-
Dally \/or\l' \
In the nAme of God IIdnncln/
Sow thy M. + 1 al rlKlrnhu light :
( 11:11) U'/f fatTO'III" turn'm
Labor en .1th 1111 thy mhht.
l.hOk not to Ute far-or lutUft-
Do the work : 'III'bleh nearest lies ;
' : ' JW thou rnU1.tt t.fClte thou reafsuat.
n.-.t at art t. lalJor' nu.
Standing snit Is dang . rous e\.r.
Toll Is rn..nl for C"hn-Uaru now ;
Jut there he 'IIIhOI evening cometh ,
honest : FR Nat , ur..n thy brow ;
And the ! ol.stt'r lhall "orne limlllng ,
At HI" "l'ttlng ) IJI the I'un.
Sa3 InJ al' he S-R , a thy wages . .
' Corr 'J and faithful one w"l1 don , . .
- Tr'8rl'llSt from the German.
- - - - - - - -
HER LOVE TEST
Dv Kathryn D. If end era 0 n
c.c,1'1r1rb1011. . IIr Lily Story P b.Co 1 ,
It was a bright sunny October after'
soon that pretty Martha Linton pre-
sented herself In the cosy sewing room .
of her dear friend , Jennie Brooks. :
Their greeting was cordial and aflec-
t/orate. / Both had gone to the altar i
the same week , four years previous ,
and each had confidentially Informed
I hr' other their husbands were model
men not less than a score of times
during that period.
"I 1 was just thinking of you . my
dear " said Irs. Brooks. lOUt ) . aside
your wrap and take your favorite chair
by the window. How pleasant It Is
to-day ! Really It I dldn't have so
much on hand I would put on mr
things and go downtown on a pretense
at ahopplng. "
She rushed ahead In her old schoolgirl .
girl fashion meanwhile deftly cutting
out and arranging : a dainty little apron
which promised to bo coquettish In
dcslgn.
"You ought to ho happy , Jennie , "
said young Irs. Linton. "Henry remarked -
marled to me last evening that ho
I
% /'s
L
l
"
. - : : . . ,
: .
= = = - -
- - -
= - - =
- - -
r /
/
"Indeed ! " sarcastically.
believed that John was the best heart.
cd man or his acquaintance. "
A pleased smile ran over the rosy
face of Jennie Broolts.
"I think wo two are to bo envied ot
our hubbys . don't you ? "
The only reply was all affeetlonate
nod on the part ot Martha.
"But have you heard ot the curious
treatment Mrs. Banks gives her bus ,
hand , " rattled on Jennie.
"No I haven't. 1\1 ' "
. My dear what-
"Wh ' . she says Mr. Banks jilted her .
SIster before ho married Mrs. Banks i
and that the sister really died at a
broken heart. at course , his wife
dldn't know the truth until her sister
told It all on her death bed , and from
that day to this \Irs. Banks has never
ceased trying to maim \Ir. Ban Its' life
perfectly mlsera le. Every one nays
she pays no more attention to house.
hold affairs than If she were board. !
Ing. For 111) part I don't see how
Mr. Banks can put up with such con
duct. "
"Oh ! he Is perfectly devoted to her.
lie Is Just as attentive and solicitous
as ho can bo. " 'hat a perfect man ! "
Halt an hour was spent In mutual
expressions of condolence concerning I
D1r. : Banks' unfortunate lot , and In ,
cntlclslng the various retaliating
measures his wife was InfUctlDg.
As Martha I..lnton wended her was
homeward her braIn was buy wIth the
tale he bad heard. The novelty ot
such a scheme and the savor ot romance
mance It held lent It a peculiar interest .
est She bad 3n Idea. Things were
growing a little tame-why not test
Henry's laTe this way !
S . . . .
The mellow hazy , beautiful October
days wore apace and Henry Linton
congratulated himself on possessing
the most delightful of wh'es. He was
a happy man at home and was proud
or her. Business was flattering In Its
outlook , all the future seemed fair ,
and what more could he wish.
"Henr . I want a sealskin wrap this
winter ! " said his wife at breakfast.
A good.humored smile spread over
his features as he listened. Then he
raised his eyebrows In exaggerated
surprise.
"You needn't look EO horrified
Henr ' : ' she said , a little annoyed at
his expressive face.
"I am not horrl11ed-I am simply
shocked " he said with assumed gra\
itr.
"Indeed ! " sarcastlcal1y. ,
Henry LInton went to business ,
somewhat ! ; Irritated at the unwonted
display \ oC his wlfe's disagreeableness i I
but his displeasure wore away before
he reached his office.
