Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-02-29
ONE NIGHT IN THE COUNTRY.

/ happened to como home late that
night. for had Il neil some old friends
ut the chubby way of sparing INV W f.
che trouble Of cnterta.n ming. Now.
Fanny was the most amiable woman i'm
the world, anil. of course, never felt
nervous about returning nj any hour /
chose. But the truth was. she had
given mp her happy country life for my
sake. and | knew that she secretly re-.
grette those rural delights. | also
Know that, whenever | was detained
later than usual ~ the club. that feeling
was especially dominant. SO thrust
my hands deep into my ulster pockets
and tried to think of some pleasant
topic OF conversation with which 10 be-
guile her into cheerfulness. As drew
near home my fingers came In contact
with n crumpled bit of paper i'm the
depths of my pocket. Tbs I knew 20
be telegram, which rccallc the fact
That my agent had that day taken n
ruit-tarm neT Ninc'anl to secure n
debt; aud this. IN turn. suggested an
idea. 4 would tell my wi q about
COOKIES bargain, and emphasize the
news by displaying the 4 spat N.
S0ttly opening the front door. 1
CROPPED my wav along the dark hall 10
The nursery, whore was sure To- iind
FANNY and almO equally suro of
waking baby. "Is that YOU. George
she asked. In n discouraged tone. with
out turning her head The wicked idea
Of Disgusting my voice To note the effect
crosse my mind, bu' thought of the
telegram and resisted the temptation.
"Of course, Fanny. How coy Won
are hercl Turn up the lamp. / have
something To show YOU" said. cheer.
ily. rs | smoOthcd out Cooke \ TELEGRAM
before her.
"What do YOU think Of that. Fan9''
She rubbed her sleepy eyes and gave
the cradle little iog with her foot To-
keep the baby quiet.
"O. George. how good you arer' she
cried, joyfilly. ''iIave YOU really
bought farm? When are we To go?''
"Why, You you wouldn't move i'm
March, would yOuP" | asked. for lack
of something better 20 say.
"What shall we do with this mousse.
GeorgeP' And the furniture? Hadn'
we better sell the hor.cs and carriaoe
and get something little more suited
To country roads,"
l saw that my wife was wide awake
now, so yawncd and replied that we
would have plenty Of time 10 think about
mat anu remarked that il was getting
late.
suffered an occasional twince of
conscience the neNt day, rs now and
then recalled INV wife's innocent pratt
tie about our farm. also bcgan To- fear
that ! had not behaved with my usual
wisdom in the attempt 20 strew my own
path with flowers ON my return from
the club. As dinner time approached
4 shrank from meeting Fanny, and nj
last sent her noe 10 say that I would
not be at home till late hour. and
begged her not to sit up for me. But /
might ~ well have gone homo like "a
man. IL was only dcfcrring the evil
hour. when / must confess that never
had the rcmoteSt idea of living i'm the
country, even though | might be the
possessOr OF forty farms.
STU, day after Il " put il OF while
was forced to hear myself praised for
unscishncss, or to listen To my wife's
schemes for tn education Of our bows
when they should b. out of the r,ach of
schools BY and hy our friends be-
gan To talk Of our departure as II IL had
been n settled fact. In VAIN assured
them that IL was all Ionscnse. aad we
were not going away at all. They took
the pang OF separation more philosoph-
ically than one would have imagined.
and / began to be little sensitive.
They even inquired whether meant 10
let or sell the house. what we were going
To do with our servants, and il our new
in church was for sale.
All this WAS rather hard; but when.
ON our ghth anniversary. our neigh
bOrs gave US n little surprise parry. pro
senting us with n silver bcrry-set appro-
priately marked rs ~ parting te,timo-
NAL Of esteem and regret. was in
despair. After the company was gone
my wife gently repruached me with n
lack ot Cordiality - or guests. but 1
had not the heart tO confess the reason.
do not know how 1 over managed to
restrain my feelings till she left the
room. Then | locked the door, and.
turning up the gas. critically surveyed
myself nom tor to toe. Was | n de-
mcnted lunatic? II were still i'm the
full possession Of INV mind. why did not
my hair turn white9 Twas nearly driven
70 suicide. What could il mean? With.
out one voluntary sep on my part was
literally driven out ot the city-talked
AMI smiled out Of my own home.
III - 1nst endurance. | said. through
my cleuchcd teeth. III have still n
ROOT over my head and will have my
Freedom. will let my ncighbors know ="
George. softly called Fanny through
the nursery door, "dil tell You that
showed Mrs. Howe through the hon .
to-day, aud she has as good rs promised
To take u nc your own terms for five
years. Pr
groaned soto voce. and I was Glad
that Fanny could not sec me ut that mo-
ment.
did you hear. dearP" she insisted.
''1es, but | am too tired 10 discuss
anything tonight DO Get the lights
out rs soon as possible. am complete
" worn out, / answered, fretfullv. but
with great sincerity.
"POor &c rgeH' sighed she. lyon
need the rest and quiet Of the country as
much rs l. +"
SO. scarcely knowing how, our pretty
house ON Fourth street was let. fur-
nished; and the first day of May found
tho Warren family on wheels The
purchase OF the farm had been accented
sight unseen" as old fashioned bows
used 10 trade jack knives. IfIhad even
dreamed OF occup ing the house should
have paid Il visit, but nothing had
been farther from my m nd, and I nat
urally felt very anxious rs we neared
Peachville.
twas one OF Fanny's hobbies that our
boys should be removed from the town
and It's vicious influences while they
were yet bllssfully unconscious of evil.
Looking at our rev homo from that
standpoint II was certainly success.