The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-06-22
.Nfother, The wood stoxee,,


to US all rusting away there
Has ne gone, mother"
your father? Why. no, he's busy
with them apricots out by the orchard
wall for
'.No. I don't mean father. 1 mean
Moses Minton Has he gomez"
More than half an hour ago." said
Mrs Ralston. scooping the tea out of a
little iapanned tea-caddy with leisurely
composure.
Comfort turned red, then white. She
made a step toward the door, but al
most instantly checked the movement.
Its no use" she said to herself. Il
must wait until tomorrow.
The morrow's sun was well sloping
on toward afternoon, when Mr.. Raj
ston hurried into the kitchen where his
wife was pricking plums to preserve,
piercing each purple sphere with a re-
lentless fork.
Mother" said he, "be I gettin' blind
as well as deaf, or be / losin' my senses?
If | amt, where's that old sheet-iron
stove as used to be in the corner of the
woodhouse?"
Mrs. Ralston's guilty conscience sent
the red in hot food to her cheeks.
THAT sheet-iron stove, Simeon" said
she. "Why-I sold it!''
sold it." shouted Ralston. when?
Why?"
Yesterday AFTERNOON" said the old
lady. ITO Nose Minton. as goes around
with the rag-and-bottle wagon. 1t
wasn't no use standIn' there-and he
gin me forty-fve cents for it.
''Forty-fve cents roared Ralston.
'FIor-ty-fre-centsi a.
And he rushed franticallv out of the
house
Mercy on me-" said Mrs. Ralston.
SIS father crazy?"
About that time, Mrs. Minton, the
tall and gaunt helpmeet of the itinerant
hero, was down in the cellar of her
house, roofing in the ash drawer of the
identical wood stove which her husband
had bought yesternight; while Comfort
Ralston, upstairs, awaited the result of
her Investigations with a palpitating
heart.
Here it is!'' said Mrs Minton. "A
fat packet o papers, And it's good
thing you thought of it afore Nose had
carted it off,
Quick, Give it TO mer' fiuttered Com
fort, as she caught sight of her fathers
figure trudging up the lane. Let me
get away before father comes, Mind,
Mrs. Minton, not word of this TO
him."
And away she ran, disappearing into
the pine wood before Mrs. Minton could
realize what it all meant.
Well. | never!' said Mrs. Minton
Then it's true that she and Ben Blifil
are engaged ag in her fathers wishes,
And these is love letters. Well, | do
declare, Nobody needn't never tell me
that there amt no romance, even in the
rag-and- bottle business
Then entered Mr. Ralston. painting
and perspiring with the haste he had
made
BE you Mis- Minton?" was his cnrt
address.
Yes. please. sir said the old WON
an, smoothing her stiffiy starched white
apron.
Your husband bought sheet-iron
stove at our place yesterday-the Raj
stOn farm-didn't he?H
Yes. sir. little timidly. TITS in
his way Of business. Won know. sir"
Yes. / know. But there was pack
age Of papers in the pipe-ioint-"
No. sir. it Wa n't." said Mrs Miuton.
temporarily thrown off her guard at
was in the ash-drawer. for"
And then. remembering herself, she
her lips close together and grew
very red
Where is the stove?" CALCULATED Raj
ston.
Down cellar. sir said Mrs Minton.
Look for yourself I'm sure | don't
want nothin' to do with none Of your
papers"
And down rushed Simeon In half
minute he returned, evidently much re-
ieved.
They were-iu the ash-draver. said
he. and your husband must Ia
hanged en- around. declare. be-
tween NEEDING men and NEEDING
women. I'm most ruined"
Dear me gasped Mrs. Nintou.
cooking feebiy after him as he strobe .
away There amt neither begiunin
lor end 70 al this fuss What Will !
Moses say when he comes EoTne97
Once IN his own room a. home Mr. /.
@talston fitted on BIS spectacIe> and +
aurrjedlv opened the fateful package
''Feugh.7 ne cried. dropping i in d - /
nay. It's raei, q love letters. My
'wn love. My dearest treasure Yours +
,ntii death What ere these? And +
where's nlv FIVE United States bonds
or . Thousand dollars each
He was answered sooner 1b.n he had +
for while the exclamation f
-et hos erred on his lips CON fort r1ishes. +
Rs with ca 'ed bands
Father, she cried. here i some
hing that belougs 10 yog. SINE gov
Tn-aent bends With your name on
aem, And oh. where Gid ron ges
sens letters
-'Bea'> letters. chr said she Old ulan.
SLOW ssise brrakjue ove- lis face.
We'll here they Ie. i far exchange
II. Ro robbe~s
Father the girls bead .l~oopcs. on
IS shoulder. the tea~S spaTszied II her
yes 'you Snow i ali uo= Ne Iore
sach ether We shall Dc wretcFeeI IN
IS re car De united Take back VIA,