Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-06-27
GROOMING AND MEALING.n
A Tale of City Life.

sob, John, we've got to move"
Mrs. Skipping exploded the announce
ment before her husband had fairly en-
tered the room.
''Move?" and John sank into the
clearinghouse rocker. which creaked
with a easur of rejoicing at his mis-
cry.
EYES," said Maria, timidly, as she
lifted Johns hat from his head and put
1t on the bed; they've decided to give up
this house the first of May"
The little woman knew how her hus-
bands heart was sinking at this bit of
intelligence, yet mixed with her tone of
depreciation was an indetinable note of
pleasure.
''eBut they told us last fall there
would be no moving" John exclaimed,
after a moment or two of silence.
Il know they did, assented Maria,
eagerly; ''but-"
But Icame here!" and John rose
doggedly, to pull offhis overcoat.
"Just as we were beginning to feel
at home, tooH' he added, with q glance
about the room.
Home? Well, technically speaking,
1T was home to those two mortals
whose very name carried their history
to the small world that knew them.
skipping" was q joke so venerable
rs to be aristocratic from it's age alone.
Skipping was a struggling young law
yer-the son of a Methodist minister, on
whom fate was forever grinning with
malicious cruelty; whose marrow was
,permeated with the curse of itineracy.
..It's born in the bone, Maria" John
used to say, when the periodic moving
sday came around, II can't get a foot
hold anywhere. The church ought to
give me at least a life lease of its softest
pew" .z..
But the bane of that system that
knows no law but ''change'' chung to
the hapless man, and drove him about
with the same grim force the icon,
ference" prodded his father with.
''Well, Maria, if it must be, it must
and Johns face took on the look hi
wife sc grieved at.
+. Maria moved toward the window and
spreaended to pick a dried leaf from hel
one geranium plant, but Johns quicl
=. eye detected the glimmer of a tear tina
fell from somewhere above the fragran
bush. 1t was a sure way to make hin
ashamed of himself.
-.Nevcr mind! Never mind! Your
mot to blame, my dear. It's my
john paused a minute, rememberin
=: thut he was not at the Office. ''1ts m
1fxte!" he added, with a comfortin
'Torciblcness that compensated for tn
Authorization Of his phrase.
Maria looked up with a smile MOI
tentative than mirthful there was .ev
IDENTIFY some reserve behind what sh
had divulgcd.
.sJohn, IL" Maria hesitated an
put herself in an attitude which il
vited the supporting usefulness OF John
muscular arm.
..You've been taking time by Il
bangs-I know you have. Come, VIII,
is it?n and Johns next action nipple
that the secret might be squeezed o.
of her.
..It's the sweetest little room
clean and nice; and the Kendalls 81
they like the plan," with a nervo
laugh that seemed to suggest that
should know well enough without e
PLANTATION.
.'Wha plan?" asked John, pervers
Nv, as the old rocker squeaked reser
fully in protest at a double load.
.'Why, can't you guess?" stroking
scant red locks with a caressing tou'
that should have coaxed more hair
grow. -.
Il haven't got the remotest ideal"
Johns eyes were shut. He appear
to be enjoying the tonsorial luxury.
Rent a room in an elegant new hou
and take our meals where the Kendall
do" murmured Maria, softly.
"Maria!!" his eyes were opened wi
enough now, and his infection of S.
rowful reproach told how mortal
stricken he was.
The pretty lip trembled, and I
dimpled chin looked like the top Of q
pepper-box, as Maria rose from
husbands knee.