Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1890-09-06

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8 much f'r m'self, but I'd like t see m,
children safe from it.
Alice seated with bont head)-Oh
! how sweet 1t must be to be free from tn,
fear OF povertyl To feel that you dom
need TO scrimp and pinch. and TURF
dresses and dye feathers. and wear old
shoes; to feel that food will come when
you need 1t; to have tho soul set free for
art. (Leaping up, her face aglow.) But
I'll win yet, mother; feel in my soul
that l have the gift Ill take you out
OF this
Presently Edwards returns, who. after
some chat with Linnie, remarks to his
wife that 1t seems very hot and that it
is absolutely worse than the shop. The
conversation between them gives an
idea OF tho financial condition OF tho
family and the rooms in which thoy are
compelled to live, and incidentally intro
duces some other characters, ending
with the resolution on the part of Ed
wards and his family to 60 west.
Edwards-Why don't you open the
door?
Mrs. Ell can't stand the noise and
smell might, my head aches. Some
times 1t seems s II couldn't bear it,
but think o. people who don't have as
much as we do, and so keep a-goin'.
Edwards walking about)- That's
about the only way, t DO patient 1t
makes me wild sometimes. (Goes to
lounge and drops heavily upon it. Alice
takes fan from the wall and fans him,
stoops and kisses him.
Alice-Poor papa-its dreadful to see
you come home so tired. brushes tho
hair back from his forehead.)
Edwards (bitterly)-It's just ono
eternal grind, not day of. I'm glad
don't believe in another world-I would
mt be sure O. rest after got there.
Mrs. Z. (shocked)-Why, Jason, what
are you sayin'? You must've he'd hard
day in the shop. It's dretful hot f'r the
first week in June.
Edwards (raising to his elbow)-First
week in June! Why, mother, it's just
thirty-two years next week since we |
was married. ID you remember how old
Derry looked that day? Flowers and
berries, and daisies, an birds (rising)-
Why, mother, that was Heaven an We
lidn't know it! Down here in this cussed
Hey we don't know any thing about
Tune, only it makes our tenemcnts hot
er and sicklicr. s'pose the COWS up
here are knee deep in the grass, and
he wind smellin' like the front door O.
Ieaven. We didn't look rr this kind O.
hing when VIC left Derry, did we? We
idn't look forward to tenement?
Mrs. E.-No Jason-but set up an eat
Linnie-Poppa, ! wish VIC could 60 up
4 the real country this summer-you
now you promised
Alice-Sh, Linnie; papa will do his
est.
Edwards (going to the table)-I'll try,
title one, but I'm afraid there amt no
acation for US. The fight gets harder
very year. Oh. I'm too tired to eat ,
ennie. Well, Allie, how'd y come out !,
18th your recital t'day?
Alice quitting her hand in his)-very d.
ell, father; only / wished you were :
lere. :
Edwards-I wisht / could, but I can't. ;
got o keep goin'. Rent an taxes 60 ;
n when l picnic, but wages don't. a.,
Shoves back from the table and sits de- ,
'ctedly.)
Linnie (starting up)-o poppa, man :
ut bill under our door that said rent I.
n it. I'll get it. brings It from the :
,rner, reads it slowly |.
Linnie (reading): :
Dear Sir: At the expiration OF your lease, =
lily J. your rent will be increased five dollars .
n month. Please notify US II you intend to b
main. JOHN N0RCRoss Agent. d
Edwards-Good God! and my wages a
1t down last week. Amt they got no b
ercy, these human wolves? Hain't O
,t all can stand now? Look at it! b
looking at tho walls.) Look at this a
Hotter, rottener, shabbier,
1T rent must 60 up, Jennie! Children!
don't know what / am going to do. / =,
mt see any way out; can see we're
i'm crushed
Linnie (going to him)-Don't cry, s
'ppa, don't mind him. Il
(As Edwards sits thus with bowed n
lad, Julian Berg, pale, student-like n
srman, enters at the door. He is &C. a,
by full-bearded, sinister N
Oking man, who stands in the door
~, stOlidly smoking long pipe. Berg 10
Ids rent billy n,
lTO DE CONTINUED. nj