Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1892-12-31
A TALE OF A CUPBOARD.

"lhe day mas come 66 ldSUb LILY
DOOR wife" he SAID with ineXpressible
sadness
She turned her large eyes to his
face, and there was sorrow in them,
and tears as we'll. "Then Loupeton
will not have any pity on us?"
II could come to no terms with
him. There is only failure . for US In
view, and 1 know not how l shall
have the courage to bear the dis
grace"
With the misery of despair she
came toward him and put her arm
round his neck.
"My poor fellow, not to have fore
seen all this" she said. promise
me, at least, that you will do yourself
no INJURY"
He made no reply, but sat silently
swinging his legs on the edge OF the
sofa.
"You know that have written to
my aunt" she went on, land that 1
expect an answer to-day. Perhaps
she may help us.
He only nodded his head sadly.
ut is best for you to CO." she said.
'1f fail in my efforts to get us out
of this trouble I will come and join
you wherever you may be. Is not
your love for me strong enough to
soften the misery and almost make it
seem SWEET"
"Indeed it is, my love-" pressing a
fond kiss on her forehead.
She drew him toward her and coax
1ngly folded her arms round him as
he lay against the folds OF her dress.
There was silence broken only by
signs He was the first to speak.
In a voice broken with emotion, he
said:
stNever, never! 1t would be mad
ness to commit suicide when we love
one another as we do"
This little conversation took place
between Mr.. and Mrs. Pistache. They
were in a coy little room, and through
the open windowSthis April morning
they could hear the birds singing IN
the almond trees
Mr.. and Mrs. Pistache kept mod
est wine store, which, in spite Of
their hard-working, painstaklng bab-
It's, had not proved success. Per-
haps they were too kind-heartet too
credulous, willing to allow too much
credit to their customers.
Among their creditors was one par
ticularly vindictive fellow, named
Loupeton, a wine dealer. 1t was his
continual pressing for money that had
finally brought about the discontinue
of the unhappy couple.
Pistache put on his coat without a
word; pressed his wife fondly to his
heart and left secretly for Castelnan.
dry, where, as agreed, they we're to
rejoin each other if no way Of escape
should offer.
Hardly had the door closed behind
him when she sat down and wrote a
note to the blacksmith, Cassemiche,
saying that she wanted to speak with
him at once. For only three days be.
fore she had got her aunt's letter say.
ing she would not lend them a sou.
Cassemiche was her last resource,
and she had not dared to mention ii
to her husband. And In this she had
shown her wisdom. CasSemiche ad
mired her. And as for her, she only
hoped to soften his hard heart, but
could she tell how far the sacrifice
would lead her? She dreaded to think
of it all, but she was determined tc
get as much out of him as possible
with the least coaxing Of coquetry.
For she really did love her husband.
With a demure, playful air she tied
her beautiful hair in a knot above
her neck, and moistened her fine
brown eyes with water till they
sparkled again, and the eyellds looked
like the peGals Of rose. She put
on her best dress-one she had not
worn for long, long time, and thu!
prepared she sat and waited for the
blacksmith's arrival.
Presently step sounded outside
and Cassemiche entered. He looked
clumsy and awkward in an ill-flttins
overcoat, and his face wore a satisfied
little smile of self-congratulation.
IL
.'You know what your friend Loupe
, ton has done for us, ~ she began sadly
'C2n you not intercede for US anG
save my poor Pistache from this dis
graoe?'
The blacksmith were thoughtful
look On his face, such as actors largel!
make use of on the stage.
He took his time about answering
s.Loupeton is very good fellow,
he said. iand am, indeed, his friend
But he would sooner offend me thar
lose red cent for being nice to me-
"What are ne to do. then?"
"Why, pay the debt, OF course. m!
dear Nine. Pistache; pay it."
"You know we have no money"
so smile spread over the black
smiths features, az he murmured:
.sPerhaps it Il your own fault"
Feeling that the current OF hi
thoughts was neither to be changet
nor turned aside. she made bold to q
straight 70 the point