Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 13, Number 43, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 21 April 1883 — Page 9

ETTY'S HERO.

BY HAIUOK IIARLAND.

"Ueoige Extell is getting to to pretty well fore-banded for a uuua who isn't over thttty-tive years old,'' said Farmer l.awsou, tapping bin pipe on the stove, preparatory to retillinu it." "Try a cigar n«»w, father. Tho eldest Hon, a smart young city merchant, stepped across tbe rug to give him ouo. "lalwaya knew tieorge would succeed in life. Thorn la the right kind of timber in him. But what proof has be given of thin, lately

He's bought tho Robbing farm' —tho farmer sucked hard at the cigar—"and paid for it—and in going to move in right away. AM rich a bit of laud eightyacros— all in working order—and twenty aeros woodland on tho hill—a* you'll llnd in the country. Robbing built a new house,'you mind, just before his death, and the women here tell ine Uoorgoand his wifo have furnished it in Apple-pie style from cellar garret. I ain'tone mite surprised, for, a* you say, Thomas, there's the right sort of stull in the boy. lie's stayed at home and stuck toau honest trade. There ain a bettor master builder of bin age in the State. 'Inere wasn't never anything flighty or harum-scarum about him. He iiiun't make the sjduge gome folks did who started neek-aml-neck with liixn, but ho wa« what might he willed an alld*y roadster. In course, he prospered. It's tbe law of nature and the will oT Providence that a steady, aeiiMible man ahould succeed in hi* undertakings. There's iSeriptur' for It: Dwell in Ihc laud, and verily thou .shall Ije led.'

A glight woman who bad been utandJng at the westward window, her back to the family group about the hearth, taking no pari in uie general conversation, now went quietly out of tho room.

You hadn't ought speek so open before Kttv, father," remonstrated Mia. I Lawson. Hhe feels bad enough alroady. seeing how well oil Jenny Extell is, and she without a penny to her fnune.

I've never seen her n«» downhearted before as ahe'a beeu t.his la»t month. I a'pn-e it'* helping Joutty l)i»y her furniture and settle it iu the house that kept liei thinking how diilerent things are with her. Tlvey grew up Hue two sistera, her and* Jenny"—observed the dame, iu explanation to tho town daughter-in-law— and were married the name winter. They've been fast friends through all poor EUy's ups and downs, and 'twas nothing but natural that Jenny should want her help in getting thing's ready in her new home. She has -MOIIM! enough to know and say that

ICttv's taste is better than bens. She was ou*s.dered the smartest of my girls, Ktty was. Wo give

tr^^:-

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TlW:

THE MAIL

A PAPER FOR THE PEOPLE. GJJ

OUR DA Y6.

To-morrow—what matters the storm to-day W't bhuiJ fmu the Inland, of pence at laxt. To day Is stormy, but bye anl bve

Hie tempest and ruin will all be past.

"The yesterday was ft mocking dream That left us sorrowful, lull pain But tbe fair to-morrow wait* for us,

We ahail build up tbe broken liopes again.

Time louche* our eye* with tear* that burn, And plants the gray 'mid the lock* of gold, 4 And robs the cheek* of tl»e tl nt of youth.

And we say, "To-mornuw we shall be old."

And we think of the fair land farther on, Wtoeie Hie shall never know blite or frost, Where love die* not at the touch of change,

And we find ugalu tiie youtli we lost.

Kothlng ix done, from birth to death Our hope, our love, and life's Mid day la only a nam pie at the bent

Of aii that will come in the far away.

Then why do our team no »teadl!y fa Wtieu the perfect life shall soon havesway. When the bright to-morrow* and yesterdays lerge themselves in a glad to-day

Shall merge

—{Mrs. L. M. Jord uu.

IMU*

more advan

tages of eddieatlon thaa we had the older ones, and looked for her to make as good a setl lenient as any of cm,''

A deep sigh told how futile the expectation had been. "Where is liniu liarton now? queried Thomas, careleasly. "In Colorado, Mont«m, Idaho, or some other outlandish plat*'," tho father n'tui iKxi, in contempt of Western enterprise. "tkHifiug for what he'll never liinl—his fortune. lie's tbo addlesiheaile«l fellow I ever see, take him altogether. lie had a good *ituaUon in the liou-loundry's oftleo iu Harry when he was married was a tip-top book-keeper, an*l would have bein manager In time. If he hadn't got at loggerheads with the lirm. He made It out to lw a 04ise of conscience—said they wanted him to be party to a fraud, and he wouldn't sell his Integrity for any man's money. Anyway, he lost the plains and hard work to get another half as g«od, for the employers told their story right ami left,, and these overly-nice consciences men ain't popular with business men,as you nmybe know."