Before he went home he went to a
leading fur establishment and selected
a handsome seal garmenL He ordered
It laid aside and to be delivered at his
office before Thanksgiving day.
"My bonny darling shall have her
wrap before cold weather sets In , " was
his thought as be went out of the
store. Ho felt happy that be was
able to gratify her wish. A year
previous such expense was not to be
considered. What a surprise It would
be !
lie found the evening a little dull.
Martha : was busy with her fancy work.
Without being actually uncivil , she
was wholly engrossed with her own
affairs. The evening was an illustration .
tlon of what followed during the week.
The days drifted on and Thanksgiving
drew near. There was no change In
i
Martha's studious demeanor. '
At first Linton resented - her lack
at affection He spoke ot It frequent-
Ir. Then pride being aroused ho determined -
:
termined to meet Indifference with in-
dlfterence. He concluded his Intended
gift would not meet with appreciation
If offered while matters were so unpleasant .
pleasant and he ordered It for Christ-
maR.
Thanksgiving day came and vas almost .
most forgotten and the monotony at
Henry Llnton's home galled him. Sev
eral times he sought by cheerfulness i
anti playful affection to bring about
the old sweet way again but his efforts
were dismal failures.
llmnlllatcd and wounded he grew
angry With the subsiding ot m nature -
ture came a feeling at carelessness.
Then neglect crept In. lC his wife
cared nothing for him he was not
bound to lavish his affection on her.
H It pleased her to withdraw from his
love and extend nothing but a tame
friendliness , all well and good.
One morning as he sat In the crowd.
od train his attention was attracted
by n. veiled face. A pair at bright
eyes twinkled roguishly at him. When
ho reached his office ho discovered his
necktie ridiculously nWr ) ' . "Why
dldn't Martha tell mo how I looked
at. breakfast " he thought as he reflected
Ilectetl how oddly ho must have ap-
peared. No wonder the fair stranger
was amused. It was only another evidence .
dence of the Indifference his wife mann
Itested toward blm. The IncIdent
vexed hIm.
The next morning ho again chanced
to sit near the lady who had smiled at
him. She looked up their eyes met
A glance at recognition told she remembered
mom ered blm. He scrutinized her
carefully antI came to the conclusion
that she was attractive. That day be
noticed n. friend was acquainted with
her. Inquiry followed
"Sho Is 1\1rs. Jacltson. Her husband I
died during their honeymoon . and she
Is now employed as secretary ot Iron
Steel & Co. , the contractors. She Is
one ot the gay widows Linton ro he-
ware ! " was the result of his question-
Ing.
As the days went , on Henry Linton
learned to watch for the jaunty hat
and pretty face as be stood on the
platform waiting for the traIn. Soon
a smile , distant yet not unfrlendl'r.
was the resulL A little courtesy offered .
ferc-d In a jostling crowd In helping
her from the car steps was the beginning .
nlng of what proved a pleasant ac-
quaintance.
"You seem a little depressed this
morning " she said one day , as they
occupied seats toset er. "I wonder if
somebody was cross this mornIng at
breakfast ? "
"You haTe divined the truth , " 1.e
replied. "Not really cross but indif-
ferent. "
"I'm sorry : ' she said arcbly.
There was no change In Martha Lip-
ton's course. She was not always III
tempered , but she managed to make
herself utterly apathetic without appearing -
pearing to make It Intenllona ! Two
months had passed In this wa ) ' .
"Do you know , Clara : ' said Linton ,
after greeting his train friend , "tbat
I believe life fn't'orth living with
the heart starving for love and arfec-
tlon. "
They had long since addressed each
other by their christian names and
were now on the footing of familiar
friendship.
. . .
"You echo my sentiments exactly . "
was her repl ) ' . "There is no use In
going through life unhappy on that
score. "
"Are you perfectly happy ? "
\\'ell-I am this morning , " she replied .
plied looking into his e'es.
He pressed her band unobserved by
others and the pressure was returne
All day Henry LInton was preoccu'
pled. His thoughts continually revered -
cd to the morning's incident Alone
In his private office , he paced the floor.
He reviewed his married life from
the hour he vowed faith and fidelity at
the altar to the miserable present.
Wherein had he failed as It lover , as
a hus and. The thought occurred to
him that perhaps Iarthn.'s heart had
gone out to another. Such things had
happened and were happening every
day. He would have an understanr
lug with his wife. If she did not love
him In the old way she would be at
liberty to go. . . Did he love her ? Yes ,
his heart told him , but this continual
apathy was slowly driving all love
from his life. Then , there was Clara.
