Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1872-03-09
HOW LOST MY WIFE AND BABY.

"Crutch n ArmlcsS IN chicago ala 4
lively business MS wholesale "ruccrs. |
was clerk in their store Ny name is
Doray-Timothy Doray; my wilc's name,
Lefty, for short, and my hahy--a mighty
finc hay, hy the way, nicknam,d Tod
der" Mi>'urtuncs which it is not neces-
sary to specify have forced me to work at a
salary Of So per month to support this
family, whom hold dearcr ihan all else
.n earth. At the time of my loss, or
rather in the latter part Of April. with
other clerks lal,,rtl night and day the
s,,son of trade being unusually active, to
which were added our preparations for
removing on the lSt Of May to the new
store Of the firm Business kept me jnmp-
in. all the time. swallowed my break fast
at the store | lived So far away--.ovcr
two milcs-.hat | could u.s., % to dinner.
Oientimcs | wcnt without my supper.
reaching home at II o'clock at night, con-
sequcn,ly saw T"ldlcr to speak to him
on Sundays, aud my wife perhaps an hour
"r two a day. NJ wonier she was lone
some anl given to imayinings OF the worst
kind as to my condition of body, flncying
the dead or mutla,cd the victim Of some
dire casualty, whenever failed to come at
my usual time. All in all, it was a dogs
lic but what eau a fellow do when he's
rs poor as an ccclc. c.astcal mouse?
One night Lefty said abruptly. as |
entered Seen DIR. Gravcn to day, Tim y
The Doctor is our landlord, an excellent
man in collecting hi, rents promptly and
without the abatement Of pcnay.
No" was nay answer. It's not the
first of the month"
But he's been here. Oar rent is to
be raised SO month from the lst of
May" aud she drew back to study my face
under the effect of the announcement.
Then. as my lips were silent, she broke
with:
"We'll stay, of course Wen live AMI
work for hin, instead Of ourselves and
baby"
~ can't get away from the store to hunt
tip house"
"Leavc it to me: I'll get one nearer
the store, cheaper rent and a newer build.
ing. 1t eau be done. I'll do it if you will
let me-"
"All right. l prophcsy tears for your
trouble" in warning way.
"No moro than il We stay. You don
realize what l have to endure, with no one
but Toddy to atrusc me-"
"Be more sociable with your ncighbors, u
suggested.
"My neighbors." scornrully. "That's
just like man. DO you know who are
our neighbors? OF course not. Il pros
porous. Wholesale waslferwoman one side
and dilapidated old Tuack doctor and his
Mummified wife on the other in front a
parade.ground for the geese. Visitors
.hone-ssve the insurance solicitor, who
seems to come only when you can spend ar
evening at home, and so spoils my happi
ness by his figures. I believe he watche.
for you. And his wile-what dowdy
Dirty ribbons, and fingers, and nails, and {
face painted so much that it cracks wher
she laughs. shall die if 1 have to stay
"Do as you like, wife; but the time is
short wish I could go"
"Hush not a word, III be glad to dc
It, you good old man" skipping about like
little girl. "IIl begin in the morning
The next evening was lucky enough
10 reach hon7e about 0 o'clock, and to ge
hug aud kiss from fodder, mapping ir
his mothers arms. He had been enjoying
life with the widow Martins little girl
next door, so his dissipation kept hin
awake longer than usual.
I" have seen one cottage that | think
will please you," began my wife. III
about mile from your store, and we have
been living two miles away, you know"
"Horse. cars or bus to it?'
"That's the trouble There are neithe
Of these at present. You must walk"
Can't do it,"
"tt would do you good. Walking is
a, r,vr