The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1881-06-23
MY CONFESSION.
From Harper's Weekly.

MY CONFESSION.
From Harper's Weekly
It was doubtless . terrible calamity.
. tried to reason with my husband, and pei
suade him that, after all, it was what migl
have been expected. reminded him ths
ever since the insurance company had failet
and thrown him out Of employment, he ha
been tramp
"That's the word, he interrupted ,fiercely
"You needn't say any more. That GOV
ers everything. Tramp! That's what "
come to at last. Look at that boot! Mended
Never. Look at it, say-look at it,"
I had been looking at it ever since he pu
it on the fender. It was terribly broken, t.
be sure. 1t was like the one-hoss shay
and had given out all over at once.
So had Charley. All hispatience, perse
verance, and persistency had oozed out a
that awful hole. "a man can stand any
thing but that, Kate" he i'd mournfully
His overcoat can become weather. heater
to all the colors Of the rainbow; the knees
OF his pants may grow buggy, and the seams
white; his hat, SO long as it's felt, can gel
to any condition. But broken boot! Oh
great Heaven! I wish was dead!'
"You mean, selfish wretch!' cried fling.
ing my arms about him. "What would be-
come Of me and the children?"
"Your people would take care of you and
the youngsters, Kate. I'm only clog and
a curse to you, my dear. Your people
would be glad to be rid of me-
"Oh, Charley!" I cried.
But they were. There's no doubt about
it. On that dreadful day Charley kissed us
all as usual when he went out He seem
ed to be calm er and moro resigned. But
remembered the gastliness of his smile
when he drew rubber over his broken
boot. The day was certainly unsuited fol-
rubbers, and Charley hated them in any
weather. He was calm, but it was the
calmness CT despair. Days and weeks, a
whole month, went by, and Charley did not
come back to us.
My family decided that something must
be done. They appointed a conference to
meet at my house, which was already rent
ed. and the new lessee desired immediate
possession. My family were far from SYM
pathizing in my awful suspense about
Charley. Their convictions were very de-
cided.
He must have como and drowned him.
self that very morning." they said, and,
added, with an air of commentator
and relief, that perhaps it was the best
thing he could do under the circumstances.
My heart was full to bursting. flew into
a passion of grief and rage, and drove them
all from the house.
You'll send for us when you get cooled
down, they said. And doubtless I should
if Aunt Maria had not been belated at the
family conference, and arrived when my
passion was at its lowest ebb I was as
limp as rag, md quite as helpless.
Just like EN-" said Aunt Maria. "A
the Lord never alloWod to live."
This consoled and strengthened me.
We began abusing them, and I felt better
and stronger. Aunt Maria's was one OF
those sche1ning, turbulent natures that had
| never agreed with mine in the days of my
prosperity, but it was kind of bitter tonic
| to me just then.
I'D a given 'em piece of my mind il
I'd got here in time. But, you see, Mrs
Rogers-you know the woman that kept
our boarding house."
shook my head. Aunt Maria's presence
was already losing its Strengthening and con-
selling qualities.
"Well, she died last night, and Mr.. Chan.
dler he came to me to talk things over. I've
| boarded there off and on, before and after
your Uncle 10 b died, for nigh on to fiftee1
years; and Mr.. Chambers wife she dice
| the very next summer, and he's kept his
second story front ever since. You see, he
owns the house, and like enough has
| mortgage on tse furniture. He's a wishy,
| washy sort of man that most anybody cal
getthe best of-Good gracious mel"
What is it, Aunt Maria? What's til.
matter?"
why, souls and bodies! If there amt {
special providence in this thing, my name
amt Maria Peckham. It came to me then
just like tlash-the hull thing. Why can
you step into Mrs. Rogers place, and ear1
Twin for yourself and children? Mr.
Chandler wants some one right away It'll
be kind O comfortable fer mo to have some
one there that can depend on and Mr.
Chandler, if you get the II ght side of him
is as easy as an old shoe. The funeral i
come off tomorrow. Her children II he,
to be divided around among the relatives
III go home and talk the hull thing owe
with MIR. Chandler, and you come arount
tonight and settle everything. There
nothing like strikin' when the irons hot I
don't do to let the grass grow uEder YOU
feet. That was the trouble with your Char
ley; he was too slow; hadn't enough pus
about him leastways that's what tie folk
say"
"Slanderers! backbiters! falsifers! NJ
Charles was the best, the dearest"--
Yes, yes, no doubt; but he amt her
just now to earn Twin for you and the chi
dren. and you don't want to sponge o
your folks"
No, no, Aunt Maria, anything but that.
"Well, the ways of Providence is inscru
table: 1t seems to be app'inted that 20
should take that house. Mrs. Rogers dyi,
that way, just in the nick of time, and YOU
hevin' row with the folks-.-its wonder
full; I'll go home right away, and hev tai
with Mr.. Chandler before he falls in wit
somebody else; he'll let you hev the furni
ture on installments, I know. The kitche
eilcloth II stick to the floor, anyway. b.
Ill 60 home and see aboutit, and you com
round tonight, dye hear, Kate?"
Yes, ma'am, I said. and gulped down
sigh that was almost groan as she disap
peared. The consolation had gene out {
her presence long ago. suppose ougf
to have been grateful My need was des
perate, but Aunt Maria make the propose
SO repelling-the poor, dead woman, til
division of her children, the mortgage O
her furniture; couldn't even see muc
cont o1t in the kitchen oilcloth sticking I
! SAo AOO1. AOOAcu UPON my CQ1lQfen
they trooped in, shabby but rosy, fro1
their winter sport and wondered how they
fare among MY hard-hearted relatives whe
my turn came to die, and theirs to be dis
banded. Charley and had always sal
we'd rather die than hoard or keep board
ers: Charley had died, possibly; but Ii
children and I were left, and somethin
had to be done. It seemed as though MI
Chandler was my only hope; but I we,
around there with heavy heart, an
nearly tumbled eff the stoop whe
saw futter of craps on IL
bell handle. never in the world coul
have gained courage t. pull it. Fortunate]
young man came out. I slipped in, an
he slammed the door after him and wei
whistling his way down the street. crer
by the parlor floor, where some peop]
stood in groups, talking and laughing quit
unconce1nly in the awful presence of deaf
itself. The dishes were Gathering on til
dumb waiter; q woman came down til
stairs smiling and happy, cloaked and hood