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

saEtTy tnaU ne could get without the
trade of Brown of Nevada? He was
already in debt, and some of the bills
must be settled at once; his account was
overdrawn at the store. It made him
shudder to think of it. The cabin of
the ferry boat was sitting. In spite of
the lowering clouds and piercing wind,
ne made his way out on the forward
deck, and as he saw the black waves of
the East River surging against the Shiny
sides of the boat, he was strongly tempted
to do away with all further trouble for a
party called Pillikin.
While the temptation assailed him,
the chains ratified, the newsboys' cries
were heard on the Brooklyn side, the
boat bumped against the dock, the
crowd pushed him along, and he found
himself plodding his homeward way.
He couldn't bear the depressing influ-
ence of the horse-cars, so he tfudged
along on foot, a fierce March sleet be-
ginning to beat upon the only high hat
he owned in the world. 1t was utterly
impossible to buy another, but Pillikin
didn't care. He probably wouldn't
need high hat in the mental employ
ment he would be compelled to accept
when he was kicked out of Hardscrabble
& Co.'S, and had lost the trade of Brown
of Nevada. When he at last reached
home his fingers were so numb with cold
he could hardly get the key in the door,
but this didn't matter in the least.
Several young and energetic parties ran
to let him in; his plump pretty little wife
took his coat, and kissed him; his still
plumper and prettier sister-in-law took
his hat and cane, and kissed him; half
dozen rosy children put up their mouths
to be kissed. The dining-room was
warm and cosy; there were his chair
and slippers waiting for him by the open
fire; an inviting meal was wasting its
unctuous odOr in the halls below.
"My love-" said his wife, show late
you arer'
"My DEAR said his wife's sister,
''we were so afraid you'd gone off with
some of those horrid customers. You
know you expected Brown of Ne
"Jo, dear Jo-my husband, my love,
my darling-what is the matter?''
For poor 10 Pillikin had sunk into a
chair, put his head upon the table and
burst into tears.
1t was weak and unmanly, perhaps;
but he had eaten nothing since break
fast. had been badgered and worried,
and on his feet all day; the March wind
had pierced to the marrow of his bones.
To find all this love and cheer and COM
fort awaiting him, to remember how he
bod Id oil -, l.. al
Hardscrabble, how he had been tempted
to drown them all in his cowardice while
upon the ferry-boat, and, above all, for
his sweet sister-in-law to pelt him with
the crushing name of Brown of Nevada,
the author of all his misery-it was too
much for poor 10 Pillikin. He wept,
not as a woman, whose tears console
and comfort as they flow, but as strong
man weeps when the first keenness is
added to the agony of despair.
Pretty Mrs. Pillikin got down on her
knees and wept on his shoulder, his sister
cried upon his other shoulder, and all
the little Pillikins set up howl, none of
them knowing in the least what they
were crying about save poor 10. whose
tears ceased to flow when he found how
contagious they were.
In the midst of all this uproar man
mounted the stoop and rang the bell, but
it was Budgets day out, and in all this
noisy distress none of the Pillikins heard
the bell. Pillikin had in his agitation left
the door ajar, and nobody had thought
to shut it. So the stranger walked Into
the little reception-room, hoping that he
would soon have an opportunity OF max
ing himself known. When all this Sob
bling fell upon his ear he was annoyed
and shocked, and scarcely knew what to
do. Through crevice in the door that
separated the reception from the dining
room, he saw 10 Pillikin sitting by the
table, his head bowed upon his hands,
one pretty young woman dressed in some
soft, warm, gay material sobbing on one
of his shoulders, and a still younger and
prettier woman dressed in black sobbing
on the other shoulder, and around the
room, all about the floor and the chairs,
were innumerable children. all bowling
at the top of their lungs. Pillikin hastily
dried his tears and composed his features,
and began to soothe his family. He took
one of the pretty women on one knee,
the other on the other knee, and gave
each of his ten fingers to the young brood,
hushing and coaXing them into calm.
There, there said 10, don't cry
any more. I'm heartless brute to have
worried you so. But l couldn't help it. |
l feel better now; but l never was so COM
pletely broken up in my life. don't
mind telling you that I've done very
thing. 1t has weighed like a |
of lead upon my heart and |
but 1 feel more courageous
now that know you love me well enough |
to share the burden. Butt ought to have
kept my temper. A man ought to think
of his family when his situation is at |
stake, and it was enough to make Hard
scrabble lose whatever decency he ever |
had to see Brown of Nevada 60 into
Scrimmage & Co. s."
Both the women started and turned |
pale.
90, Sue" faltered the wife, to her
Brown of Nevadar'
80, Kater' gasped the young wild
DIV, to the wife, into Scrimmage &
Go. 'sr'
Brown of Nevadar' they repeated to-
yafher SbaEipp thair heads rnourpfpllv |