Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-02-29

ing associations from that quarter. My
heart was heavier than lead rs the
horses tOiled through the sand between
the station and our home, making the
new carry all creak In every joint.
We found the house prettily en-
powered in vines whose leaves
would no doubt appear in due
time. Tidy. our maid OF all
work, declared il was the dirtiest
house she sever set foot in, but Fanny
said that was what everybody thought
who was not used to moving INTO
old houses. Il was Fanny's nature to
make the best Of things. and at the end
Of a month she and Tidy had contriyed
10 make our cottage snug and home
like.
And was not at all unhappy. In
deeI, my own indifference caused me
the gravest foreboding at first. / seemed
TO be paralyzed. Perhaps my neighbOrs
had recognized my mental disorder,
and attributed our change of residence
TO il. A. time went ON, however, re-
turned to my old self. The humdrum
life was forced to lead grew intolera-
bic. The spell Of longing for my old
haunts came upon me.
just about this time received let
ter calling me to the city upon a mat
ter of business. Fanny made arrange
ments for me TO 90 by an early train,
so that | might return that same even
ing, for she was timid. and dreaded the
thought Of my absence for single
night. Upon my arrival, however, /
found that i could not do this i,
therefore. telegraphed my wife to that
effect. and also that Miss Jones, whom
| had invited to visit Us, would go in
nv place. Fanny was fond Of all
young ladies, and Miss Jones in par
ticular So / flattered myself that
had made such satisfactory arrange
mcnt that need be in no haste TO re-
turn.
was hardly able TO conceal the boy
i>h delight with which | entered my
club that evening. My friends were
glad To see me. in way; but / felt
that they were less enthusiastic than
the circumstances demanded. They
greeted me with: wei, Warren. YOU
begin to look better" and Glad to
see that farming agrees viii YOU.
George till felt like knocking every
man down that | met The salad was
flat and the wines insipid. thought
Of Fanny's dainty table with n sigh. I
even stole glance at my watch TO see
II could catch the train and get back
that night. The thought of INV wife
made me uneasy. She would be lonely,
so far from nrighbors. She had owned
To me that even in our pleasant home
on Fourth street, with Tidy in the
nursery. she had sometimes been so
nervous In the long nights when
| wa away that the beating of her own
heart sounded like n knocking at the
street door. Or when the little curly
dog pri"ked up his ears 10 listen she
dared not guess what he might hear.
wondered that l had not thought of
this before. There was n slow train
leaving ut midnight which would reach
Peachville about two in the morning,
and resolved to take il. I had not
n minute To spare. and rs we crawled
along ut n snairs pace / was puzzled ut
my own impotence 90 get back. IL
was long enough after two when left
the train and began my homcward tramp
through the deep sand.
Fanny in the meantime had received
my telegram and fastened to meet Miss
Jones at the station. 1t was a lone
some drive for the little woman; so she
took Tidy and the boys along. for the
new carryall was very roomy. As she
returned with her guest her heart sank
heavily. To remember that there was no
one there to greet her. Still. she tried
to keep up n show of cheerfulness. as
with laughing open, Sesamei" and
three loud knocks she unlocked the
door and entered. Tidy fastened to
prepare supper. while Fanny slowed
the boys I'm their cribs. Then tho two
women sat on the piazza, talking as
women will rs long as they dared.
When no excuse could serve to keep
Miss Jones up longer my wife rueful-
/ " lighted her to- our pretty guest
chamber, dreading beyond expression.
no doubt, the return to her own quar-
tiers.
Il hope you don't feel lonely, dear.
away mp here?" she said Mt last, taking
up her candle.
IN mo, not lonely exactly" re-
turned the girl; "a little afraid, per-
haps.'
'Afraid?' cried Fanny, and the cold
chills crept along her spine.
yes, a little. because you were all
away so long and the house was left
alone. only thought some tramp
-" Fanny interrupted her, saying,
rs calmly rs she could
Then come down and stay with me.
shall be glad Of your company"
How good my wife was | am afraid
Miss Jones guessed by her. eager in
vitation. She told me that IL Miss Jones
had finished the sentence about the
tramp she should have tainted.
So the two descended tO my wife $
room, which was in the IL" and
opened into the nursery, as well as up
on the piazza. suppose they had un-
consciously frightened each other, for
they carefully Inspected all the fasten-
ings, which.Tildy had secured hours be-
fore, and began to prepare for bed.
They talked till they were tired, then
each tried to make the other believe she
was asleep. lying with wide-open ewes
and ears strained To catch the hum of
an insects wing. What a comfort il
would have been IL the call of some
watching sentry could have assured
them hour by hour that all was WE'LL
AZ last sleep fell upon them, but how
long they slept they could never tell.
Fanny was Weakened by n faint sound.
rs of some one trying the outside door.
A lamp had been left burning in such n
position that the door could be distinct
ly seen. As she listned, il slowly
opened. ~
"Shut that door, she cried. with
the voice OF a clarion. Itslowly closed.
Up sprang Mss Jones in mortal fear,
her face rs white as her pillows. The
poor fhfnoa Ionk..d NJ cack ntho- - II
lence. Again the door began TO open,
and once more Fanny commanded Il to
shut. The order was obeycd; but suit
ing the acton to the lurking falter in
my wife's voice. no doubt, the move
ment was less prompt than before.
With one bound Fanny sprang to 1t and
turned the key, which was still inside.
Then the women bel! long and anx-
ious consultation. neither trying this
time TO conceal her fears. There was