The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-07-10
DESERTED.

Mrs Eiphalet Johnson was very hard
working woman-eveh her nextdoor
neighbors admitted that. Her chimney
backened the soft morning air as early as
any in town; her wash futtered white
under the apple boughs long before break
fast. That is, before Eliphalet'S break
fast.
Ephalet kept store. BE preferred keep
ing store to farming because he could sit
down more. In the store it was all in the
way of business. His customers sat down
on avery available object-tlie counter, the
sugar barrel. the cracker box. even the
,cask of molasses. but not on that last until
fhe counter and dIher things WtTe fNTl.
There were a few CT ; around the
store in the rear ald va political meas
ures were discussed there-matters far be-
vond the reach Of Mrs. Johnson's busy
feminine brain.
The house was over the store. The
stairs connecting the two came down in
the end W here the store was, and wnen a
customer came in who wanted not seat
but service Mr.. Eliphalet johnson would
tip back his chair little further. open the
stair door and say, "Maria!'
THEN Mrs. johnson would hurry down
and attend 70 the customer. Mrs. John
son had a good head IN a seryile sort of
way and usually kept the accounts. This
she did after the store was closed and the
CT lften were in bed.
BGtin spite of all her efforts EIiphalet
got into difficulties. He never fully eX-
ulaned to ter what these difficulties were.
but they were such as Induced him to
transfer the family bank aC.oant and bus l.
ness liabilities to her name.
This, he explained with lofty compre-
hpnsiveness, was merely matter of form.
and quite essential for the safety of the
children.
"ABd Maria" he added, seeking to bring
the conversation to more comprehensive
level, there's lady over at Clark's, a
Mss Burton. who wants board in private
family, and told her she could come here.
| knew The spare room was suitable. and
one more or less wouldn't make any differ
ence 10 YOU.
But I wanted mother for while this
sumner! I" urged Maria. 'She'd be such
help preservil' aud with the baby"
Z iphalet grinned.
We'll. l don't want your MOTHER" said
he: mot by a long chalk. Aud this lady is
to pay a dollar day right along, and
you're TO bank 1t ii your name-hero's the
book"
Maria took the book and looked at it.
Eight hundred dollars we're set down al
read TO her credit.
g" ", 'Liphaiet, where'd you get this ?"
she exclaimed.
sold the river lot" he answered, and
tipped back his chair to its farthest. look
ing at her with narrowed eyes from under
the brim of his hat.
A dull red color rose ON Mrs. J0hnson's
faded face
THAT was my lot." said she slowly.
my father gave it TO me when he died
and l never meant to have had it sold in
the world"
''You don't know nothin' about business
an never will" said Eiphalet. "But now
YOU pay 'tention to this and see if you can
understand il. Here's the deeds of this
house, store an all an all the furniture
and stock. All in your name. Now, the
reason of it is that I've got creditors who
might clean me out any time, but IL l can
tide over this year I'll get over it all right
For this year the bull propeIty's in your
name and none of M creditors can touch
it. See? AS to that lot 'twan't no more
yours than this house was or the farm
they all come from your father, but when
YOU married me it made EN- mine, and it
ought to- man supports the family
He's got to mold the property. But for
this year it's in your name"
The wear passed slowly. Mrs, johnson
grew to understand somewhat OF the value
OF her position and to do more aud more Of
the business
III truth, though Sne never o"u5u W neI
most intimate friend that Lphalet
drinked!" this sad fact was now becom-
ing painfully apparent.
Much had Mrs. Johnson suffered 10 the
fifteen years OF her lab0rious marriage.
She had worked. on the average, fifteen
hours day, and lost much sleep besides.
She had Tut into the family all its real
estate. and really k ut the store She had
borne and reared four children and lost
two, and out of all this she had learned
nothing until what she thought the last
straw turned out to be blessing in dis
gHise. That was the lady boarder. Ii
Mr.. johnson had dreamed of hat worthy
weman's real position he would never
have placed his conservative spare cham
Der at her disposal.
But he did not suspect, and never
learn ed until it was too late.
She was a lawyer. and in spite Of the
absolute prohibition of all brain work for