Wichita eagle., 1886-12-08
9ail1 eagle
A BIT OF DRIFT.

10 cOIile 10 yOC.'
The man thus pointedly addressed slid
slowly down from the fence where he was
sitting whiting, closed his huge jackknifc
by pressing its point against the rail, and
shambled toward the house
The woman in the doorway watched his
leisurely approach with an expression Curl
ously mingled of Indifference and irritation.
A small, STOPPING figure, with a weak slope
to the chin and shoulders; the flaccid face
with a fringe of hay-colored beard, and sur
mounted by a sun-burned hat; the loose, I'M
shapely clothes, which seemed to have
adapted themselves TO the wearer's habit of
nind-was this the pink-cheeked, trim young
fellow who courted her fifteen years ago?
Il was a-thinliin, Malviny," he said, taking
the pail from her outstretched hand, that a
ketch of fish would taste kinder good. We've
had mush pretty Study lately"
at amt my fault" said the woman,
shortly
no. s'pose it amt, he rejoined sbwly,
as though the fact occurred to him for the
first time.
Just then n little tow-headed girl ran round
tbs corner of the house.
"Where are you goin', daddy" she called.
"Down to the spring. Want to go, Capt.
tola!" he answered.
She looked lovingly at him with her china
blue eyes, slipped her grimy little hand into
his and trudged off beside him.
The woman stood on the door stone looking
after them "They are well mated" she
thought bitterly Zone has about as much
idea getting living as the other"
She had not lacked warnings years ago;
for Malvina Frost. with her slim, straight
o,,J laol-
lest girl in town, and mothers of marriage
abb sons had not hesitated to enlarge in her
hearing upon the "Danks shiftlessness," re-
enforcing their own opinions by sundry old
proverbs, such as "What's bred i'll the bone
will come out in the flesh" and Like father,
like son." But Malvina only tossed her
black curls, and went her own way
So one June they were married and went to
housekeeping in little house on the bank Of
the Ohio, and Malvina, in the strength of her
youth and love felt able 10 move mountains,
but she found the gravitation of inherited
shiftlcsSneSs too much for her.
He had done well for time. The little cot
tage was neatly fixed up and when, year
after, tho first baby came, the young father,
with his own hands, fashioned for it a cradle
that was the wonder and envy of the neigh
him, and though the cradle had six successive
occupants, its first coat of paint was never
renewed Mrs Danks had never heard of
Sisyphus If she had she would have found
her task very much Ike his, with the excep-
ton that hers was infinitely harder and more
hopeless.
What was ii! Mental, OF moral, or physi-
cal weakness, or all three? Or an evil fate,
diately failed. Even his name seemed an I'M
kind fling of fortune His mother having
attended, shortly before his birth, the per-
formance Of some strolling actors, was SO
much impressed that the name of Brutus Cas-
sus was waiting for him when he arrived
upon the stage where he was to play so in
significant a part. 1t was seldom, however,
that he had the benefit of his full name, for
the community in which he grew up de-
LIGHTED in Authorizations. But even their
rough familiarity hesitated to call q man
Brute to his face, so he was dubbed Cash"
a perpetual satire upon him who rarely had
any cash in his pocket Against all these
odds Mrs. banks had fought good fight, but
in the struggle her straight back had been
bent and the snap had gone from her eyes to
her voice.
toOilltuOh TIC iOd'l l,Its>tl heavier bDstH
ever this morning. 1t might have been be-
cause it was carly spring, and the air was full
of that indefinable sense of expectancy, that
vague hint o rejuvenation that would touch
everything except the banks fortunes. And
perhaps it was because the -four barrel was
empty; but, whatever the cause, Mr.. banks
turned from the doorway thoroughly
wretched.
II,lc L., Il
with the water, the child following with
string of two or three fish.
Setting the pail down he said in deprecat-
ing way: Il hev about cncluded to take with
Badgers offer and go up to Coopervillen
She made no answer, and he continued:
"Ef anythin' sid happen could come home"
90. yesiH she answered, you could come
home easy enough"
The man WINGED and his sallow face red
dened.
Il don't s'pose I'm n master hand gcttin'
livin', but tell We, Malviny, fate is agin m.
Just as | got n job across the river that felon
come on my finger, and when | had a chance
on the bridge, out of twenty men | was the
only one the derrick hit when it fell You
didn't ought to be castin' it up agin me that
he'd to come home; its fate"
Call it by what name you like" she an
swered bitterly, its made an old woman of
me before my time"
He made no reply, but went out on the
doorstone, where the little girl Joined him,
and presently his wife heard him say:
"Daddy's goin' away. Is Capitola sorry?"
Real sorry" said the child. adding,
"Whatm You bring me, daddy!7
How sh'd We like string of baads?' he
asked, after some elaboration.
Blue bcads:' cried the child, thcn-with
the unconscious selishncss of childhood
"will you go right OFF,
Apparently he was hurt, for his voice qua-
vered Is lie asked. (which would We rather
hev-iadJy or the beads"
"Oh, You" cried the child, throwing her
arms round his neck and pressing her little
face to his. So the hurt was healed, and they
chartered quietly together till supper time. at
which meal there appeared five black-eved
boys, the pattern of their mother. People
said the banks blood had taken a turn in the
boys, for they were as keen. tough-limbed.
energetic boys as could lie found in the
county.
The following Monday Mr. banks started
for Cooperville As he took up his limp car
petbag he said, by way of feeble Joke, Amt
We sorry to see me goin', Malviny?T
She looked at him n moment, then said.
coldlv, You'll be back soon enough"
lie Strengthened himself and said. with an
air of decision quite unlike himself: You'll
not see me again until my work is finished"
and 50 departed, followed only by Capitola,
who went to the road with him. and called
after him not to forget the beads
Mrs. banks from her waShtub watched him
going slowly up the muddy road and as she
looked her heart relented trihe toward him.
the weak, kind hearted, cxasperatinG little