Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1884-05-08

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known to the whole town that she was
at variance with her next-noor neigh.
bor-as. thanks to Mrs. Cooper's un.
scrupulous tongue. it speedily was
twas felt by the widow to be a real dis.
kgrace.
All that she could do to smooth mat
tiers she did, with no effect, however,
except that Mrs. Cooper subsidized grad.
uaily from ferocious into a sullen
mood, but lost no opportunity of exhib-
iting her dislike and ill-wilI in the mum.
berless little ways which q near neigh
Dor can always make available.
The quarrel between the boys was OF
much shorter duration. In. the course
of few days Charles red head was
again seen bobbing over the division
fence, and Frank being responsive, the
former intimacy was soon re-estab-
lished. When September came and
the schools re-opened the two lads be-
came school-mates and classmates.
Charlie was bright boy, and his par
ents had kept him steadily at school,.
and were very proud of his attachments;
but though he was two years older than
Frank, the latter was more than his
equal in school-standing. There was
no brag about Frank, however, and
there would probably have been no
Jealousy on Charles side had it not
been been excited by home influence.
Mrs. Cooper was bitterly jealous and
enviOus. and her sneers and innuendoes
did much towards making her son as
unreasonable and suspicious as her.
self.
A few months after the school opened,
an examination was held for the pur-
pose of promoting such of the scholars
as were fitted for the advance to higher
departments in the school. Frank Sun
derland was the only boy in his class
who was successful in passing the ex-
animation, though Charlie Cooper had
not been far behind him. and his heart,
and his mothers as well, had been set
upon his obtaining the promotion.
That he failed to do so was, in itself,
a bitter disappointment, but that Frank
should succeed where Charlie failed was
4 trial much harder to endure Mrs.
COoper's undisciplined tongue wagged
freely, and her opinion that the school
was conduct d upon the rankest princi-
pies of favoritism was widely dissent
mated. She would even have been fool
ish enough to withdraw Charlie from
the school had not his father interposed
his rarely excrtcd authority and put
positive veto upon any such absurd pro-
ceeding.
AS usual, Charities wrath soon evap-
GRATED. and as there was now no occa-
sion for a tnal rivalry between them,
the two lads got along very karmoni-
ously, and Frank was able to do many
n kind turn for Charlie, which the lat
ter, as general thing, fully appreci-
ated.
Though very well aware of the rumor
of Mrs. COoper's feelings toward her
and Frank, Mrs. Sunderland was sensi-
bic enough to feel rather amused than
irritated, even when Mrs. Cooper's con-
duct, on their chance meetings, verged
upon actual insolence. The widow
cheerfulness and politeness continued
to be quite invincible until the events
of certain morning proved to her that
forbearance had at last ceased to be a
virtue.
1t was cold day in January; Frank
had gone to the well 10 draw bucket
of water, but found the well-bucket
half-full of ice, SO that it would not
sink when lowered into the water. His
mother came to his assistance, but sue
ceeded no better than he had done.
Charlie Cooper was at the well in their
own lot, scarcely stones thrown dis
tant, and he called out: Come fill your
bucket here, Frank; our well is all
right"
Without stopping to ask permission.
Frank scrambled over the fence, and
soon the two lads were laughing and
joking together as Charlie lowered the
bucket. Just then Mrs. Cooper came out
of the house and advanced towards
them; she brought another bucket to
fill. one that was already half-full of
water, which she was shaking around
in the bucket, preparatory to throwing it
out.
What are you doing in my lot, sir,
may | ask?' she said, as she noticed
the intruder. Frank colored, and took
up his still empty bucket.
Never mind, Charlie" said he; 1--WE
can get the ice out of our own bucket;
III go back, now.''
Charlie was provoked at his mother,
and his temper being as ill-governed as
her own, he turned towards her angrily,
crying: whats the use of being SO
hateful? you ought to be ashamed of
Yourself" at which words his mothers
anger rose tC tie exploding point
''Pll thank YOU to mind your own
business, Charlie "copper" she said;
and then turning ferociously upon in
offensive Frank, las for you, you young
haristOcrat, ] want you to get hoff nv
premises, and stay hotf 'em. We don't
want no favor.tes round here" Then,
t.:owing the contents of her bucket,
not absolutely at Frank. but with an
utter disregard of what she was doing,
she dashed the water in such a way that
the lad was completely drenched.
Mrs. Sunderland advanced to the
fence to help Frank, shivering and cry
ing, to get over it. Her gentle temper,
proof against insults or attacks directed |
upon herself, was at last aroused. |
Frank was very delicate child, and
the effects of such a shower-bath upon |
such morning might be serious. With |
flashing eyes and face flushed with in
dignation, she turned upon her enemy,
who did have the grace to look a little
ashamed of herself.
You are wicked, cruel woman,
Mrs. Cooper, and hencefor:h l will
have nothing to do with YOU" Then
she hurried Frank to the house, and
mingled her tears with his as she helped
him to attire himself in dry garments.
The lad had a cold and sore throat
as the result of his drenching, and his
anxious mother, during the period of
his indisposition. entertained towards |.