Wichita eagle., 1888-05-27
SWEET HOME.
But Its Happiness May Be For
ever Ruined by One Rash Act

home by singing 'Home, Sweet Home
Kezia-'
"With no tangle in the tuneg' she quer-
ried, mischievously.
"W:th no tangle in the tune, dearest"
he replied, kissing his fair young wife.
Theywere the bride and groom of a week
only; and every body said they were
"equaIly yoked," which thing in matrimony
means the luckiest of all contracts, happy
union.
And as they sat there radiant, joyous
and hopeful, singing Payne's memorable
verses, it seemed that for once every body
was right.
When a half decade had cycled over the
new house, it had grown cosier and hap
pier, if possible. Two bright children had
been added TO the name and home of the
Rathburns, and it seemed that no cloud could
possibly ever overshadow so happy home
circle, but it was to be, and, at time when
least expected, the discordant notes Jared
sadly across the beloved bars of the dedi-
catory song.
There fol a strange and unaccountable
shadow over the life of the father, and
whispers went abroad that Waldo Rath-
burns home was not congenial any more.
In this, however, the world was mistaken.
and heavier on his mind had its origin else
where. .
But Kezia noticed the change and became
alarmed In her wifely devotion she as
signed his retioence and troubled demeanor
TO overy-or31; she, dear loving soul, could
NOT guess at the truth. Why should she?
'You must take a vacation, DEAR" she
said one morning. as her husband sat fold
ing and unfolding his napkin over an IN
tasted breakfast.
"A what, Kezia?" he asked, presently,
coming back from somewhere, and looking
at her in bawiIdered way.
% l fancy you are not well, ;" continued
she, land know it must be oSerwoyh You
haven't had a vacation for so long that you
ought to go TO the mountains for few
weeks, Waldo. The children and l viii do
very weH here, or we can run down to
mothers"
A ghastly pallor creps over his face as she
talked on, planning for a recreative trip he
never should take. Then he looked away
from her, and made reply:
81 believe / VIII go TO tho Adirondacks for
a fortnight - ne said; "a but it viii be awful
" lonesome without you and the babies,
Kezia"
He tried to smile as lie finished speaking,
but made total failure, and shuddered WIS.,
IDLY instead.
.'You ase really i'll, DEAR exclaimed his
wife, putting a hand caressingly on his
shoulder and touching her warm lips to his
cold brow
AZ am not well," he replied, in husky
tones, turning away
Ncz!a tsathbarn kissed her husband good
bye that morning with a sharp twinge of
pain in her Wifely heart. Surely some thing
sorrowful was about TO fall her woman's in
stincts told her SO.
Papa tehichl" questioned the baby boy,
pressing one chubby hand on the window
pane where mamma stood watching the
slow, uncertain gait Of his devoted father,
who seemed not himself this morning.
Little Edith curled herself up IN the win
dow seat and wondered "if all families felt
so dredfIul solly when their papas were
SICK as she saw the. tears shining In mann
Ma Rathburn's eyes.
The next morning the pale, nervous father
kissed his wife and babies, took his grip and
started, ostensibly FOR tho Adirondacks;
but il was all over the village before night
that Waldo Rathburn, cashier of the bank
ing house OF harris g. Co., had left for parts
unknown, being az elqbeEzler of thousands
of dollars. The last person 10 find it out
however, was poor, anxious Kezia.
When it all daWned on her stricken soul
she shut herself up in her desolate home
which had, heretofore, never known jar
ring chord, and gathered her wondering
children to her breaking heart, TO weep and
grieve until the soul grew sick with grief.
But society didn't seem to care. Ii only
held up its skirts in a gingerly way and
passed pale little Kezia by. The world