The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-05-05
DISOBEDIENCE.

luSiiiHS iIltO ucT duut ) IOOIIl. dIlu DstuH-
ing the door after her. Stamping her
foot, she gave her bracelet twist and
tlounced into chair, showing it against
the table, upsetting goblet of water,
causing a general clatter. Her natur-
ally sweet face was red and distorted
with anger, and as she lay back in the
rich velvet chair, she looked like one OF
the Furies.
'Aunt Edith,' she snapped out,
the Unity party Friday night?"
The lady thus addressed answered:
81 will think about it: but Edith, you
told me New Years day that you were
going to restrain that temper of yours. :"
my temper is no worse than other
peoples. l heard cousin Fred say the
other day that you used to get pretty
high, and do as you pleased before
She did not finish the sentence, for
there was something in the patient,
sweet face of her aunt that always
checked her anger.
Edith, dear, come and sit by me,
I wish to tell you story
Then she evened the needles of her
knitting and pushed them into the ball
of bright silk, and placed her work
carefully in basket by her side. Edith
sat down on the hassock at her aunt s
feet in no enviable frame of mind. The
lady put her hand gently on the angry
head before her, and twining her fingers
in the soft curls, she told her niece why
she was cripple:
"When was child, was, like you,
headstrong and disobedient. Mother
was a good, weak, easy woman, and
had rather let me have my own way
than take the trouble to make me obey
her. Father was cold, stern man,
who made us all afraid of him. I think
my poor, quiet mother lived in mortal
dread of his hasty temper and harsh
words. She would always say: Don't
tell your father or Don't let father
know and so thought that as long as
he didn't know that 1 disobeyed him it
was all right; but 1 found to my sorrow
it was all wrong, and want you to re-
member, my dear, that disobedience will
surely bring misery and disgrace.
''When was sixteen, Ben Fuller in
vited me to attend a ball at Concord.
His uncle kept the hotel where the par
ty was to be given, and as l was well
acquainted with his aunt and cousins,
l never dreamed l couldn't 90. Ben
was to have his fathers horse and
sleigh, and such fun as we should have!
II ran all the way home from school
to tell mother of it. She was willing l
should 60, but said must ask my
father, as he was terribly angry because
l went to skating party the other
night without his permission. So 1
waited in a perfect fever for father to
come home. put his slippers before
the fire and rolled the little table close
to his chair, with the evening paper
and his glasses on it. l seldom took
the trouble to do this, but now 1 want
ed favor, so of course must cater to
his wants. How | hoped he would
come home pleasant! When I heard
him coming l began to tremble for fear
he would say no. but said to myself
just what heard you say few minutes
ago: 1 will 60, and no one shall hinder
me-
Father came in with lots of cold air
that sent a chill through all of us.
Mother said: Don't ask him until he
has had his supper 1t seemed as if he
never ate so slowly or dallied so long
over his tea. At last he finished and
dropped into an easy chair, with a tired,
weary look. that after all these long.
long years can see distinctly, but then
l did not see it; I thought he was only
cross.
Il went up to him and put nv hand
on his shoulder, for I thought he was
going to sleep, and then should have
to wait till morning. He opened his
eyes with start that took him almost
out of the chair.
"'Oh!' he said, is it you, Edith? I
believe I am getting nervous. Did you
want anything?'
"'Yes, father. l have had an invita-
ton to go to the military ball at Con-
cord, next week. Can 60? Say yes,
for l do want to CO.
".Who invited you" he said, looking
very stern.
.:sBen Fuller asked me. He is to
have his fathers horse and sleigh, and
see, here is a letter from his cousin
Kate. Oh! we shall have such a nice
time! Can go?'
.'.Let me think said he. Ten miles
in a sleigh this cold weather, and you
with bad cold and cough, now
"'My cold will be we'll by Tuesday,
said l, 'and 1 have nothing to get
ready, for you know 1 had new white
dress and satin slippers, gloves, rib
bons and everything wanted for the
Christmas party
".Now STOP he SAID, shutting his
eyes. i do not think it prudent. So go
to bed and say no more about it.
81 left the room feeling the same as
YOU did when you came in here bang
ing the door so furiously. The next
day told Ben I would 90, but father
was not to know. So we arranged for
him to take my bandbox containing my
ball suit the night before and hide it in
his room.
Father had said in the morning that
I could 60 over to my aunt s for a few
days. did not care much about going
then, but now l wanted to 60, for aunt |
would keep my secret. She thought
father was very strict with me. and be-