A Poor Man's Wife

"My choice is made at last. Sister j Belle. Now I am ready for blatne or praise frotn otners bul I wantyour approval." The eider sister looked at a couple oí open letters lying on the writingdesk before whieh the speaker sat, her col'l aray eyés softening a little as she replied: "ft you teil me whieh of the twoyou ; have chösèn I can answêr you." "You ought to know without being tokl,". Stella laughe.d. "Clarence, of coüfsé." Belft Lawson looked serious. "Stella, I iim sorry. Not that I bear Clarence Henshaw any ill-will, but, child, you are not fitto beti poor nian's wife. Rememberyoua.ru proud ! and have boen reared in : fort. Follow my advies and marry llenry Lakeman." Stella sbook he7' head. "No, Relie; I wouldn't marry llenry i Lakeman i; he was a hundred times j richer than he is." She slipped a picture into its envelopi af ter a long view. "It is a lovely place," she sighed, j "and I would likE to live there." The sister was watehin:, and, j 1115, kissed the smooth, white brow, while she said: "Don't letoo hasty, Stella. Jf you covet this pretty home of Henry Lakeman's, aecept it." "But I lovc Clarence. I prefer a cottage with him to a mansion with : Henry." Miss Lawson turned to the window witii ;i sorry look. Somesweet dream '■ of her childïiood was in her memory, perhaps, but she held it worse than lol'y to induluo in regrets. Love, in . her tst im.-it ion, was no balance in the Bcale for wealth. "Stella," abe continued, very ; ly, -'I have ficted the part oí a mother for niany years; my wish has ever be.en that you form a wealthy marriage. 1 know' you love luxury, you enjoy j play, and I ara not sayine too much when I add that you worship ! ful apparel. Henry Lakeman can giveyou a 11 of these. Clarence Hén shaw cannot. As his wife you will be subject to all manner of privations; be bliaed to live in a common way. stint and econoinize and manage the ; best you en 1. How long will thatsuit agirfofyo r taste.s? Think welloi it. I shall let you have your own choice in regard to this marriage." "ify mind is made up, my dear Belle," Stella responded. SI e took up the view, slipping a letter nto its tnvelope as she spoke. "If [ favored his snit I was to keep it, sister Belle,1' she continued,tonchini; the ed;e of the wrapper to her rosy lilis, and geahng it with a heavy slap ot' the band. "I do not, you see. Í won't be torry," munnured she, turnÏDg 1 he envelope to look at its superscripl ion. "Yom1 happüiess is witlunyoiir own grasp, Stélla. You'll reeall my worda somt' day," r.nd with a stntely gait . Belle Lawson left her. Stella ran lightly up tlie et airs to her own room and touched the bell in ' greal baste. "You will oblige me by mailing thia ' at once," 6he said to the servarit who answered lier cali, ltanding hiin this vory envclqpe, "and," shesaid, emiliiu: : and blushing, "be careful of this," putting an tner letter intó hft hand. Lenve it ith 110 orie br.t the per3on ' to whom i is addressed. "Tlieve'll be no miatake, miss." j Aiidili.Mir.-lit a perfumed note lay on Clarence Henshaw's pillow, and ho, foolish fellow, was transportad to the upper heaven ol dcüght. gfhree months later they were marriod. They were a happy and hopeful couple. This life npon which they had enteved as Hke a new and unexplored country, but Clarence meant to vork hard and Eelt little or no doubt in regard to their future. He had been a head bookkeeper for tnany years and had the proaiise of sphiething better vet the coming season. They rented a house in the pleasání part of the city. kept a servant and Stella wore the handsome clotlies whiuh had been provided at tlié time of her mamage. But toward.s the end of t lie first yeav of their wedded life his lirm was said to be under heavy Habiljties, and the anniveréary of their nmrriage found the house bankrupt and ('larence out of a situation. They moved out of their house and took a place in.another.part of the city. By this time their f-nnds bean to runlow, and Stella wanted sometbing new for her wardrobe. "I shall lnni sometlnnfjby-and-by, the husband snid bravely. It was ai tliia trying timethat a little speek of humanity was put into Stella's arms, and its feeblecry told thai thé rBsponaibility oí motherhood was hete. ' Tm the happiest man alive," Clarence exclainíed, caressing wife and baby boy. "Let pride go to the dogs, Stella," he added, remembering now that bis responsibility was reater than befove. "They are in want of workmen on the new city hall. I'll take iny haramer-r-it wiil give us bread." She ouj'it to have been contented - ought to have thought with pride of the man whq_ would thus brave the world's opinión, ile went out in the early morning and carne home late at night, his handsomc face glowing with love. But the very thought that her husband was brongTïfc down to the level of a common laborer