Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-10-17

That's pretty little new wife o.
yours, MIR. Akin" said he. ''And as
smart as steel, too, though she is my
niece,''
Yes" said Jonas, with modest ex-
uitation, II calculate she'll be helpful
like around the farm. We need stir
ring woman at home"
Not too helpful. Hope" said Uncle
Prickett.
''Eh?" said Jonas.
Look here" said Uncle Prickett.
"Sir?" stammered Jonas.
''Fond of her, eh?' questioned Uncle
Prickett
You bet ami Jonas promptly re-
sponded.
Then don't murder herr
Murder herr
Look here again" And Uncle
Prickett drew Jonas towards the win
dow. dye see the church-yard over
there on the hill?'
Jonas shivered little.
"Yes," said he, Il see it. Them
white stones gleamin' through the
trees. amt it?''
My wife lies there" said Uncle
Prickett.
'Indeedl" said Jonas, a little un-
easily.
Il killed herl' said Uncle Prickett.
Jonas started back.
''Eh?" he exclaimed a second time.
Don't look at me that way" said
Uncle Prickett. II didn't stab her,
nor poison her. 1 loved her, young
man. just as well as you love yo1r
wife. And yeti killed her. Do you
want to know how it was done?"
Jonas stared at him. Had the man
gone crazy?
"WorEr" said Uncle Prickett. Hard
work! We were proud of the farm
and of the dairy. We liked to add
premiums at the county fairs. We
added up our bank account every night.
Jenny was as anxious to save money
as | was. She rose at three o'clock in
the morning, and sat up sewing until
eleven at night. Well, here's the farm,
and there's the bank account; but Jen-
ny lies buried under the biggest gray
shaft on yonder side hill. She died
the day before her twenty-ninth birth
day, and 1 knew just as well as if a
coroner's inquest had said so that had
been her death"
mo. no." pleaded Jonas. Don't say
that"
LAS true as stand here" said Uncle
Prickett. Il should have been careful
OF her. A woman amt an iron ma
chine. l should have cherished her
amt that what the Marriage Service
says?-instead of letting her work her
self into decline. What sort O. good
do you suppose all that money does me
noU? She amt here to share it with
me. Now you know what mean, young
man."
And Uncle Prickett turned on his
heel and went out of the room.
Lefty" he said to his niece, who
was gathering the first ripe raspber-
ries that grew on the sunny garden
wall, 1--we been giving your husband
a word of advice. I've been telling
him he mustn't let you work yourself
to death. like your Aunt Jenny did"
''Do you think he needs advice. Uncle
Prickett?"
'All young men do at one period or
another of their lives" said Mr.. Prick
EFT.
1t was of Saturday night when Jo-
mas brought his bride home. Mrs.
Green, the nearest neighbor, had been
helping around the house, and had
prepared savory supper. The even
ing meal was scarcely concluded, when
a wagon drove up to the door, and out
stepped stout Welsh girl, with a bum
die under her arm, and a yellow cot
ton umbrella.
who's this?" said Mrs. Akin. view
ing the new arrival with disfavor.
Its the hired help" Jonas an
swered.
The hired help! Why, thought
you'd got married To-"
'The fact is, mother" said Jonas.
kindly, I've sort O. changed my mind
about some things. You'Ue most killed
yourself with hard work. You never
would have got this rheumatism fast
ened on you if you hadn't stuck to it
you'd whitewash the cellar yourself
that damp spell in May. and l mean
Lefty shall start on different plat
form. We amt rich, but we can afford
to live comfortable, and l don't mean
my wife shall lose her round cheeks
and fresh color. She'll find enough to
do, without turning into a drudge; and
so I've hired Joan Llannis for year"
Mrs. Akin uttered hollow groan.
Il do believe you've gone crazy"
said she. I'VE shall all go to the poor
house together"
But they did not. Joan Llannis
proved domestic treasure, especially
as nurse-in-chief to the poor old rheu-
matte invalid. Lefty was an excellent
manager, and Mrs. Akin was unwil-
lingly forced to confess that every
thing throve under her administration,
and that the hired girls wages was the
best investment Jonas had ever made.
At the years end Jonas celebrated
the anniversary of his wedding-day by
taking Lefty up to Prickett Falls again.
Look at her, Uncle Prickettr' said
he. See her red cheeks and her
dimples. Haven't l taken your adj
vice."
You have" said Uncle Prickett,
land I'm glad of it. And often think
Of trrn linos I onna road in one of Ian-