Page:The Overland Monthly, Jan-June 1894.djvu/263



(1894.]

An Episode in the Life of Robert the Simple.

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Not so with the little woman who re- tnained at home, looking after the two young children all day, and worrying hbout the future. She had had great hopes for Robert, and had looked for- kvard to his great success in this new fcountry, where everybody was getting rich, apparently without an effort. She could not but see the difference between trim and those by whom they were sur- jrounded, but she attributed that to the nervous, excitable temperament of the JAmericans. Major Kamm had taken kn interest in the helpless young Eng- lishman, and had come to see them joccasionally, enlivening them with his inexhaustible fund of enthusiasm, and 'pad given Robert temporary employ- ment, though, as he said to his wife, rThe man's a perfect baby in business, and it would be economy to pay him a salary to stay away from the office. He 's in the way whenever he- comes there." And then Mrs. Kamm went to tall on Mrs. Churchill, an American custom that rather surprised the latter, and took her and the children out to drive.

After that the two became great friends, and Mrs. Kamm, in her quiet, motherly way, found many opportuni- ties to lighten the burdens of her new friend, though she often found difficulty In avoiding offense. For Mrs. Church- ill was proud, and Mrs. Kamm soon learned that the only way to force favors pn her was through an appeal for the comfort of the children.

Thus matters went on, and the condi- jtion of the Churchills grew worse and kvorse. Mrs. Churchill tried to keep up per husband's courage by appearing cheerful and light-hearted when he came pome. But the pangs of hunger do not go well with an appearance of cheerful- ness, and the thought that her children rvere suffering from lack of food filled her with anguish. Under these circum- stances Robert's imperturbable cheer- fulness irritated her bevond measure.

She saw that it was not assumed, but an easy confidence that something would turn up to help them out of their diffi- culties without any effort on his part, that she could not understand or sym- pathize with.

As matters grew worse with them and meals became scarce, she earned a little money by doing fancy sewing which Mrs. Kamm brought for her. But the work was hard, unaccustomed as she was to such exertions, and she was weak- ened by insufficient nourishment. Mrs. Kamm suspected something of this, but did not know its extent, for on that point Mrs. Churchill was persistently silent, and repelled all inquiries. Loyalty to her husband would not permit her to condemn him before others, and she sought as far as possible to hide the evidences of his weakness.

One evening Robert came home radi- ant with happiness, and carrying several bundles in his arms. "It's come at last, Eleanor," he cried. "I received a letter from home today with a remit- tance, and now our troubles are at an end. See what I have brought you. I have felt that we have not been careful enough about our appearance," he con- tinued, as he opened the packages. "You know our position demands that we should present a good appearance, and we have become absolutely shabby. I have brought home some things that are at least a little more satisfactory. This is a dress for you that I don't think even Mrs. Kamm can equal ; here is some stuff to make dresses for the chil- dren, and this is a suit of clothes for myself. And here is a surprise for you."

He handed her a jewel case which she opened, and found inside an expensive lady's watch. She looked at him in dis- may.

"And the rest of the money?" she said.

" O, I have it here." He looked through his pockets one after the other, but without success. "Why," said he