hurt her. Sister Helle had said that her tastes were luxurions, and sho wanted a. Eretty home now and fine apparel for erseif and baby. The people of the world in which "slioliadlived hadnever to count their money to know if they could buy a new dress. She hadnever had to make the best of circumstancea, and why should she now? The little privations she endured worried her, and in n little whilethesweettempercd woman bêcame moody and down-hearted. "Slella is homesick," the husband would say; "the care of the baby is too niuch for her. I must make some money," and his hammer rang with redoubltid energy; but Stella continued to sulk. "How can you expect me to live fimong such surroundings?" was her appeftl, w'ien hebeggedherto cheerup. "it is cruel in you, t want to go home to my own friends." The warm gloiv carne to hU face, and he drew her tenderly toward him without a word, but, there was a lonk piteous to eee in hia handsotne eyes. Then carne a day a little later when it did seem that mattere had come to a crisis. The city hall was finished and Clarence must look for BOmething now. Jennie, who had been Freddy's nurse, had to go, and all the houaehold caves feil upon Stella. They had moved about a great deal, hoping to find a place m which the fretful girl wife would be contented. "These people are all alike, you know, and 1 may as well be in one place as another," was her reply to Clarence when he suggested that they move. It was unwomanly in her to say this, she knew, and she thought to run after her husband and beg his forglveness, bnt just then Freddy caught her by the dress, causing her to spill the water she was pouring into the kettle, which only increased her vexation. "You cross, little thing!" she exclaimed, impatiently. "Take that!" laying her hand heavily on the little bare shoulders. Then she sat down and feil into hysterical weeping. Freddy, with the prints of her fingers still on his neck, tried to climb into her lap, but she pushed him away roughly. "Don't do anything you'll be sorry for. Stella," her husband said, coming into the room just then. "I thought you'd gone to town." she replied, sharply. "O, dear! If I had taken good advice I would not ! have married a poor man." "You are not yourseli this morning, Stella," and his eyes were f uil of unshedteai'3, ashesaw the red marks on the baby's neck. "Do you think I can endure everyI thing?" she cried spitefully. "You are nervous and tired, dear. ! Como here," and he put out his hands to clasp her, but she turned away f rom him nndleft the room. Something wet feil on the baby's head, and he pressed him closely to 1 his bosom as he caught the sound of j her sobbiii'.'. "I have heard ofsomethingnew this morning, Stella, and I'm going to . New York by the next train." "You are always hearing of someI thing new," was lier quick i-eply; "but what does it amount to?" "I am hoping for something better, and think I've found it now." He locked Freddy to sleep, put him into his crib, then went to the door of his wife's room. "Are yon going to kiss me good-bye, Stella?" he askecí. "I may be gone a day or two." "No," she replied coidly; "you'll be back soon enough." "But I might never return, yon know." "Sec if yon arenot bark in a day or two with the same oíd story." CTarence turnea quick'ly and left her, She heard liini cross the room, and knew he bent over Preddy's crib and kissed the little sleeper again and again. "Hi .1 como bark betore lic's really gone," wtifsperëd she to horself, goihg toward the door, but a turn in the street bid hún f rom sight. He had gone,. without bidding hergood-bye. "Well, vve've bien married lona enough to lic done with such nonsense," j she said, by way of consolation, yet there was a terribja pain in her heart. She sat Ptill til! Ifreddy awofce, then with a cry of ánguish she ran across the liail tdtlie nearest neighboi with- "Picase coiné, Mrs. Wilson. My i baby is dyinc." Mis. Wilson carne, for though rough in manners she was kind in heart. '■''f is in ,-i fit," she'said, the raob)ib Bnw ihechild. "Bring me some water and help get off liin ! clothi Stella oboyed. "Ho'id him so, tül I run home and ; .:(: some medipine," she said, putting I him in the bath. '.'Süch woinenas you ain't fit to bcinothers," shecontinuoii, i returning with hier hands lul l of bottlts. "I have .