What Diantha Did

me?" said t

over he s

s tree-for my s

mb it ev

ill dark he ab

his clo

s this tree to

r at las

r garments; hated it worse on her white fingers; and now to look at the graceful erect figure, the round throat with the silver necklace about it, the soft smooth hair, silver-fil

gaps of domestic life in Orchardina, there was al

have the steak less cooked? I know you don't

always forget about the stea

t three times th

nything," she with marked gentleness.

el. I never meant you should cook for me. Inde

replied, still with repression. "I'm not complaining,

ght! It's just this everlasting bother.

far. I'm going again, to-morrow. Cheer up, d

. At first he had tried to help her on these occasions, but their metho

ishes with the labored accuracy of a trained mind doing unfamiliar wor

go anywhere, I sup

ed. Besides-we can't

get. Of cour

orry, dear. It's awfully rough on you wo

than I do, Ned. You see they don'

d she looked at him in the clear moonlight, won

ead a bit?" he offere

aid. And Eddie'll wake

nd the rich flower scents about them, till Eddi

hter sound from the crib. "I am a very happy woman," she told herself resolutely; but there was no outpouring sense o

st work, which won high praise in the school in Paris, not the prize-winning plan for the library, now g

bit surprised at first that "I. H. Wright" was an Isabel. In her further work of overseeing the construction of that library, she had met Edgar Porne, one of the numerous eager young

s so sympathetic! so admiring! He took as much pride in the big "drawing room" on the third floor as she did herself. "Architecture is such fine work to do at home!" they had both agreed. "Here you have y

workshop of white paper and fine pointed hard pencils, her painting the mechanical perfection of an even wash of color. And she saw, through the floors and walls and the darkness, the dust in the little shaded parlor-two days' dust at least, and Orchardina is very d

uncounted treasures. Now, in this dreary mood, it seemed not only a mere workshop, but one of alien tasks, continuous, impossible, like those set for the Imprisoned Princess by bad fairies in the old tales. In thought she entered the well-

site things they meant to her when she had planned them; and each one

ugh-in my own work! Nobody can do everything. I don't believe Edgar'd do it any better than I do.-He don't have to!"-and then su

e asked. "Too tired to sleep, you poor darli

f course I do! I'm just tired,

etting to sleep a

feeless, found it a bit difficult to keep his temper. Isabel was a little stiff, brin

returning presently with a fine boy of some eleven months, who ceased to bawl

ed him?" asked Mr. Porn

announced wearily. "He ha

vidently forced farther,

cream is sour-the ice didn't come-or at least, perhaps I was out when it came-and then I forgot i

"Are there any crackers for i

d a can of condensed milk. Also crackers,

home to lunc

better not," sh

to be an

at six-thirty, if I

ittle pleased by it. "Now don't take it so hard, Ellie. You are a first-class architect, anyhow-one can't be ever

rade! I'm willing to work, I like to work, but I can't bear housework! I

illing matter. Order by phone, don't forget the ice, and I'll try to get home early and help.

fed him, put him to sleep; and came back to the table. The screen door had been left ajar and the house was buzzing with flies, hot, with a week's accumulating disor

giddy circles in the middle of the room. Turning swiftly she shut the door on them. The dining-room was nearly as bad. She began to put the cups and pl

of broken rest and days of constant discomfort and irri

loves me! I'm glad to be his wife! I'm glad to be a mother to his child! I'm glad I married him! Bu

, and then stopped short and laughed dr

l make you happy!' they say; and you get

'Will you give up a good clean well-paid business that you love-that ha

ute if I didn't! What has 'love' to

rose, fiercely ashamed of her weakness, and faced the day; thinking of the old lady who

here t

she meditated aloud. "If I do the upstairs work I might wake him. I mustn't forget

-room, flapping out some of the flies with a towel. Then she essayed the parlor, dusting and arranging with unde

cely muttered, as she fussed about. "Yes-I

at quite still awhile, hoping against hope that he would slee

t and jingling objects from the tall workbasket that stood nea

produced for his amusement, and a desire for closer acquaintance. Then a penetrating odor filled th

ent the doo

able. She looked at the baby-who jiggled his spools and crowed. Then she flew to the

suit, holding a cheap dress-suit case in one hand and a denim "ro

. Edgar Porn

he baby, her nose still remorsefully in the kitchen, her eyes fixed sternly on her v

d from the Rev. Benjamin A. Miner, Mrs. Porne's particularly revered minister, and sta

. Bell, well known

reading the card without in the

followed by a sharp rising one, and she r

nd asked him if he could suggest anyone in immediate need of help in this line. He said he had called here recently, and believed you were looking for someone. Here is the letter I showed him," and she handed Mrs. Porne a most friendly and appreciative recom

rl pleased her, though suspiciously above her station in manner; service of any sort was scarce an

me I will come this week from noon to-day to noon next Friday, for seven dollars, and then if you are satisfied with my wo

spectful. But a week was not long, she was well recommended, and the immediate pressure in that kitchen where the harvest w

s Be