Thomas smiled knowingly, and winked oneeyo over his cigar, without speaking. "Ktty says Lent never did a nobler tl.ing than giving up his situation, rathI or than lie and cheat." ventured the mother, but very tlubioualy. "She thinks it was real heroical." "He never did anything that wasn't heroical in tier ey«w,"'retorte*l the father, incfeaslHglv scornful. "It's recklessness for wt niaii to set so much More by any imm, 'sjHH-iailv a shiHi^s, mlsfortunate cn«tur\ We're all dust and ashes, but some on us is softer than others," Mr, ws»n like*! his jo»ce almost as well as he did u» toil long stonw, "Next, Lem was e.\j»res» «g*»tit ou the 13rand

Through Line. It was tough work, but be kept at it till he was nigh killed in a big "smash-up.'—Couldn't turn him«elf in iwd for ihrm* wwks old n't earn a cent in six months.. Then he was superintendent of Mr. Hlatwtn'smodel farm. It was a genuine Kngli^h estate, with n»an*ion«houw\ and doi»-park.saiid fishptnds. and all manner ot furren gim^ cracks. Lem MUti4 his employer to a T. Mesa go d-looking fellow, you know, and \veli-»pok n: very koowU-dgeableas to tKHiks and treatises and all that kind of thing: that has such a run with ««nU«man farmem» and runs away with theirmoney. Between him and Blarcom they got the place Into tip-top order—a perfect pktUre, I will my and every-

IWHIV

said

HOW

well Item's ne»t waa like

to He feathered at last, when Blarcnm failed—bursted aU to piece*—flrried out like a skv-rocket—and he owing I*m a year's saUrv, bwWes thousand dollar* the ftndlsh

Ih»v

had left in hi* hands to

in vest for him*. Two otoliths afterwards Lem wa» off to Montana a* mining engineer. He studied that business first o( all. and had a hankering for Hall along, and anew company made him an offer to go out with ineir men. I told him to bring Kttv and her two children here, and leave them till be could look about him a Uttle. I hadn't tbe be*rt to kick bim when he was «o under foet, or I'd a hinted to him then, what I believe

as firm aa I do that tbe sun will rise tomorrow—that I'll have to support them for tbe rest of my life. He's sant them money from time to time, thats about for their clothes. I don't know how ong bell keepitup." '•Quite a chapter of accidents, tittered Mm. Thomas, with a complacent shake of her flouncee. "They say tome men are born to fortune. Mr. Barton must have been predestined to disaster. "He lacks gbrewdness aud business prudence, and bag antiquated notions about high-flown honor and trust in buman nature- In a word, he is 'verdant -•behind the age!' pronounced Thomas. But, father, it is not fair that you should be burdened with his family at vour time of life. Etty should see this an~d make some effort at self-support. "Tbat'g what I say," chimed in Mrg. Baker, tbe elder sister. "Now there'g myself, fortnstanee. Though there's no call for my doing it, I turn manya penny for my private purse. My best dresses never cost Baker here one dollar. Here'stbis blac* silk—thick as buckram. It'll last roe ten vear.and cost six dollars a yard. I paid "for it by sending eggs aud butter to market. It's unreasonable in Kttv to expect that sbe is to live upon ber father's substance so long as she has ber health and ber husband. I'd go to the poor-bouse before I'd come back upon iny parents for a support, once I married and gone." "And them children Mrs. De Baun, another married daughter, tbe wife of a wealthy miller, seized tbe ball. "Susie is plenty big to be set to work—eight year old last summer. I offered this winter to take her into my family to tend baby and odd choree, and was willing to |tay Etty for ber services by 'lowing the child ber victuals and clothes, though her work wouldn't be worth it. But sbe wouldn't hear of it said Susie paid her way bere, waiting on father and mother aud so, and wasn't overly strong at her best. Long and short of it was, sbe wouldnt lie separated from her. I said to her face that sbe lived to repent it.. She may have been the smartest of us ouce, but she's made a poor-one out of it since. I have tho comfort of having done my duty. I can't forget that Etty, with all her uppish and ungrateful ways, is my sister."