-■■ niiiny trials tó" beon,!' moanei.l Stella. "Nonsense, " replied Mrs. Wilson. "You háve o pretty home if it was put in order." "I ana .m 'o a bei ier." "Yoyng peopte can't begin where old ones left olï. ïhey mual make their own homes." "I liever unaerstood it so. My sister advised me never to marry a pooi' man." "And so you keep linding i'ault and complaining when your busband is trying in everyway to make art honest living. It is a wonder you haven't driven him to drink long ago." "But my hueband is a good man," replied Stella, warmly, resenting the last part of the speech, "He has show him -elf to be a good man." The wonian said it in good faith. wrápping Freddy in soft llannels and admimstering a quietingpotion. She had been watching the ino vemen ts Of [ the people ever sineathey carne to live j in the house. "My baby will get well, won't he?" was said pleadingly, and the poor I thing sobbod again as if her heart ' would break. "Yes, indeed." "And yon will stay with me through the night??' forgéttmg that she was ono of "tfaose people." "I'd stay with yon a whole blessed ' week," replieci truejhearted Mra. Wilson, "f I tould niake yoil wofthy' of your husband." ■ "Teil me what I sliall do and PU do it willinply and without coinplaining." All through the long night, whije Froddy lay bet ween Ufe nnd death, Mrs. Wilson worked over him bi-avely and told the girl-mother chapters in her own life experiences. There were passages over which Stella wept bitterly, and when fnbming dawned, eiving back the child froni danger, in place of the fickle, unveasonablfi womaii, there was one ready to meet life's work with firm parpóse and strong heart, She tidiert up eneh apartment; and instead of poing alouf. in a dowcly wrnpper put on i fresh dress, ai ranged her baïr becomingly, nrid changed the pucker about her moutih f oi' iier own rosy lips. "You're n pretty Hl tic thing," Mrs. Wilson told her when she had ííiytenecl a knot of bkiu ribbon in her hair. "Sen after baby now. ril look in every now and t liuii' through the day and tonigh I will c-onie back tó you. Your husband will be liere tomorrow tóorning." "Yes," Stella replied, with a bright look in eyes. "Iie'll be here bylO o'ciock." After all, it was n lons time to wait shc thonght. Bhe was so impatient to teil hini- and shc would kiss him as tnany times as he wislied. "Yes, indeed:"' shè iwclaimed, joyful1-, bending over Freddy's cot, "we'll kiss pana a liundred thousand times, won't we dear?" "I do wish Clarence would come," she kept saying next mot ning. "What detaiiw himï" she eontinued, whenthe clock was on thestrokeof 12. "What if- and her heart lny like lead in her bosom as she recalled the look she last saw on his face- "what if he never comes back," Bhe murmurad, going into her own room. "Mrs. Wilson," she called, "where is my husband?" In an instant the dear, good sou' was 1)M(tí her. res) iiv4 a hand tenderly ori the aching head. True-hearted wonian! She abran k irom aayingit had been a dreadful night on the sound, and that a Bteamer had collided with the Now York bout. "Her husband traveled by boat," had been her conclusión. Stel la caught ttlftl arm, the sound of her voice arruifWing Freddy, and with a cry she feX Poor, tired, inexperienced wife and motherl Was the ordeal so ordered? With the help of a neighbor Mrs. Wilson laid her on the bed. "Run for the doctor," she said to Miss Williams. "But you don't know " "I do," 3he interrupted. "Mrs. Henshaw will have a run of nervous fover; and wbether her husband is dead or alive, I can 't say." When Stella opened her eyes again it was nearly night. Rhe knew 110 eme about, the bed, iut taiked to Glarence and Freddy and sister Belle. She was goingtohelph r luisband now. She could earn nioney by teaching music or pamtin::, "or might have a few pupils in dancing," she added. "But forgive mo for sti'iking " and her arms were put up as ii (o clasp something, when she dozed again. Late that evening l'laranco oame in sight of home. Contrary to Mrs. Wilson's conit'cturc, he carne by a different route. He had thought to telegraph, but "Stellti won't worry," he said, "f I am late." The light fadod from his eyes and his face tuvned ghaetly white when he looked into the rooms. "JSothgone?" he groaned, walking from the bed to the conch. "No,.uo," Mrs Wilson said j ingly. "'Baby's betler, and your wife will coine out of this. All she needs is good nursins;, and that sh ■ will have,'' turning asirle her head and drying her eyes with the corner of her apron. What could we do if such as she were not stationed all along thewalks in life? It was painful to listen to the wild talk. "If I might endure it," Clarencí saiii so many times. When at last Stella awoke from the horrible dreams lier husband was bending over her. "Clarence," she said very softly at first; "Clarence," she repeated, putting her arms around his neck, "if you'll forgive me for striking Freddy I'll kiss you O so many times!" Fooliüh fellow! he criedlike a baby. "Listen, Stella," he said, as soon as he could command hia voice; "Listen! I did jet the situation and yon can have everyihing that you want," touching lii.s lij is to cheek and forehead, "and j'ou aro going to have such a pretty house in Brooklyn." '■All J want is your love," clasping him close, "and that FreJr.y get well. I'm ready to be a poor man s wife!"