Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1892-06-03
JOHN wEsrON's WIFE.

JOHN WESTON'S WIFE.
sI wish YOU would let me have the
money, John"
II tell you no, 1 cannot spare it;
besides she does not need Il white
dress. Ii women had their way every
cent a man can earn would he spent
on tlnery and foolishncss. Ii. Grace
is not contented to wear something
she has to this trumpery picnic, let
her stay at home: and l am not sure
but that would be best anyway"
ssBut, John, she really needs IL new
dress; / have turned and rcmadc
everything that l could possibly use.
Ii you have not the money to spare
let me get it at Graham's, and you
cal pay it when you come home"
II won't have it: now don't you go
to getting it after l am gone. Wait.
I'll fix it. Grace" he called to Il
young girl in the yard, s'mind, you
are not to go to the picnic at all. DO
you hear"
"Yes; but, oh, papa, 1 am to take
lJ0h ~ ~ tltAts l.
sit don't matter what you prom
iscd. l saw you shall not so, and that
ends it. I'll see if l am to he beg
CARED for Il woman's fol-lols. Re-
member" he said, turning to his wife,
81 said she could not go, and 1 expect
to be obeyed."
"You shall be-" she answered
quietly. 81 have never taught her
to disobey you: and 1 shall not begin
now"
BETTER not" he returned roughly
and walked away.
Alice Weston watched until he was
out of sight, then turned and went
slowly toward the house.
A on%e-storied log house, ugly and
u%ninviting save for the poisoning
flowers about it, rose before her; and
from its low door a slender delicate
girl of fourteen came with wet eyes
and flushed face, saying pitifully:
sis it not too cruel, mamma. How
can l bear it?"
"Try to bear it bravcly, darling.
Mamma will help you" And, with
her arms around her weeping daugh-
ter, Alice Weston sat down upon the
low door-stone and thought.
Seventeen years before, she. pretty
Allie Lewis. had married John Wes-
ton. Her mother was dead, and her
father had come West with them. and
purchased 200 acres of rich. but UNI
improved land. 1t had been cheap.
the entire cost only ST, 600; but it had
taken another thousand to stock it,
and to build the little house and
barn.
Mr.. Lewis and john agreed very
we'll and Alice had been contcnted.
Three years later baby Grace came,
and Grandpa Lewis holding the wee
one in his arms said:
"Thank Heaven, Alice, you and
baby will always have Il home, what
ever happens. When 1 am gone teach
the little one to love my memory. I"
"Why, certainly. father" said
Alice cheerfully, .if need be; but you
will probably teach her to love you
yourself. You may live to hold her
babies on your knee"
But three months later the old
man went to his long home. John at
once took the management Of things
into his own hands, and Alice natur-
ally quiet. and absorbed in a e.
months old babe, offered no protestto
his assumption that everything was
now his; and most of their neighbors
would have been astonishcd to learn
that the farm really belonged to her.
The Lighthouse and barn had been
very well for pioneers, when they
were just beginning; but, as years
passed, a thriving little town sprang
up near, and a railroad wound its
serpent-like track across one corner
of the farm.
They had prospcred, too, in other
ways; had little sickness and good
haryests, and every year John had
gone to b to deposit the yearly
profits. The barn had long ago given
way to a better, more commodious
structure: and Alice had often pleaded
for a new house, but John was
adamant, and scoffed at the idea.
So Alice yielded, though feeling his
injustice; for all labor-saving imple-
ments for farm use had been freely
purchased, and help for himself was
never wanting; but since baby Grace
was three months old she had never
had a stroke of help in the house.
Johns parsimoniousness was grow
ing upon him. He seemed to have
sunk all other considerations, and
bent all his energies to making
money. 1t was difficult even to get
him to provide suitably for the table.
II the provisions were out, or their
wardrobes needed replenishing Alice
was made to feel that she was per-
sonally responsible for the matter,
yand the family felt his d%ispleasure for
days over every trihing expenditure.
Thinking Of all this, with her sob
bling child in her arms, small wonder
If her reflections were a little bitter,
or that then and there, she decided
upon a course of action. And her set
lips and earnest eyes left no doubt
but that she would adhere to that
decision. Your quiet, self.contained
49,