street. Weestabiiahed ourselves in the principal hotel and slum set about the task of furnishing the house. • ’ • 9 ’ ’ I • ' ‘ “My dear efajd,’ said MmV&nborough the banker’s wife, dropping in for an earfagrain {carpet Get Brussels by all —— gocd English Brussels. You’ll

find it much cheaper in the end, and, besides, it is so much more stylish.” We hearkened to our friend’s advice and laid our rooms with Brussels. Then furniture was got to match. Mrs. Vanborough and slteral other friends aided us in our selection, and all sorts of pretty, costly bric-a-brac, and real lace curtains and a new piano. My old instrument was too plain and clumsy for the new establishment. “We’ve got snug quarters here, Nell,by George!” he said, looking through the extravagantly furnished rooms with admiring pride. “No one in the town can outshine us,not even Vanborough himself.lt as lightened our purse a good deaL Hl admit, but what does that signify. What good comes of having money unless one enjoys it” “My dear,"said Mrs. Vanborough,when we were pleasantly settled in cur handsome house and had hired a couple of servants. “I suppose you want to give some sort of a party now? It is customary, you know. Suppose you let it be an informal reception, with cards and coffee for old people, and ioe,and and fruits and dancing for young ones? That would do nicely.”

I mentioned the matter to Ja?k when he came home, and he entered into the spirit of the affair with great excitement. “To be sure, little wife; have a party by all means. When one’s in Rome one must do as Romans do. Don’t spare ex pence, either, my dear; we must make as good a show as other people. And I shall take it upon myself to order your costume. I want you to look as grand as a little Empress." % “But, Jack,” I suggested timidly, “we are encoding a great deal of money.” But, despite my fears, our reception went on, and it turned out to be a great success. The best people in town honored us with their presence, and everything, thanks to Mrs. Vanborough’s foresight, was carried out in the most lavish and elegant manner. “By George,’said Jack, “this sort of

thing is jollier than the old farm. I see now, little wife, that you were right—al ways right 1 I would ten times rather he should have upbraided and blamed me for what I had done. The winter that followed was exceedingly gay, We were invited everywhere and our house was constantly full guests. Balls,’soirees, kettledrums, and the opera seemed to engage every hour. Jack and I seldom had a quiet momeut together, yet he seemed to enjoy it with all his heart When spring came our last surplus dollar had been expended, and we were solely dependent on Jack’s monthlysalary. The warm weather came bn and baby fell ill. I hoped day by day that Jack would say something about going back to his father’s for the summer, but he did not even hint at such a thing. Our fashionable friends fluttered off like summer swallows, and we were left almost alone. The long bright summer days wore on and our bills ran up higher, and baby’s little breath seemed to grow weaker and weaker, and poor Jack himself began to look dreadfully ill and worn. And one afternoon he was sent home in a carriage quite unconscious, stricken down by a sudden fever. I put my pride aside then, and wrote a letter to Jack’s father. “Jack and baby are both ill,” I said “and we are sick and tired of this life. Pray forgive us and let us come home.” The very next day the dear old gentleman arrived, but the Sheriff was before him. Jack having confessed judgment in a lawsuit. The rumor that we intended to leave town got out, and our creditors rushed in, anxious to secure the lion’s share of our effects. The Brussels carpets, the handsome furniture, and costly bric-a-brac all went under the hammer at a disastrously low figure. “Never mind,” said my father-in-law, not a shadow of reproach on his kind old face; “let them squabble over it if they will. We must get our sick ones home.” So we got Jack into the carriage, and, with his poor head on my knee, and baby in my arms,-1 turned my back on the scenes of my short-lived triumph. “We are going back to Cherry HilL” said the old gentleman, as in the dusk of the day we drove through the dewy stillness of the sheltered land. “The old home has been waiting for you all there months. I was pretty sure you’d' want to come back.” I could not utter one word in A great, full moon was rising above the distant hills as we reached the house. Not the smallest thing was changed. The great red roses bloomed on the terrace, 'the bees droned in their hives, and the cattle-bells tingled in the barnyard. The doors were wide open. We carried Jack in and laid him down in the broad,breezy room that had been our bridal chamber. He opened his eyes and drew a deep, quivering breath,as the freshening breeze touched his throbbing head. *’

“NAIL where are von?" he said. “Surely t his must be home.” “I am here, Jack?” I answered through my tears, “and this is home—dear old Cherry HilL” “Thank God!” he murmured, and fell back upon the pillows, and I saw great tears trickling slowly from beneath his closed eyelids. I rose softly and fell on my knees beside Jack’s low pillow. “Oh, Jack,” I sobbed. “I have been so wicked. Forgive me, Jack, forgive me! I jam so glad to be at home again.” His worn face grew radiant and his dear arms held me close. And then and there clasped to my husband’s heart, in the safe, sweet shelter of the home he loved, I understood all the past. “You didn’t mean it, Jack,” I whispered. “You only pretended to enjoy it to please me.” “No matter, little woman; the lesson we have learned has been cheaply bought We shall not care to leave the safe old nest in search of fashion and society again.”