Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1888-06-07

shabby old muslin and fisherman
hat, sat tanning herself.
$50 you've come at last?" asked
Mrs. Boerum. Il confess had giver
you up"
"Well, Twas long time coming
said the woman, ''but better late thsn
never"
''Indeed," said Mrs. Boerum, shortly
''that't your opinion. Is it? Well, I've
got tired waiting for you, and don't
want you now"
The fat woman laughed.
Il saw your husband going past to.
day." said she. land called out: d
say, Boerum, tell your wife I'm coming
just when get good and ready.
never put myself out for anybody.
He just laughed. She'll be glad to see
you whenever you do come, said he. -
Il confess 1 never met so impertinent
a person BEFORE" said Mrs. Boerum,
drawing herself up. "You should have
apologized and asked me when you
might come after disappointing me. l
want nothing to do with you now or
henceforth," and she turned her back
on the stout lady.
THAT don't sound like joking" said
the latter. '.Am 1 to understand you
seriously, ma amp
EYES," replied Mrs. Boerum. "And
now you can 60. for of all unbearable,
set-up, INDECENT creatures 1 ever met
you are the worst
"You appear to be crazy" said the
stout woman, coolly. us she, Maria?
That, or intoxicated, l should say.
''Well, I'm off. I certainly never had
an experience like this before. Poor
Boerum! he must have a nice life of it.
Good by, Maria"
And the stout woman marched, her
fisherman's hat flying, her loose shoes
crunching down the gravel walk; and
Mrs. Boerum drew a big breath, looked
at Maria, who. steadying herself against
the wall, stared at her and said:
whats the matter?"
Il never didr' cried this handmade
en-. 1.-The idea! How burst you talk
that way to her? Twas all goosefesh
with fright. Why, l dunno noao where
[ be, I'm SO obfusticated; and she'll 60
and tell every living soul how you
talked, and they'll wonder at you from
now to doomsday. She ain tnever been
spoke so to before"
thine she was, then," said Mrs.
Boerum. If a woman goes out wash
ing, she ought to keep her appoint
ments; or, if she is really kept at home
by something necessary, apologize re-
spectfully to her employer. 1 sha'n't
put up with such things, if the rest of
the ladies do, not if go without any
washing at ALL"
Maria staggered back against the
wall again.
Lawful sakes!' she cried. "Did
you think that was Mrs. Sudds?'
"Of course. You told me so, Maria"
said Mrs. Boerum, with sudden
change in her voice, and sudden hor.
ror in her eyes.
II didn't. Mrs. Boerum; cause I
xnowed BETTER" said Maria. "Why,
that was Mrs. Sampson Butterpat, Mrs.
Boerum. l thought everybody knowed
her,"
''Mrs. Sampson Butterpat, in a faded
blue lawn and a fisherman's hat!'
painted Mrs. Boerqm.
'Yes'm," said Maria. 'She dresses
how she chooses in hot weather. She
says she can we'll afford it, bein' worth
two millyun. Everybody knows Mrs.
Sampson Butterpat's ways. Why, if
you'd talked that way to Mrs. Sudds,
she'd have smacked you in the face, or
'uthin. Mrs. Butterpat couldn't,
cause she was a lady,"
''Put me to bed, Maria" said Mrs.
Boerum, in faint, little voice. I'm
lying" and tainted in the young
arms,
When she came to herself she had
been ill three days, quite out of her
mind most of the time. Lots of bottles
stood on the table. Maria was tanning
her, and a stout lady. in a shabby blue |
wrapper, was sitting on the foot of the !
bed.
'Oh!' moaned Mrs. Boerum, draw
ng the sheet over her head; for it was
Mrs. Butterpat.
She'll be all right now," she heard
hat lady say. ''It's only nasty
lttack of malaria from wading in the
,ond after water-lilies. I'll be in again
n two hours, and bring some calves
eet jelly. Don't be frightened, Maria
Most people are delirious with it. Poor
hing! how dreadfully out of her mind
he was the day called"
'Stark crazy, Mrs. Butterpat, said
daria, ''she took you for Mrs. Sudds."
land was quite out Of temper. I
lidn't understand" said Mrs. Butterpat
atching up her big fisherman's hat.
Mrs. Sudds would never wears this,
would she? Ha! ha! Well, now, take
are of her until come back"
''Wonderfully better" said the doc
or, that afternoon, but you've been
veil nursed."
And Mr.. Boeram had a great deal to
ay in the city about the ''great kind
ess of Mrs. Butterpat during Mrs.
'oerum's illness" And Maria, as she
rushed her lady's long hair on the
rst day of her actual convalescence,
to her:
Wasn't it lucky, Mrs. Boerun.. you
hould have took the chills when you
ide 1t jest saved you by the skin Of
our teeth. Hilary Kyle Dallas, tn N
!. Ledger.