Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1886-12-21
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IT NIGHT HAVE BEEN.

washing Gay IN q Rouse NHeIe .hc fanny
consisted Of a husband and wife and i've
small children, the latter Of whom were
gifted with perfectly marvellous faculty ana
facility for "rondiDg and destroying" ana
especially for sojling, beyond hope OF redeT1I-
ton, every clean garment with which thelr
r7,,cb-endurirg mother provided them during
the week. Mrs. Stefanc, like all other moth
ers. was proud of her children and liked to
see them neat and clearly dressed even be-
yoDd the average necessity Of a chiids simple
toilet. Consequently her washing basket
Monday morning was sight calculated to
strike awo and terror into the soul of any
Young maiden on the brink Of matrimony.
She sat lilly tapping the red-covered wash
irg book with her ivory pencil, while her
ewes rested on the basket at her feet, but not
with their usual calmly-satisiied glance.
Sonething was evidently wrong What
was it!
@Ei~llt~-fve dollars for the lace pocket
handkerchief she carried" said tho wife OF
twelve years standing, musingly; land 500
for her shawl, willie that silk dress Of hers
yro,M .oaitivcly stand alone All, me! it IS
wei 10 Ls her! And might have been Judge
HowelTs vile myself, for be asked mo 10
nlarrv him six months before be ever saw her
and was ft TO blow lis brains outwhen l l-e-
fused him. A. least he said he wcs Ah,
me-"
And then the lady sighed again, ard gave
the washing basket spiteful shove with her
siipppercd foot.
Mother, [ can't find my shoe"
'.Mothcr DO you know where my blue
tic is.'
"uother, VIII you come and fasten this
frocL? Il is 50 tiresome."
"Mother, isn't breakfast most ready"
aMuzzor, me tiss you"
These explanations burst upon her cars as
the doors Of the nursery suddenly opened,
and showed five curly headed, rosy-cheel,cd,
healthy-looking girls and boys, who looked
at her wonderingly, as she neither rose nor
replied to their questions.
another, isn't breakf;is. most readyl' called
out the most venturesomo Of the little brood,
the blue-eyed Tommy. VINO had already asked
that question once before.
The interruption sounded haT7n.y. Tie
mind OF the thoughtful woman Wa assent
from the BODY al that moment, wandering
back through lAc rosy paths Of the past,
where a handsolnc and wealthy lover came
to WOO And now, IN the present, she was
the hard-workod vic Il q poor and stlug-
Cling man: tho ,... hlr -ol 1lvc troublesome
human beings for ~. Sc SAKE ali such beau.
tiful vanities - lace handkelehiefs, and India
slawls, ana silks thai would stand alone"
must be forever given up.
The contrast was 9 very decided and by
no means pleasant one. She looked up.
go away, children. all Of you, at onccm
she said, in a harsh voice. breakfast isn't
ready vet, ami I'm sure I don't know when
it will be, with such pack of young
troubles to look after. There, go down
stairs, every one of you, and don't speak
to me TIL get this washing list made
out"
Looking al each other with Z mortified and
crestfallen air, the children stole away, one
after the other, and went down to the break
fast room, where their father sat reading his
paper, and waiting patiently for the morning
meal
Presently the sound of many voices and
much laughter penetrated to the upper room,
where the mother still sat brooding alone.
She listened a moment or two, and then rose
from her chair
what Il noise they do make when they are
all together!" She said, frctfully. "And, oh:
dear, how discouraged and weary of it all l
do feel. | viii lie down for five minutes, and
Ann can take in breakfast to them all. If
they have that they viii not miss me, How
strangely my head does feel Eighty-fiye
dollars for one single pocket handkerchief!
1t is really too bad that | should be drudging
here day III and day out, with hardlya decent
gown once year, while she-'
\ strange, drowsy feeling overcane her
and hlshcd her trouble and repning together.
Her eyelids closed. Her head sank back upon
the pillow. She slept, or seemed TO sleep.
x
Rising up from that long slumbar at last,
but still feeling strangely heavy and dull,
Mrs Stefane went down stairs, idly reproach-
ing herself for her dcsertion of her husband
and children nj the breakfast hour. But tbs
breakfast room was empty, though the de-
serted table gave ample and sufficient evidence
that her absence had by no means affected
the appetites OF the party.
She rang the bell The Irish servant an
swered
where is your masterl1 asled Mrs. ST.
fame, feeling strangely hurt that she should
have b put such question 10 servant as 10
her husbands whereabouts
The master, na'am," said the good ma
:ured Ann with broad smile "Sure, ma'am,
and he said he'd be after taking all the
chlder down the river, as it was such fine
day. They were jisJ wild to 60, the dar-
lmgS.r
Down the river!7 gasped Mrs Stefaue,
feeling as il she could not believe her ears.
That down the river trip" had been long
looked for and eagerly discussed pleasure to
be shared 10y the whole family and by herl
And they had gone and left her!
You see, rla'crn, you was in such n beauti-
in. alapo that the master would not have you
disturbed" went on The stupid but good
natured Ann. And 50 he told me TO dress
the chiidcr myself, and l did. And very
pretty they looked, the little darlngs.7
Clear the breakfast things away said
Ms. S,etanc.
Yes. pla'am | left the table for YOU.
thinking You might be hungry after Your
slape. Won't l bring you 4 cup Of coreq,
na'anl, and i fresh roll or two:7
NO, tEanA YOU"
AN egg, now, ma'anl, or o taste Of fried
ham, III cook il fer YOU in a minute,
ma'am.
i want no;hing-rothing!r and Mrs. Ste
fame fairly ran from the room, for the ready
tears wore even then IN her eyes.
This, then. WAS all they cared for her. size
thought, - Size Eazed around her own cham
her. Ann Lad removed the clothes basket
during her s,eeT, Int the room YVES Uttered
and u...iIv, and. a. 1t yfas washing day, sic
could lot call the girl away from her work
10 attend 10 i.
Sull less would she slave there herself while
her truau5 family were enjoying the fresh
river bycc-cs from The deca of beautiful
steamer. The room might 50 What did it
rlarteri What did anything 1l-atteri
And then She sat down aylia and leaned
G.r l>a3 OF Ler hand and thought Of the lace