New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-09-02

able to get that delicate little wonan's
sad face out Of his mind, nor the sick
baby nor the drunken wretch Of q hus-
band.
70 tell the plain truth, he and his
good wife had talked the matter over
frequently. You see, she was a moth
er, and had d mother big tender heart
IN her bosom, quick as a flash to feel
where children were concerned. Only
that morning. when / was starting
away on duty, she said promiscuous
like:
Recollect, John Frick, if you put that
poor woman and her baby outinto the
street such a day as this, showing
and blowing fit to kill,-you needn't
never look me in the face again"
"Jane," said in my utmost digni-
fed voice. ~ must do my duty"
But, Lord, what a. heap of mean,
cruel things we sometimes do in that
same name of duty.
When the writ Of expulsion was put
into my hands, and the landlord said
he wouldn't give another day, felt
meaner than skunk. The weather
was justfearful. TWAS not only biting
cold, but damp and foggy, and enough
gloomy to make folks in trouble bend
their ideas to getting relief by self
murder.
l found the same sodden young man
In the saloon, as tipsy and slouchy
and dirty as before. Now he was
noisy, drunk, staggering about the
place, swearing and Dragging, thick
tongued and maudlin, and looking
still more disgustingthan when hewas
doubled up on the chair.
"What the-do you want in here?"
he yelled, as was passing on to room
six.
"You dry up, sevholmn snapped the
greasy-faced man. grabbinghim by the
arm and swinging him back from fol-
lowing after me. ''He's got business
with your wife. Keep still,-you!
you're not fit for business. -
But the tipsy loafer broke away and
burst into the presence OF his wife; and
when | had explained the nature of
my GRAND he ranted out:
Its al right, Elsie. I'vegot aplace
ready. I'll fetch wagon and have
the things moved right away" And
OUT ne started on a run.
II II am glad OF that" I said to his
wife, as she held up her white, troubled
face towards me. Chow in the world
did so nice a woman become tied to
brute like this?"
ooh, if he only will!'' was the pitiful
exclamation Of the heart-stricken wo-
man. ;4
| now learned that another suite OF
rooms had been secured, only await
ing the payment OF the first months
rent in advance, and that by the sale
of a portion OF his wifes best wearing
apparel the needed money had been
secured. [ also learned that the man
was first-class workman in a business
that paid exceptionally high wages,
and that until he had fallen into
habits of intoxication they had lived
as happily and respectfully as hearts
could desire. Eas ~ ,s.....
Would he return with team and
gain the new home for his family? or
would he continue his drunken spree
and spend the money his wife's cloth
ing had been sacrificed to secure? |
asked these, questions a score of
times, as I stole furtiye glances at the
troubled look in the woman's eyes,
and noted the terrible strain her mind
was III while he was gone, 3D.. ~, -.
The furniture was nearly all packed
in readiness for removal; and knew,
though she did not tell me, that frail
wife had spent her strength in the ar
duous preparation. 4....
[ had told the landlord that they
were ready to move, and would be
surely gone that day. He was not
half Satisfied. He had come tearing
to the office in a great stew of anger
and impatience to have them thrust
out forthwith, he would not grant an
other hours delay, SO there was no
help for it; if Sevholm did, not speedily
appear | should be compelled to place
their effects on the sidewalk.
So stating to Mrs. Sevholm, added
that | would a heap rather take q
licking than do it.. With tears OF
thankfulness in her eyes, she respond
ed:
'sYou shan't be put to the pain ofit.
God bless you for your kindly sym
pathy. You are like the dear old
father once had'' ,'@
Then after she'd turned her head a
minuteto brush away the tears that
blinded her, she drew a heavy gold
chain from the bosom Of her dress,
and as she held it up for me to look at,
went on: g,
ut cuts me to the heart to sell this.
1t was present from my dear mother
the day | was married. can sell it
for enough to pay the rent, and have
the things moved in a little while, if
you will be so good to watch the baby
until my return.
In course / understood we'll enough
that she had given up all hopes OF her
mans return, OF of ever seeing the
money she had trusted him with to
pay for therooms Audit was curious,
as I could see as plain as plain could
be, that she was ten times over more
panied and worried about me finding
out what miserable scamp her
husband was showing himself, thanfor
the trouble and misery he had heaped
on herself.
That was womanlike.