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will prostrate you. A pair of fools,
both of you!"
But, like happy children with each
day sunny, the married twain went
on their way supremely content
They started housekeeping in two
rooms and the fare was frugal, but
relished. There was no pretentious
income, but it was a rare delight to
both of them to plan, calculate and
discount the innumerable little
household economies. Morse had a
position oh the clerical force of a
grain house. The pay was poor and
the prospects not very inviting.
One day he was "let out." They
did not call it a discharge. By rare
good fortune he managed to secure a
position with a rival house just start
ing up, although the salary was low
er. To his consternation six months
later he was notified that his services
were no longer required.
"It's strange," he told Ethel, after a
month of idleness, "but it seems so as
though ill luck is continually camp
ing on my trail Two places were
offered me yesterday. I gave my re
ferences, with a fair prospect of en
gagement, but when I called later
they seemed to have changed their
mind." ,
Ethel spoke some words of encour
agement, but her face was pale and
her Ups set. At length her husband
was compelled to accept a position
at manual labor. One evening he
remarked:
"Our old friends seem to have de
serted us, Ethel. I never hear you
speak of your sister visiting you."
"And I think she never will again,"
said EtheL "I must tell you some
thing, dear, which I am very sorry to
telL I have learned that all the blocks
put fn your way, all the efforts to
make your business life a failure are
due to the machinations of your
cousin, Bruce Martin."
"You 'amaze me," cried Arthur,
fairly appalled.
"It is true. It is more vindictive
ness than jealousy, for he has not
the soul to care for me as he once
professed. Because my sister is angry,
because I would not marry wealth
she has encouraged him in his un
manly course, I really believe."
It seemed incredible, all this, but
both came to realize it in time. Ar
thur worked on, proud and satisfied,
knowing that he had the loyalty and
devotion of a true woman. He lost
his. position again. He became ill.'
Crushed with a long and dangerous5
fever, he lay like one passing over
the border for nearly two months.
He woke to full- consciousness
weak, prostrated, but past the crisis,;
to find himself one morning amid un-
familiar surroundings. He was in a
cozy, comfortable room. Outside'
there was the clanking of heavy
metal tools, brisk voices, as of sturdy
workers.
"Ethel, where am I? I have been
ill " i
"Dangerously so, dear," replied'
Ethel, caressing him soothingly
"You must be very quiet, for oh! how
precious your life is to me, and con-
Ltent, for oh! heaven be praised, all is
well!"
Such glorious news she had to re
veal! This was the old barracks at Lyn
don Barrens, fixed up and by her own
hands. Here she had removed her
husband, liere she had worked day
and night to make a little palace of
this hovel
"It was our only shelter we were
so poor!" she sobbed, but with hope
and gladness. "And oh, my darling!
what do you think? An old man who
lives near here helped me settle
things, and he unfolded a wonderful
secret"
"A secret," repeated Arthur curit- -ously.
"Yes. He discovered a rich mine
of coal under our land here. He is
working.-it with five men. They are
taking out enough to clear $10.00 a
day, and he says that as soon as they
can begin larger work with machin
ery the income will be ten times that
amount"