Says Tbaceray in "Vanity Fair," "What does it mean when a lady says that she regards Jane as a sister

Etty Barton could have told you in words strong but few, as she hurried along the back hall, after leaviug tbe company collected in the sitting-room. She paused in hoi flight to glance in at tho half-ojien door of the great kitchen. A dozen children were at play within— ber own among them. These were, to her eye, the prettiest and most sprightly of all. Susie was her father's image, with his laiu e, gray eyes, mobile mouth, and broad forehead. She was like him, too, in manner and disposition—frank, sensitive, sanguine—brave as lender. The mother's heart expanded in yearning that was agony as she caught sight of her, now standing aloof from the noisy game of "Copenhagen," her arm about her llve-year-old-sister, protecting her from the rough romp, yet laughing in child-like gleo at the scene. It was Loin's fai-eand Letn« guestun to the life. Tho loving eyes noted other things that made the heart-pang bitter. Her darlings were the most plainly-dressed of the cousins, and, on bin account, or some other ground of supposed inferiority, were tin) least courted if not the neglected ones of tho band. Their playfellows had probably taken their cue from tbo incautious discourse of their parents relative to Ktt-y's position in the home-tond. The simple plaids the mother had sat up at night to make, when the work of the farm-house was done, were the only new dresses the little ones had had that season- They thought them handsome, and were but too proud too be allowed to wear them to-night, but they wore coarse and common when compared with the sashes, silks,and furbelows of their visitors.

Lem had sent his wife fifty dollars in the fall—just as the children were reeovoiing from scarlet fever. Twentyfive, had pa'd tbo doctor's bill. Etty wrote nothing about their illness to Lem, only that his remittance had made them vory comfortable. "We require a few fine dresses here at this season," she stated. "Flannels, ttvck stoekiugs, and stout shoes are more needed than outside adorning."

In November she told bim with tnucfc gratification that she had had a "stroke of good fortune." Jenny Extell was going to housekeeping—she had lived with her widowed mother until now— and had engaged ber to make up all the beds and table linen. "A light, pleasant task with my machine,"added Ktty. "I shall enjoy the work during these long winter evenings, and Jenny insists n|on paying me double what any one else uld. It is a blessed comfort to feel 'hat I am helping you ever so little."

She always sent him cheerful letters. I^east of all did sbe let him suspeot the petty persecution of which she was the victim at the hands of her nearest of kin. Tho Lawsous considered that they were "doing their best by Ktty and her children" when they gave them shelter and food—the place of blood relatives at their table and fireside. "Mother t/awson'' had kept no "steady help" during the eighteen months Ktty had been with her. "Father," and "the rest of 'eni" bad fully agreed with her tuat "she'd ought to be as eqninomical as possible now that the family expenses were likely to be so heavy,1' and that "after all, tbere wasn't niore'n enough work in the house for two women to turn off handily." "She "hired" for house-cleaning and "extra company the men did the milking, split wood, and on very stormy days brought in water from the well. The children were early taught to "step around lively." Susie churned, swept, dusted, kept up the tires in thedaytime, sewed the carpet-rags together, aud was held ready to flv at the Week and call of everybody, while even Mamie could pick up cuipe. hunt eggs, feed chickens, and bold grandma's knitting yarn. They were terribly tired by nlgh"t, generally, often falling asleep over their supper— sometlnrest begging to be allowed to go to bed without any—"they were so tired, and notn bit hungry." At such times tbe mother would steal off up stairs to •'cuddle' them, as her father culled it that is, to bathe the aching feet, caress the dropping heads, and lay them tenderly down to the coveted rest, then to cover the wee fingers already »oil-hard-ened. with tear* and kisse-, and when the swelling in her throat would permit, to »$ng them to sleep, and tell stories of papa's jmmieyiug'e In wonderful countries, and—best of all—bis "coming home sonic day,**

She was "bringing them ap wrong," her ki eo|! assured her. sev 1y. "So muJ tilng would make iL*.»tn tender, instead of toughening them for the poor p!e

ing ones tst

exp But «i this, in her fas'h In Leeo"* worth and abilities, Ktty was obstinate. She never disputed her father's dogmatic laying down of tbe law. or openly rebelled ml ber sisters' criticism upon ber "managementnever visibly resented tbe Impertinent sneers of tbe two brothers younger than herself who lived at borne and worked on tbe farm. They were ungainly cobs of eighteen and twenty, who followed op their father's

......

