Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1890-02-02

flagstaff, ON the side of the FIRE. + was
a little three cernersd room, Wi1ny's
Kitchen, with rows Of tins, and strings
Of brown onions and scarlet peppers
along the white wan On one side was
the door to Uncle Ben's room-on the
other, the door TO hers. The supper
table was set, the muffin rings waiting,
the sausages ready TO fry. She hurried
in to straighten her collar and tie again
the ribbon in her soft brown hair. and
when she had hurried out again she
could think Of nothing else 70 do, or wish
for that night or for ske rest Of her life.
Leonard was coming; in week this
would be his home!
Uncle Ben, who was very skillful at
carving, had made dogs head wooden
knooker for the door. with Heath" COM
ing out of the mouth. It was his little
joke to greet them when they came back
from church on their wedding day.
There was scunaing of feet scrapins
the mud off at the door presently, and
Joe and his wife Bessy came in Just to
see the busts set out. No, they wouldn't
stay; thsy wouldn't spoil LENS surprise.
But Was there ever girl as handy as
Winny?" And although they had been
in the secret all along since the day that
the Italian boy Seppy began to show
Winay how to mix the clay, and had
both sat breathless over the oven while
pagan gods and Christian saints baked
harmoniously together. they went over
them all again, admiring even FfoFa's
snub nose and an unfortunate leer in the
eyes of St. Paul.
''Thers some very life like touches ther,
Winny," said Joe, critically. you've
give them the look of people I've mowed.
It's good work
'sIt's genius, is what I'd call it," eiacu-
lated Uncle Ben.
I'm sure don't care for myself, said
Winny. Il don't know now as Leonard
would like to marry a genius. But this
is what think of Joe"-putting her fat
hand on his shoulders. eth be very
pleasant for me, when he's hamme,ing
in the shop yondsr, to have my paddle
in the cellar here, and help keep the
wolf from the door with it. OF course,
if I've got the genius, so much the bet
ter"-her dimpiing face growing pink.
'-But even as it is, the plasters pay three
times as much az shop work"
"Ah, now you talk to the point" cried
Mrs Joe. ''When you've been married
as long as have, you'll learn to count
the pennies. Genius is good in its way,
but it's poor stuff to make the pot boil,
or to put turnips in iti'
cts you for hard sense. Bessw Joe
nodded significantly to the others. There
was q moments respectful silence. for by
dint Of the daily firing Of such hard,
bullety maxims among them, Mrs Joe
had begun to be a power in the family,
and was regarded as holding the tight
rein of common sense over the Heath
affairs in general, though there was
really as much frmness in the fair.
pudgy little woman as in q bowlful of
sweet jelly.
''Here's Lem cried Joe, as quick un-l
certain step ratified on the board walk.
without. Lets be off, Bess. We won't
spoil Winny's plans -hurrying her to
the door, while she and Winny pecked
kisses at each other, and chatted about
Besss baby's collie to the last breath,
Len!'-giving him pound on the back
as he passed them in the narrow path.
Been Numbering about that musty old
house till now, thinking of the glory of
the Heaths, EN-? Be early at the shop in
the morning, mind"
s'Joe?" after they had gone On a rod or
two.
Eyes"
"Good-by," holding out his hand.
"Good-by. Why, what sils your
Your hands as dry and hot rs punk.
Not touch of your chills back, hey?"
dragging him to the light, anxiousiy.
Nothing ails me-" peevishly. Good
by, Elizabeth. You've been good and
kind to me since you were Joes wife. IN
not forget it. Your bread shall~return
to you from the waters. The Heashs
were never ungrsteful."
I'm sure of that, Lenny. But I don't
want my bread back. %
He stood still. pressing both their
hands. Il wish-I feel terribly Alone"
he said. ''No matter. The old knights
went out alone, and came back victors."
YOU'D better go in and eat Winny's
muf1ins," said Joe, shortly.
Goodnight, Joe. Some day you will
better understand me-"
''Poor Winnyl What With the aero
and laziness, LENS tempers is CROWN
more than flesh and blood cen stand"
said Mrs. Joe, as they walked on.
You're generally just to him, Bess-
Hes a real genius, Leonard is; he cant
De judged by our rules. And there's a
sort OF spell about that house, there's no
aenyin' it. If the shop turns out we'll,
we'll move into town ourselves in few
years, and go live near it. We Hea1hs
nev a right to that much"
The will-o'-the- wisp, which was lead
ing Len into the swamp, had so much
ielusive glitter, even in the solid black
smiths eyes.
'It's nothing hit the ague workin'
with him. l Doubt said Bess, going
back to Len.
Leonard was inside of the kitchen by
this time; the g,1nd tableau had been
the Flora and Baochas, and
the virgins with the meliowing scorch,
and the sallow candles burning away at
either end. Cncle Ben had been hurry
ing out, hearing him coming, but Winny
had stopped him. "Ill be In the way,
little gal"