The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1892-12-24
up. ana on. 0, Ka,e'. a-roas t.,t.n.,


10 him, Carl rushed our IN sca-ca CT
his boy. He finally found him in tho
chickea-house, breaking tho china nest
eggs with q hatchct he had picked up
near the wood pile. oarl was dis
posed TO give his son thrashing but
remembering that it was the day of
all days in watch ne must be calm. he
took up the child and carried him in
the house, where he found Grace busi-
" engaged in creeping through the
dirt that he had swept up, and scatter
ing il broadcast over the room. At
sight of this. Carts nerves quivered,
and he gave tho broom a kick that
sent it flying across the room. and the
handle, coming in contact with an
earthen cuspidore Clipped piece out
OF til e rim.
What was that. Carl9' asked Kate
from the bedroom feebly.
oh nothing at a =" answered Carl.
gulping down his wra h. you lie still
and don't worry about me. I'm get
ting along splendidly." Picking up
the broom he swung it over the carpet
few times, and gathering up the dirt
he concluded that that was good
enough TO suit him and II her
people didn't like it, they could do 1t
over.
1t was an hour before lunch tine,
and Carl sat down TO go through the
morning paper. He mentally assured
himself that he had not found il very
tiresome TO do the morning work. He
had read ABOUT nan nouf wncn Kate
disturbed him by asking what the
children were dong. lie had not
thought of the children since he began
reading. He found them in TIE l,itch-
en-. Somehow Harold had got q bottle
OF mucilage, and he was engaged in
polishing his sisters shoes with its
contents when their father came upon
them. Carl smilel in weak. spirit
less way. aud removing the baby's
shoes. SET them aside ITO be cleaned
by Kate
After luncheon. when Carl came TO
wash the dishes, he found the novelty
OF the situation had worn OF, and he
did not move about the room as nc
lively as he had in the forenoon. The
children were peevish and mischievou4.
They wanted their afternoon nap and
once, when Carl had stopped into the
dining-room, Harol, climbed up INTO
9 chair and leaning on the kitchen
table. tinpei # until tho pan Of dish
water slipped OF and spilled over the
hocr. BY the time Carl had reached
the kitchen. Grace had crcp. into the
pool OF water and hor clothes were
saturated.
Carls calmncss was seriously dis
turbel, and closing the kitchen door.
he punished Harold severely. Grace
did not relish this treatment Of her
brother and tho bowling Of the two
children fairly made Carls teeth
chatter He soon had dry clothes on
Grace. and tucsing the sobb!ng call
dreu into their crib. he went about
his work.
IN have little peace, he
tbouPht while they are asleep. aud
he became conscious OF still small
voice within him which weakly as
serted after all. Kate had good many
things to contend with, OF which he
had known nothing.
1t was three o'clock in the afternoon
when Carl had finished the work and
he had just seated himself for the pr
pose OF resuming HE paper when the
children awokc. 'GrttIug his tcctt
almost sayagely Carl threw down The
paper and gave his attention to the
children. There's one thing that
Kate does" he thought that | will
not do, for don't think It isright, and
that is TO sit around the house and
hold the children, when they might
just US well be taught to amvse them
selves Placing Grace on the foo
and instructing Harold 10 play with
her Carl took up his paper. The
children gradually found their way in
to the sitting-room. Carl was deeply
interested in an account of the discov-
cry OF rich silver deposit in Coiora-
do when a era b in the sitting-room
brought him to his feet. With Il bound
he was at the door and the scattered
remains OF costly vase that he had
given Kate on the day of their mar
riage. lying on tlns floor met his eye,
Grace had caught the covering OF the
table upon which it stood and pulled it
of. Shivcring with fright at the dis
aster Harold had concealed himself be-
hind the sofa; while the baby, unable
TO conceive the extent OF the damage
that she had done, sat in the midst Of
the debris and looked smilinCly up in
TO tho white face of her father.
Carl shook with passion. Tic shiv-
cred vase on tho floor called to his
mind. the day, years before. when he
had led Kate to the altar and made
her his wife and his companion. On
that day he had promised to love and
protect her and to give her his sym
patty in the time OF trouble. Had he
done this? Had he done his duty?
This was the question that arose in
Carl's heart and turning away from
the sight OF the vase he went to the
bedside Of his wife and frankly told
her how his eyes had been orened to
his Shortcomings; how selishness had
devoured him, and how blind he had
grown to his duties and, her wants.