I
She was always pleasant and ready
with n. smile. She was pretty too-
and every ready with kindest S111pa.
thy. What a tender love she could
bEstoW !
That night Martha was invited out
to tea and Llnton's Intended interview
was postpone(1 indefinitely . lIe spent
n. Quiet evening with his papers and
retired earl ) ' ,
As he stood wailing for the train the
next morning he became aware that
he was Impatient for Its coming
Clara Jackson would soon appear , for
she lived near and always came just'
as the train rumbled up to the st"1'
tlon. It lacked five minutes before
she would smile Into his o 'es. Did
he love her ? he asked himself. He
assured himself ) that ho did not-but
then lie cared for her in 1Wtl . . Hers
was n. delightful friendship , and 1:1On :
.
she was s .ml ) thetlc. \\'hy could not
this friendship ripen Into a passionate
attachment-the train of thought was
Interrupted by the sight at the apt
plOachlng train. A musical voice at
his side remarked :
"A penn for your thoughts ! II
"Good morning , 1\Irs. Jackson , " replied -
plied Linton. "Perhaps the ' are worth
more than you offer. "
"Porhaps , " she replied dou tlng ) ) ' .
Seated at last In the coach , while
mentally commenting that she looked !
remarkably attractive In her tailor- !
made stilt , ho remarked : "I was thlnl
Ing of 'ou. "
A vivid flush dyed her face.
For a little while neither spolto.
There was something at restraint between .
tween them. Curiously ) enough both
felt they had reached point at which
It would bo decided whether the future
was to bo more or less than their 111151.
lie seized her hand within the folds
.
of her dress , and with hurried words
ut.1ined his domestic affairs and commented . .
mentoo on the strained relation existing -
ing between him and his wife.
"I am hungry for love and atre-c-
tlon , " he said , "and I seem Instinctively -
h' drawn to \"oU. I baTe been candid
'
and truthful with you and you know
my situation. 1 have tried love and ,
trusting ! In its endurance , have found
marriage an illusion : ' . '
When they parted she promised to
meet him the next day.
"Are you going ant this evenIng
Queried Martha Linton 3S Henry took
up his hat , shortly after their evening '
meal.
\\"hy do you ask : '
"I thought if you did not have particular -
ticular business on hand you might remain -
main with me instead ot going out "
"I did not suppose you cared enough
for mr society to want me to stay , "
be returned gra'\"elr.
"Ob ! yes I do " she replied. "You
have been away so much evenIngs
. . .to
that I have been very lonel ) ' . " '
.
Henry Linton.s heart throbbed
quicker than it bad for weeks. , He
stood In the middle of the room bat
In hand , looking at his wIfe. She
sprang from her seat . and coming
close to him smiled up Into his eyes.
"I will star if f you choose it so . " he
said returning the smile.
"I choose to have you . then " was
the laughing response.
In her piquant way she arranged his
chair and hers before the glowing
i
grate. In half an hour the old-time
"
terms of endearment tell from their
lips as of yore , and for the first time
In three months Iartha's lips sought :
those of her husband. J
Henry Linton did not go to the little 1 .
railway station at his usual time the
following morning. He took the next j
train , and as he left home ho left a j
kiss on \Iartha.'s : lips. i
"Can't you come home early this
1
! i ---1 = iR ,
I J .
1
t l/ '
/ / ) lt
1 ,
1
"Oh , yes I do , " she replied
evening dear ? " she asked at the door. .
"I will If nothing prevents " bo said
gayly waving his hand to her . .
An hour later he penned the follow.
lUg note :
" Irs. Jackson : 1 sincerely prize : .
the confidence you have given me
. zitnply : because it was given mo treoly
I I will never violate It. Since our con-
'ersatlon I have learned that the love
I lhought was a chimera Is the truest
and best gift In Ilo8sesslon. . I sun
In honor bound to give what I exact
and it is my tlrm Intention to be true
to ' and . lo\'e.
myself 111) \ .
"Forget 111e. Snould wo meet It will
bo as friends oul ) ' , Respectfully .
"II. L. " . . .
r
Henry l.lnton never asked an explanation .
planation for Martha's peculiar courllo.
In her heart she resolved never again
to cloud her life with foolish expel ,
menta In tune way at retaliation for a
moment's Irritation or n. passing I
mood's crossness but site never know
the danger
She Must Be Doing Something
"Evo hover went to a woman's
club. "
"No hut perhaps Ir alto hail she "
would not have found time to sample
the frult.-Illinois State Journal.
.
