Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-03-26

Luke was In far too excited q state to bear
this quietly, and answered with q violence
which Gwen sought In vain to soothe. There
was a terrible scene, and at the end Of few
minutes, the fair edifce Of homo peace,
which she had labored at 50 long and pa
dently, lay shattered before her.
The hardest time Of her married life fol-
lowed, for Luke, in q state Of irritated deter
mination to succeed, was sorely tried by the
dilatoriness and procrastiuatioa Of every
body whose approval and cooperation were
necessary to the bringing out of his inven-
ton, and Reuben was more cross grained
than ever. 1t fell to Owens share
to cheer and inspirit her husband, to bear
the freshly kindled fire Of her father-in-law's
vituperation, and to make her diminished
allowance cover the most necessary ex-
pensea
At last the tram-car was given public
trial and from that day the tide slowly
turned. Nobody hurried to tax, up the in
vention. but still the capital to form a COM
pany was gradually subscribed, and Luke
felt his way grow clear and easy before him.
A steady demand sprung up for the Spar
row tram-cars, and the dividends rapidly
rose. Luke was made n.Ich Of now and on
all sides manufacturers and SPECTATORS
sent him orders for specified inventions,
Offering him large sums if he could meet
their requirements. Some Of the requests
were absurd. but many presented problems
possible of solution, and the demand for his
productions preceding the supply, Luke's
work was freed from the anxieties of the
man who invents first and finds his marke.
afterward-if lie can.
AT homo it seemed at first as il his suc
cess would widen rather than heal the
breach between his father and himself, for
Reuben grew more silent and moody as hi
sen went up in the world. During the day
OF anxious poverty, while assailing Gwer
with ceaseless reproaches, he had
exercised much ingenuity in secretly sup
plying the wants Of the household; but now
that the privations of the young couple were
ut an end, be choss 10 believe that they
wished him dead or gone, and when Gwen
told him one day that Luke intended to take
a larger house, the old man broke out bit
terly. They were getting too grand for him.
he said The furniture which he and his old
woman had bought when they married, anc
which he had brought with him to his sons
wasn't good enough for n fine new house
and he'd better betake himself somewhere
else with it
Don't say that, father" said Gwen:
wherever We go, your rooms shall have the
oil things in"
'Oh, Of course. The old things are good
enough for the old man!7 retorted Reuber
You'll stow me away
in the back rooms, and get new friends te
suit your new furniture. No, No! I'll get
room somewhere, AMI have a woman in t.
look after me. I'm used TO neglect"
But, father, said Gwen, patiently passing
over n charge she had heard over and owe, !
again, Il want you more than ever now. |
You see, Luke wants me TO be fit TO talk T. |
the gentlemen who come to see him. |
and | thought perhaps you'd teach me out OF |
the books, 50 as | may know something. !
Luke hasn't time. and | don't feel rs | could |
get on without help. Besides, can't bear
10 think OF your living away from us now
You're talking NONSENSE" said Reuben. |
.hortly and sharply. I've not been SO kind |
10 you that you need set yourself against the !
parting
You are rare good TO Peter, and whom W, |
were III bad way you stool by US. father
That's what ! remember | know well /
enough your savings are deal smaller for
what you did for u"
The old man uttered an impatient pooh.
pooh.' and, rising from his chair, fidgeteJ
bout the room. Then he sat down agan
md silently watched Owens needle as il
lew in and out of the work upon her knee
Dye really mean you'd like TO learn %
nei7 he asked at last, doubtfully, "after all
he hard things I've said to your
Il couldn't have gone IN doing for YOU SO
ong. said Gwen. encouraged by the gen
ieness of his tone, If | hadn't known that
rou thought kinder-more kindly o me than
Yer you said. You didn't mean it Just now
when you said that you were used to
leslectr
NO, lass, said Reuben. taking her hand.
I'd no call to mean such an untruth rs that
| ou're n good gel; I'll teach you what you
Ike
After this it was surprising how well
reuben got on with his daughter in law.
Ter intelligence delighted him, and no was
ever tirei If boastins OF the progress she
made in history, arithmetic, grammar, and
Not but what he often spoke
nappishly, but the old constant friction was
AN end, and past resentment quietly for
often.
1T seems to me Peter and Gwen are run
ing one another Close snid Luke, looking
p from his papers with n smile one evening.
Bless you, no." declared Reuben Peters
sharp little lad. but he's nowhere beside
is mother. She's one in n thousand, | tell
in a thousand