Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-08-20
THE OLDRED SHA WI,
MAY I have a new shawl, John?"
BY MRS. MARY H. COOK.

DI lAo MANI H. SOOAs
MAY 1 have a new shawl, John?"
The speaker was q sweet-faced little wo-
man, and as she made the request she
looked up timidly into her husbands face.
John Clark was a well-to-do farmer, but
so close and grasping was he. that during
all their married life, and they had been
married five years, his wife had never had
a dollar of the money that she had helped
to earn, unless it was g%rudgingly doled out
to her after she had explained what she
wanted of every cent, and then many times
it had been refused with the remark, II
d, can't afford It'll" John Clark prided him
self on being a just man, yet he treated his
Woodworking wife as if he was afraid to
trust her, forgetting entirely that her in
Nterests were identical with his OWN.
She had a red shawl which had long
been getting shabby, and for some time
she had been trying to muster courage to
ask for a new one, finally succeeding with
she remark at the opening of our story.
John Clark raised his eyebrows in aston
ishment. "Why, Lettie Clark! you have
one shawl! what in the world do YOU want
with another?"
eyes, John, but it is getting unfit to wear
20 the village"
Cut! tut! it's plenty good enough to
wear a whole year yeti" was his decided
reply.
Sadly she, turned away, and said no
more about it, until a few days later as she
was about starting to a neighboring village,
expecting to be absent two or three days.
"Is there anything we must haye?" he
inquired of his wife.
"Please bring me a new shawl" she re-
piled, trembling at her own audacity.
"That aciU dol" he cried. II thought I
had settled that foolishness! I want no
more of it. I can't afford i'll" and with
these words, uttered in a harsh tone of
voice, and without one word of farewell,
The drove away.
ALI! could he have known of the hours
of anguish and remorse those words would
cause him, he would never have gone
away, leaving the truest friend he had on
earth standing in the doorway, with her
eyes OVERLOOKING with tears, for he had
never before spoken SO unkindly to her.
He proceeded on his way, feeling more
and more uncomfortable. AS the day
wore on he had time to reflect on his con-
duct, for, with all his faults, he really
loved his wife, but had almost allowed his
greed for gold to crowd all else from his
mind; but now, all through the time of his
absence from home, the picture of the sad,
sweet face framed in by the doorway
haunted him.
II declared" he said to himself, more
chan once, "if I hadn't said 1 wouldn't. I'd
get her the shawl. However, I'll give he,
b money and tell her to get it herself."
Thus silencing his conscience, he started
homeward. Arrived within sight of his
house he was surprised at seeing several OF
his neighbors gathered near the door.
@Lettie must have company" he thought,
but as he drew near them he noticed that
they appeared very sad, and returned his
hearty greeting in subdued tones. A sus-
lpicion of evil flashed through his mind.
"Wha is wrong, friends?" he asked.
An old neighbor laid his hand on his
arm, when he had dismounted, while other
kindly hands took the team and cared fo1
them.
awe have sad news for We, John! Bea,
1t like a mani"
"What-where is Letter" he gasped.
@In heaven, I believe" solemnly replied
the old man.
"Not dead?" cried John, while he leaned
FOR support against the house.
Sit down, boy, and we'll tell We ALL"
Like one blind he CROPPED his way to q
bench just outside the door, and listened
like one dazed to the story. at seems that
your wife had occasion to go to the village
Il mile away, and she had to go down the
lane past Dawson's pasture, an We know
that his Durham bull is quiet enough I'M
Cess he sees something red, then he's ravin'
mad i'll a mint. Well, he must a seen
your wife's red shawl. Some children had
left the top bars down, SO he jumped over
an chased your wife"
Here he was interrupted by q hollow
groan from his listener.
"An'," pursued his friend, II don't know
how to tell ye, but We NOW there's a hedge
fence on each side Of the lane an there was
no escape. an when me an son Joe come
along the lane, We found the body beside
pthe road, and the critter standing near.
He wasn't a-goin' to let us pass, but Joe
had his gun along, he was a-goin' to shoot q
fox up nthe woods, an he's a good shot, Joe
In, an he jist dropped that critter with q