Not one of them meant to be unkind, or to make the lonely-hearted woman feel that sbe was unwelcome. But one and all bad adopted tbe parental theory that when a daughter married she should be "off the hands" of the autbots of her being that, in choosing a husband she bad elected to cut herself loose from the interests and affections of her own home.

Etty had been as one cut off from the congregation since the Christmas eve, ten years ago, when she wedded l£m Barton with tbe full approbation of parents and friends. He was doing well then, and tbe Lawsons were proud of the match—pride, the memory of which intensified their disappointment and disgust when Etty became tbe beneficiary of her father's bounty. That, in their opinion, was the pluiu truth—as it is in ninety-mue out of a hundred cases similar in general features to hers. Her claim upon bim was understood by the whole family to be a sentimental whim. Tbe ties of blood were abrogated by the marriage ceremony. Situated as she was now, sbe should be humble and mindful of the debt of gratitude she owed to her benefactors, and being, as I bavesaid, homely country folk, well-to-do in their neighborhood, but little versed in the glosses of polite society, they let her understand what was expected of her.

Sbe knew they wero talking about ber and disparaging Lem—"vilifying bim," sbe said to herself when sbe left them aud the house to walk off her heat of impatience and indignation in the outer air. Tbe sky was cloudy, but tbe lurid sunsetting she had watched Irom the window bad left a brassy glare above the western hills that showed ber the bare fields, naked trees, nodding ominously to oneanotber in prediction of the morrow's storm tbe great barns to tbe left of the homestead the towering pile of wood near the kitchen wiug the straight, muddy lane leading to the village road. Tbe air was raw, but not biting, promising a "a green Y'uie." A cheerless, dispiriting evening, Ktty felt to be iu consonance with her mood as sbe stepped from the side stoop, wrapped her fibawl about her bead and went toward tbe lane. In crossing the stream of light flowing from tbo sitting-room window, she looked in. Family gatherings were not annual events with the Lawsons. They were utilitarian in their views upon this as upon other points. But the crops had been abundant that year, and the value of the farm greatly enhanced by the building of a new railroad, and ''mother," who had been sick at Thanksgiving, "took a notion'' to collect her offspring about her Christmas board. She

4'wanted

She usually said, "Timo will prove!" It wasditticult to be hopeful to-night, when Leiu was a wanderer, and she a homeless beggar.

She picked her way along the turfy edges of the latio, now sodden and sere, loan apple tree, standing directly in the line of ihestoue wall which nad inclosed and built it in. I was midway between the farm house and the road, and had been, in the dear "courting days" of long ago, tho trysting place of Lem and bis betrothed. It was a lonely and eerie spot in the winter twilight, and the leaflass boughs banging low and wide seemed to threaten rather than protect. Etty sat down upon tho wall, her back to the mossy truuk, her face toward a dark line of hills swelling beyond tho village highway. A bright speck, like astar, twinkled upon the side of one. Sbespoke her thoughts half aloud. "George and Jenny are going over to their house together to-night. They will eat their first dinner there to-mor-row. I do try not to be covetous!"

She had not known until she saw the light of that happy home how desolate she was in the present, how little of brightness there was in her future. Who was to blame for tbe difference in her lot aud that ot ber friend. Jenny Extell? Not herself. She did baro justice to her house-wifery skill when her conscience acquitted ber of waste, clumsiness, or extravagance. She had been industrious and prudent—as her mother confessed, "the smartest of all her girls." "The wisest partner man every had," said Lem, Was the fault his? Were his high sense of honor, his trust in the romises^of God to tbe upright, bis becbimerical aud lief in his£ fellowman, as suicidal as she was told every day by those who had prospered in the world? So declared everybody excepting his wife and tho Extells, who iraintained his cause bravely in tbe teeth of a hail storm of ridicule and reprobation of his "folly," and "Hightiness.

