The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1891-07-16
hER HERO HUSBAND.
Tie Was OF Moro Value to Her Dond Tina.
Alive.

Tie Was OF Moro Value to Her pond Thar
Alive.
The widow McFlibbcrt went into Mr.
Peck's grocery store on the goth OF May
to make some purchases.
Mr.. Peck had been hanging out 1ars
In honor of the approaching Memoria'
day and the sight of the national en-
blcms awakened in Mrs, McFliLbert'.
breast many tender rccollections.
Putting her handkerchief to her eyes
she sobbed;
80, Mr., Peck, the sight Of those flag.
always makes me cry"
"Nhy?" asked the grocer.
They make me think of my dear
brave hero husband"
'Ilc was Il soldier, was hc?"
"Ics; a brave and n true soldier who
dice on the battlefield. You knew my
dear Dennis, didn't you, MIR. Shotoff?'
Mrs. Mcflibbcrt directed this question
to IA man who was sitting on the end OF
the counter and listening to the conver
sation.
90, yes; / knew him well, | fought
in the same battle in which he wa
killed"
i'1' alt olNu llht II nero uU tttIIVS'
burg" added the widow, between sobs.
YES" Shotoff went on, reminiscent
ly, lit was about two years after
volunteered that Dennis McFlibbcrt
was drafted and sent to the front. He'd
lodged the conscript officers quite
awhile, hadn't ht?"
The hcro's widow looked slightly
PINNED at this, but said nothing.
ut is my rccollcction-corrcct me IL !
crr-that Dennis had been living in
Canada for quite awhile, to avoid mil.
itary service. and was nabbcd on one OF
his visits home, Is that corrcct?'
Dennis wa a kind and indulgcnt
husband, sir, said the widow, with dig
nifty and irrclCvancy.
81 believe he did indulge - in intoxi-
eating liquors - u tritie more than wa,
good for him. lie came from Canada
on the occasion | nam, to get from YOU
some of TIL money yuu had slvrl NJ
by taking in washing. Am | right
You are downright insulting, sir
Not at all. ! wa merely ~corroh,rat-
ing your statement about his bcinr an
;ndulgcnt husband. 1t is my rccollcc.
ton that you had been obliged to sap.
port him for several years before the
war broke out,
SIP
'Didn't he make your life a burden
and didn't you often threaten to get u
Givorcc?'
The widows tears were all dry by
this time, and she was very red in tAa
face. still Shotof proceeded:
Hadn't You gone homo to your
mother three separate times, each time
declaring that no power on earth coul(
make .you live with him again?'
Mr.. Shotnf. this is too much
And don't you get So n month from
the government now on account of be-
ing his widow? And isn't he of vastly
more value to you dead than he evei
was alive?"
You are no gentleman" exclaimed
the indignant woman, as she hurricdly
left the store
You We're rather hard on her, weren't
you?' asked the grocer after she had
gone.
Not too hard, replied Shotoff. ''I'vc
heard her talk about her hero husband
until am weary. ! could stand it first
rate till she appealed to mo for corrob.
Grafton, and then my sense of justice
impelled Inc to tell the truth. The war
was the greatest benefit in the world ia
her. You see the governments paying
Il good deal more for the life of Dennis
Mcflihbcrt than it was worth. Why
the m is crazy TO marry again, but
she is afraid she'll get another husband
rs worthless as her dead hero, and have
to give up her pension
And ShotoT became so agitated that
he ahscnt-m;nde ilv broke off half /;
pound Of Mr.. pcck's cheese and ate il
to the accompaniment of four soda
crackers. - William Henry Sivitcr, il
Life.