The Happy End

ns throughout the county. It had become his habit to sit through the evenings with the Stammarks where his flood of conversation never lessened.

other's phrase and stood waiting for Lucy to proceed with him to the parlor. But Lucy was apparently

er, whatever's the matter with you? Can't you find

se ungraciously and fol

it had been in his day. The young man muttered an unintelligible sentence that, from its

The love birds must hav

es sat for a long space; Lucy didn't appear, and at last the visitor rose reluctantly. But Lucy ha

"before ever the house is built. He seems to think I ought to b

alvin reminded her; "nothing's

cried. "And it makes me sick to put my hands in greasy dishwater! I suppose that's wicked but I can't help it. When I told Wilmer that to-night he acted like I'd denied communion. I can't help it if the whippoorwills make me s

ent and feeling. The old sense of danger and helplessness flooded him. He thought of Phebe with her dyed hair and

bout your mother," he asked

the rooms and a landlady they were all afraid of. There was beer in the wash-stand pitcher. But that wouldn't happen to me,

happy wife!" he declared, bringing his fist down on a

he added nothing more, but sat rigid and pale and rebellious. Before long she went in, but Calvin stayed facing t

the f

-by farm; with an air of indifference she accepted. Wilmer didn't call, and Calvin sat in silent perplexity wit

omething in her hand, came out

n Lucy's room,"

set with the insignia in rubies

ought a puzzled expression to Ettie's troubled countenance. Calvin Stammark exclaimed, "Phebe Braley." He was silent for a lit

Now, Calvin," she begged, her voic

thing!" he re

tream, where he saw the proprietor of the small single hotel; then, back in his room, he unwrapped from oiled leather a heavy b

ugh the kitchen past Ettie to his room, and after a little he re-wrapped the revolver and laid it back in its accustomed place. Supper, in spite of Lucy's sharp comment, was set by the stove, and Ettie was so