She tried still harder not to be covetous of their better fortuneasshe recalled this. Yet she acknowledged reluctantly that bad sbe been in Jenny's place, she would not have asked the poor woman to assist her in the fnrnishment of her cottage would have displayed ber satisfaction in the possession of it and the snug farm le*» openly in the presence of one with^vhom Fate had dealt so adversely.

Sbe checked herself again. If Jenny were not a trite friend, she had none in the world. And she, with her husband, believed in Lem! l^et ber bear thU in mind always. They were not thinking of him to-night, it was true. Nobody was except her helpless, hunted self— htm ted from the one shelter that remained to ber by the cruel hints lanncbed at her best beloved.

Sbe loathed tbe thought of the "big su| per" to be served presently at the firm boose. Every t.i •«.' fiil would choke ber, remea^jeri.ijj L,w far away be was, perhaps hungry and penniless, certainly famishing in heart on this*, their wedding day, for her and th" children. Healths would be drank at table In tbe sparkling cider for which th-', Lawson cellar was famous. Not one of the selfish, -vial party would name the

I fk i**

TERRE HAUTE SATURDAY EVENING A TL.

in en does touching "feather-braided speculators" and "rolling stones" by flings at /grass widows and "gay busbands," and perverse assumptions thst Lem Barton's present location was Salt {Lake City. "He'll send for you, Etty4 when he's made enough money to support you along with tbe nineteen others," was a favorite jest.

to see them

together once more before she died." All the children and children-in-law were there to night, except Leni—and no one had said to Etty, "Our number is incomplete without bim." "Nobodv misses or cares for him but me," she "muttered grinding her heels into the soft ground, as she stood alone, iu the gloom and dampness, driven out from the warmth and glow and social morrimont that reigned within theapartment. "Yet," surveying the rugged features and gauut "tranie of Farmer Baker, and the Dutch obesity of the thrifty miller—ciphers, both of them, beside their energetic spouses, "he is worth fifty—a thousand of such as they! If I—or time could only prove it to them!"

"What under tbe canopy are you perched up therefor, like an owl?" "We were just going for you," interposed George, springing to the ground. "And tbe children!" Jenny jumped out after him, and kissed her friend warmly. "To take tea in the new house!" The husband'8 stronger tones bore her down.

Will you be tstill?" Jenny's hand was over bis mouth. "I can explain iu half tbe time and with one-tenth tbe number of words. Men are such deliberate animals! We made a forced march to-day, Etty dear, and got into the bouse. Both always spoke-as if there were but one in the land. "And things looked so lovely and home-like, and mother and sister Lucy and all of them bad scut in such lots of nice eatables— mince pies aud doughnuts, and cookies and biscuit, and bam, chickeus, oysters, sausage—I can't begin to tell you! It is just like a donation party. We two couldn't consume them in a month. So, George and I couldn't rest withouPrunning over for you to see and enjoy with us. I knew Hannah Willets was helping your mother, and that Maria and Elizabeth were there in case she wanted more bands. We are going to steal you and the children—willy-nilly "And since you ve come to tbe point at last," the husband said, good-humor-edly, when she paused to take breath, 1 will drive on and kidnap the babies wbile you wait bere with ber. I'll see that they are wrapped up warmly, Etty." "I don't know what mother will say," objected Etty but the roll of the wbeels drowned tbe remonstrance. "He will manage that," said Jenny, confidently. When he has set his heart upon anything, be isn easily balked. Be is on his high horse to-nigbt. I haven't seen bim in such spirits before since our weddiug-day."

Tbe two matrons wero standing close together on the firm edge of tbe muddy lane, Jenny's arm encircling the other's waist, and ungracious though she feared it might sound, Ktty's heart so swelled under her friends affectionate interest in the lonely intruders upon the family party at tbe homestead, that she could not help saying, "This is my weddingday."

Both arms were clasped tightly about her neck, and warm lips pressed her. "You don suppose we have forgotten that! exclaimed Jenny, with something between a laugh and a sob. "You "dear, dear child ifl could only see you as happy as I am "It is all right—somehow Etty made agreat effort. "It is certainly right that you should be blest with so many of life's best things. In the father's good time I shall understand, I hope, why my cup seems so ofteu almost empty. Only 'almost'—while I have Lem and the children."

