The Red Cloud chief., 1885-09-04

pot made the case AZ strong a, it should
be. hut not knowing exactly how 10
make il strong 7 he wait-d for p r ply
from hs wife, still Keeping his back
towards her AMI his hoe gong yigOr-
ouslv.
But Mrs. Parsons knew that her hua-
band had not fin shed what he wished
To saw. and she rema ned silent. Pretty
soon H. began a.ain:
You see. MART. il holds TO reason
that Lucy should be the one to speak
first 'Rastus loved her. al she know
it; leastwisc he thought she did; an
knowing it she went an engaged her
self 10 that .r fellow from New York
An so gave 'Ras 10 think she wouldn't
d We h.m no way it co!il be- fixed %
he went oil to ~ away from the sight
of EN-. An now. Though KNOWN that
Annel~ey'- got his waikin papers, he
don know rs LUCID have him no
MORN she would afore; an 'Eias amt
tie kind as goes spoonin' roGnd beg
gin for what folks don't wan TO give
him. II ANT right. an il amt fair.
when | know the girl I'D give every
thiny hes got in the world u have
him back. that they should be kept
apart jcs. because it's customary for The
man ~ speak first. He has spoke first
once an now it's her turn"
All the time John was speaking
Martha Parsons was thinking. b be-
lieved that Lucy loved Eristus and "as
secretly in hopes tina. he would yet
return t. her. but he was not sure. and
she saw the delicacy Of the situation
more clearly than did her husband. who
had never been able ~ sco.e r any
necessity for tie ~concealmen. Of the
true feelings Of either party TO a love
affair.
When her husband had ceased speak
ing she was silent for q moment and
then said simply:
Are you sure Era-tus knows that
Lucy ha- broken with Mr.. Annelsey''
John Parsons suddenly stopped hoe
ing and turned quickly around facing
his fc.
didn't you write him that, when
the girls first come home" he asked
in surprise.
"No. / did not; I was not certain
that she cared for him and feared To
awaken anew hopes that. after all,
might be useless. IL wa, not certain
that Lucy engagement with Annel3 Y
might not Ice renewed. or that because
she dismissed HIM she loved EraS;us,
and ! thought L best TO let him learn
Of it by accident. l %suppO-el he would
find il out through Tenn e or some one
e,se, but | do not think he ha.'
Her husband made no reply but re
surncd his hocing and the sub ect was
not referred to a1ain. Indeed very lit
tie further conversation occurred be-
tween them during the entire afternoon.
both appearing busy with their own
thoughts.
AT the supper table that evening Mr..
Parsons proposed that the two women
should 90 t. Town the next day tn
some butter and eggs and such other
articles a. they could pare, and make
an exchange for family SUPPLE.
johnny and nell keep house while
YOU re cone" he said; 'wc'r re capital
at kccpin' house. amt We, Johnny
And mothrrN bring you some candy OF
somcthin'.'
John Parsons hated 10 'peddle.' a
he called il. and his wife always 90:
better price, for the butter and sggs
and chickens than did he: besides v hich
sine knew better how TO invest the pro
cecds economically in ncccssit es fol
the family, and there was need OF
economy now. And a neither of tie
women liked either 10 90 20 town alone,
or 10 STAY clone with Johnny while the
other went with the husband or father.
il had become the rule for both TO &C
and leave johnny TO the care OF his
father. and so they decided to do now.
Accordingly such vegetables AS they
were Il take were gathered and placed
in the Spri3g WAGON. \ hunt was made
for eggs. which w,r. carefully packed,
small end down. in oats. tn prevent
their breaking. and the bit of butte
which they hid saved WAS taken from
the well where it hung by 4 rope. and
rcwrappcd i'm white cloths.
When it became lark they went with
a lantern and caught two dozen chick
ems and put them in a crate. previously
made and kept in which to take fowl,
t. market; and bright and early tho
next morning the horses were hitchcd
up AMI they started.
When they were gone John ParsOn.
washed the dishes. which the womer
had not stopped 10 do. It'd ed up thu
house the best he knew how, taking tc
Johnny all the time. and hen went
into the garden tn work. taking thu
bov with him. ~ was his almost invari
able custom when the weather wa.
fine. and placing him. in his wheeled
cot, where they could talk together a
the father worked.
The fresh ar and sunshine did th<
child good and he amused himself il
manv ways The chickens and turkey.
earned to regard him As = friend anu
would come around him. often jumping
upon his cot for some bit Of food which
he hal brought. some Of them becoml
ing 80 tame - TO permit him u handl,
them.
When noon came the man and boy
returned Ia the house. where the father
prepared and they ate dinner. Then
when the dishes had been washed ans
Johnny had dropped of to sleep. a h'
always did after dinner in the Ions
DAYS. John. ST. went to the bureau anu
rummaged around until he found som,
writing paper and finally = pen and
bottle of ink.
These he brought to the table, drew
up a chair and sat down.
I'll jes, give Rss;us a hint" he wa,
saving 10 himself. an il he's still o.
!, the same mind As he used TO be. he'll
be here in less'n TWO weeks an mother
an Lucy IL never know what feichct
him.
..Wimin's curi> about some things:
never did understand EN- very well
There's Marty. now: best woman Twin
; tendrr hearted As q chicken. an Lucy:
Jest like her; but they re a-lettin' Ra>tu'