Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1875-12-04
OLYMPIA WAsHNGTON TERRTORY SATURDAY MORNING. DECEMBER
"I don't want any more discussion

ct don't want any more discussion
on the subject" said Mrs. Hopgood,
dabbling away with the brush. a1i
And Alexander went out, slamming
the door. "By Georger' quoth Alex
ander Hopgood to himself, ." if I can't
ask friend to my home, there's at
least the alternative of inviting him to
a hotel. I never did such thing be-
fore, but I don't see how else I can
manage" "! e.i yl ..o..s 81 7. g.
So Alexander Hopgood entertained
Mr.. Ryerson at the hotel, and gave an
unlimited order for iced champagne
and desert. And the upshot Of it was
that Alexander Hopgoop was brought
in at eleven o'clock at night, by two OF
the walters, hopelessly intoxicated.
"Don't be f-f-fraid, mother!" Slut
tered he, brandishing an empty bottle
as he came dimly conscious of her
white scared face bending over him.
" Go on with your washingl Its deal
iollier at the hotel than it is at home.
Freedom forever! Hoo-oo-ray!' Il
go, what shall I do?' sobbed Mrs.
Hopgood, when the walters were once
more out of the house, and the roll of
the cab wheels had died away. To
think only to think that q SON of mine
should ever disgrace himself thusr'
cts your own fault, mother" said
Benny the second son. 'You wouldn' 7
let Ally bring his friend here" -
"Hold your tongue" sharply re-
torted Mrs. Hopgood, wincing beneath
the prick of this home truth. "Call
Elsie. I need her help" l
so, motherr' piped Fanny, the
younger gill, running down stairs in
frantic haste, Elsie amt here"
"Not here!' .,....
"No, mother; she hasn't been to
bed at all--and there's q note on her
table directed to you." ..n.a.
"Open it, mother" said Isaac Hop
good, huskily. ''This is o doomed
night for our household. My God!
has our home become SO distasteful to
our children that they fly from 1t like
rats from falling house ?" ...... ,
Elsie's noto was short enough. 1t
read:
"DEAR MOTHER: am tired of living in the
kitchen. have run away with John Elton,
and before you see me again shall have en-
tered upon a new fortune. Lad ELSIE
r Mrs. Hopgood broke out into wild,
hysterical sobbings. .,r.
Mr.. Hopgood read the hurriedly-
scrawled paper with face cold and set
like steel. '-
"Run AWAY with John Elton!" be
repeated, slowly. sPoor Elsie! then
God help her. For he is as great a
villain and scoundrel as ever lived; and
she has sealed her own doom. Mother,
mother! this comes of your housekeep-
ing" - .a@
{" It wasn't my fault. Isaac," sobbed
Mrs. Hopgood, rocking herself back.
ward and forward on chair into which
she had dropped. .g.t...
1t was your fault" retorted her
husband, almost savagely. "You made
the very name of home mockery to
your children; you shut up your soul
inside of q scrubbing pail; and now you
ass rsapiug the bi.ees harvest
OF course poor Alexander Hopgood
was unable to lift his throbbing head
from the pillow the next day, and his
mother never left him until afternoon.
When at last she eaine down stairs
the parlor blinds were thrown wide
open, food of sunshine streaming in,
the table neatly setin hepretty dining
room. with flowers on the table, aud
new books, games and puzzles scattered
around. ....r .t.t.s.- &
Nus. Hopgood gazed around with a
bewildered air. She hardly knew her
own home. ". "4 = '- v@4.
This is the way we must live hence
forward, MOTHER" said her husband
cheerily. Let in the light and sun
shine; teach Ben and Fanny that home
is something more than an empty name,
and try, in so far as We can, to retrieve
the errors of our past life." ea.4
And Mrs. Hopgood mutely bowed
her head.
"I will try husband" she answered.
ffh -