Neither spoke again until they heard Georgie hearty voice, bleuded with th9 shrill trobble of childish tongues. Little was said by the elder members of the quintette during the shoit ride up the bill to the starry sparkle Etty had watched from her rocky seat. George drove iuto the yard through tho larger of the twogatesin the neat fence, and deposited his load at tbe kitchen door. Such a pretty kitchen as it was! with green and buff oilcloth on the floor, and gay braided rugs before the lire and beside the tables. The drosser was full of white crockery the wall above the pump and sink dazzling with tin ware. There was another pump over tho cistern in the adjoining wash-room, with a washingmachine and nest of white tubs. "A barrel of flour, and one of sugar," inventoried Jenny, throwing open her store-room door. "A tub of butter— another of lard. All sorts of useful groceries upon tbe shelves. And in the cellar, potatoes, apples, turnips, carrots— everything one needs ill housekeeping. 1 haveu't made many changes in parlor and sitting-room siuce you were here three days ago. We won't be too grand, this evening, so we will sit in the dining-room, George has a splendid fire there.''

The dining-room was, the ohildren cried out, at entering, the loveliest place they ever beheld. The oval table had one of Jenny's best damask clothes upon it, and was set out with delicate chinawhite. banded with blue and gilt. The wall-paper was fawn-colored with arabesques of blue, lightly touched with

Sere

old" the carpet fawn and blue, with and there a dash of scarlet. Engravings Etty had not seen before were utiug over the mantel and between the windows a settoe stood on one side of room an oaken beaufet, with a modest glitter of silver and glass upon it, on another. The windowshades wero white with fringes of blue and gold. "But woo are these for, Aunt Jenny?" said Susie, at sight of a couple of caneseated rockers set at. either end of the rug. "You have no little girls or boys!'

Jenny stooped to caress her, with a soberer face than she had hitherto worn. "I wish I had, darling But our Heavenly Father has not given me any of my own I must borrow you and Mamie sometimes. Those nice little chairs wero bought expressly for you two. And this '—setting forward an easy chair— "must be for mamma—a resting place whenever she can find time to use ft. 1 always said if ever I had a house, it should l»e as much hers as mine. "Now —resuming her brisk tone—"yon are company for this one evening. George and I will be waiters." "Shepran offinto the kitchen, followed by tho complaisant sponse. Etty beftrd I hem whispering together over ttyeir work—the bum of the kettle, the steady roar of tbe fire in the range the rattle of dishes, and now and then a gush of excited laughter from tbe bustling, happy house-wife. No womjer shi^wasin a flutter of delight and importance. Etty said to berselt, leaning back in the luxurious chair, the like of which was not to be found in the l^awson farm house, that a reasonable woman could desire no more ambitious lot than to be mistress lot than to be mistress of this fitly appointed home and tbe wife of a good, loving husband such as George Extell. Especially, If to these gifts of Providence were added children dear and affectionate as hers. It was a pity George aud Jenny bad none. In this one respect sbe was richer than they. The chatter of the pair wbo shared with ber tbe Christmas cheer of ibis hospitable dwelling, basked with ber in the^radianceof coal-tire and "student's lamp," did not disturb her reverie. Sb® 1" ked thoughtful. it serene, dreaming ie»ffully, ber eye* fixed upon the grate, her hafi well sbaptd still, despite* ber ry-day toil, folded upon her black es». It was alpaca, whereas her mother and sister- had arrayed toemselves in holiday silk for the evening's festivities! A plain linen collar lay over her pink necktie, and euffo of tbie same bordered ber wraU. Her bair was soft brown, as were bere eyes, and Jenny evidently thought ber a pleasing fireside picture, for entering witb a plate of rusb—such as nobody but Jenny's mother could make—sbe est it down hastily upon the table, came np impetuously to Etty and "kissed ber. "Dear,

absent—stiii iess wish bim good fortune and a bappy return. Up tbe lane came tbe sonnd of wheels and hoofs, and ebeery voices rose and fell upon tbe chill air.* Etty recognised George Extell's gray horse and tbe outline of bis Jersey wagon, and almost as »oon the inmates espied ber figure drawn darkly againtt tnedyiag yellows of tbe west. "Is that you, Euy?"cried Jenny, with an byvterteal laugh of alarm or surprise.

\s-

drar

child!" sbe said again. and

the water stood in ber eyes. "You Messed, patient lamb!" "Who rejoices in your joy. Jenny dear/* returned tbe gaest, promptly sod

cordially. •. "You deserve all this and more." "That's a fact," responded blunt George, to whom had been committed the task of "setting on tbe butter," a duty he performed to bis own satisfaction by leaving the plate with it iugeniously fashioned yellow "pineapple" upon tbe top of the slop-basin in the tea-tray. "Aud while we are in tbe way of saying pleasant things, I must tell 3'ou something I heard to-day about Lem."

The coals in the grate needed ro rearrangement, but he picked up the tongs, pulled dowu a doaen lumps, and fell diligently to work to heap them up again, lookiug away purposely from the suddenly lit eves and wistful face upturned to his. 'Tisn't often 1 believe a travelers story, but I rather think this fellow knew what he was talking about. I was up at the depot for some things we expected from town, and there 1 met him. So we fell to talking about one thing and auother, and seeing there was no conveyance there to take bim to the village, I asked him to let me give him a lift. He knew Lem out yonder in Nevada, and ho says tbe wheel of fortune has certainly taken a turn for him at last. You remember that when Blarcom failed, he owed your husband more than two thousand dollars. Lem was sure then, aud didn't hesitate to say it, that he would have paid him if he could. 1 wasn't. I thought Blarcom was trying the failing rich dodge. But tisn't the first time by a good many that Lem's been in the right and I in the wrong. Well, who should Lem meet out in Nevada, or maybe Montana—which did I tell you 'twas, Jenny?" "Bother said bis restless little partner, who was fidgeting back and forth in a fever of impatience. "Tell the story! What difference does the place make Don't you see she is on tenter-hooks "Anyhow, 'twas Blarcom he met.'' George piled up the coals with greater care. "He'd landed on his feet once more, and owned I daresn't say how many miles of ore land, or what was supposed to be such. He was awfully glad to see Lem,and he made over to him homeland he hadn't explored, but had bought upon speculation, in paymeut of the old claim. And soon after. Lem got leave of absence and went off to look at it. He comes back in a great flurry and goes straight to Blarcom. 'There's ore in that tract,' says he. 'The richest kind. See there! and whips out his specimens that proved all he said. 'Now, Mr. Blarcom,'he says, and you can think how bold and honest he would speak it, 'tisn't fair for me to take that land at the value you set upon it,when I've made it out to be worth ten times as much at the least. You ve dealt honorable by me, aud I'll dothesime by you.'" "Lem all over!" ejaculated Jenny, clapping her bands. "Anyluj

Anybody else would have driven a hard bargain if Blarcom had wauted to get back the land, or else sold it to the highest bidder be could find, without saying a word to tbeinau he'd bought it from."

Etty's smile was tremulously bright, and a'tear rolled silently down her facebroke upoi» her interlaced fingers. She did not stir to interrupt or hasten the story. She could have sat there all night hearkouing to praises of Lem.

George cleared his throat. "I ain't much of a speech-maker myself, Etty, aud Jenny's looks are telling me so now, but It does seem to me that, considering bow bad Lem wanted money, and what was depending upon his making a pile, he wasn far from beiug a hero when he acte'd in that way. People generally would call him green. I say be was noble and grand, carrying out the law to treat others as we'd be treated. Hut he was always on tho square, Lom was. Blarcom was a trump, too. 'The land's yours,' said he. 'It's clean aud fairly out of my hands. It might have been worth less instead of uuwro than I supposed when I made it over to you. Sell it for what you can get, and luck go with you.'

The narrator set down the tongs, squared himself in front of the grate, put his bauds bebiud him, and continued with tremendous emphasis "Don't be overcome by what I'm going to say, Ettv. But within ten days Lem did sell that tract to a company for ca8b—or what was equal to cash—and pocketed fifty thousand dollars. The company will get nearer a hundred thousand for this prize, but Lem Is a trader—not a speculator. What he wanted was to uiake sure of a competence, so's he could como back to his wife and children, and spend hisdayson a coinfortble farm of his own." "Can this be true faltered Etty, trembling more and more. "Gospel," uttered George, sententiousiy. "You've run down like a damaged clock," laughed Jenny—tbo hysterical outbreak HJtty had noticed as odd throughout that evening. "There's more to tell, dearie, but 1 knew that great, soft-hearted fellftw couldu't finish it ofl neatly. lies been gasping like a fish for five-minutes L?m wrote all this to George in Novernler, Etty, and asked him to get up a Christmas surprise for you—his 'faithful, patient wife.' Those were his very words. This is your farm, my dear, and your house. George was only obeying orders when be bought and stocked it. Every stitch of furniture every bit of china-stone, and tin ware every pot and kettlo, every morsel of provisions—those sent In by your friends as well as the rest—the very coal and astral oil you are burning this blessed ml rule—belong to you. George has a deed of gift of everything in biS pocket, making over fill to you, to have and to hold. Don't give way yet, dearie." kneeling beside her pale friend, to draw her head to her shoulder, aud patting it while she talked. "I want you to know that this is why I dragji^d you around with me everywhere to buy furniture and things. L«?m trusted me to see that all was juntas you would like it. He is a hero! grand, big-hearted Christian man, and '—lookup 'twlxt laughter and tears at George, who bad pullel ont bis handkerchief to clear his eyes—"if I didn't have my foolish boy there, and didn't love you *0 dearly, I should envy you. Many happy returns of your wedding day, my darling!"

And be is coming home!'' said tbe wife, covering ber face with ber bands, and giving way at last to a burst of joyful weeping. "Th eat there!'' cooed Jenny* "You kre aii in a quiver with nervonsness, and you don't realize what bas happened 'ist yet. I tell yon what you mu*t do. You'll come to sooner If you are left to yourself for awhile. And weinuatali have a merry Christmas Eve together. George and the children will help me get supper ready while yon go into tbe parlor and think it All over." "What a genius you are wife!" burst out George, in immense admiration. "I shouldn't have thought of that In a year!" "That because you're a man," retorted Jennv, in loving raillery.

She half pulled Etty np. dried tbe tears from ber cheeks with ber own handkerchief, and led her acroas tbe ball to tbe parlor door.

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"And that reminds me," she said, stopping there. "1 here's something Lem sent you and the children—tbe handsomest article of the sort you ever beheld. There's a light on the table— and dou't forget to call the babies when you've admirtrd it sufficiently."

She was off like the wind", and as .*lio vanished within the kitchen, Etty, with whirling brain and beating Lean laid ber hand upon the knotv^ot the parlor door. It was turned frotii tho im-idc at the same moment.

It was Lem, who cried in a r.iigi.ty transport of love and rapture. "My precious love! 1 thought they would never send you to me!'

BR1QHTS DJSEASE.

A Sttre Cure, tTntil recently it was thought Brights Disease of the'kidneys was incurable. The statement is disproved by the wonderful success of Hunts Remedy, the great kidney and liver medicine, which cures Bright's Disease perfectly. All diseases ot the kidneys, bladdejj, liver, and urinary organs, Hunt's Remedy cures like magic. ________________

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A it O O S I E II

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E. N. EClvKU, M. li. Jacksonville, Pa.

UMEAT *?K.004 1NB&. The half has not been told nsto tho great curative powers of the

CTITICRUA LU-MHI/IKTT.

1 have paid hundreds of doi ars for medicines to cure diseases of the skill anil blood, and never found anything yet to ciuaI tho t,UT-

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Ho.vr, ho!d every

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For the relief and prevention, the Instant It isiipplted of Rheumatism, Neuralgia, Heiatlca,( ough«,C'olds.Weak Rack, Stoma eh and Bowels, Shooting Pains, NumbneHR, Hysteria, Female Pains,Palpitation, Dyspepsia, Liver Complaint, Billions Fever, Malaria, and Epicemics,

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A DISORDERED LIVER 18 THE BANE

0 tiie present generation. It la for tne S ireof^islfieease end luattgndants, :^H£AI)&cSI0USlfK88, D?S1 ..Wir^QgSHgitloyip^f etc., that

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iCV.o*. 8» Murray Street, New Yori

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