People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1894-06-23
CHAPTER ".
Ralnh RaYmond's Heir.

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was sitting at the breakfast table
with his wife opposite him. Mrs.
Morton was ten years younger
than her husband. She had belonged |
to a proud but poor family, and had |
married from no impulse of affec-
ton, but because she considered |
Mr.. Morton a rich man who could |
give her a luxurious home. No |
sympathy need be wasted upon her,
for she had very little heart and !
lived only for 6stentation. There
had been very little domestic har-
mony between the two She had
shown herself lavishly extravagant
even beyond her husbands means,
and any tendency on his part to curb
her extravaganza was met by biting
sarcasm, and an exhibition OF i'll
temper which soon compelled him to
surrender at discretion. Mr.. Morton,
of whose personal appearance l have
not yet spoken. was in appearance
fifty-fOur years old, though he was
really several years younger He
had lost nearly all his hair, retain
ing only a few locks on either side
of his head. There was lurtive
look about his eyes calculated to in
spire distrust. He seemed reluctant
to look one full in the face.
We'll, Mr.. Morton" said his wife,
leaning back in her chair, have you
brought me the money l asked for
/ Yesterday
/ NO." said Mr.. Morton uneasily,
for he knew that this reply would
elicit a storm.
"And why not, | should like to
know" she exclaimed, with flash
ing eyes. Don't pretend to say
you forgot II, for won't believe any
such nonsense"
No, didn't forget it. Mrs. Nor
ton," said her husband, "but the
fact is, it was not convenient for me
to bring it."
mot convenient! What do you
mean by that, Mr.. Morton?" ex-
claimed the lady in an angry voice.
ut is just as | say. Business is
very dull and money is tight"
That is what you always say"
said Mrs. Morton, curling her lip.
Whether do or not, it is true
enough now. | wish it wasn't"
Il only asked for hundred dol
lars. Surely that would make no
difference in your business"
That is where you are mistaken.
If you will be kind enough to re-
member how often you call upon me
for such trihes, and have a head for
arithmetic, you can estimate what
they will amount to in the course Of
a year"
80 you refuse, do you?" exclaimed
Mrs Morton in deep anger.
ii do; and for very good reason. "
"Give me your reason then.
should like to judge of it myself"
Then | will tell you without re-
serve what | had not intended to
mention. In all my mercantile ca
reer | was never in such danger Of
ruin as at present The dull times
at which you sheer have proved very
disastrous to me. 1t is all l can do
to keep my head above water. Every
day | fear that the crash will come,
and that instead of being able to
afford you this establishment, | shall
be obliged to remove into some
humble dwelling in Brooklyn, and
seek for a position as clerk or book
keeper How would you fancy this
change, madam? Yet it is at such a
time you harass me with your I'M
reasonable demands for money. II ]
am ruined, it will be some satisfac-
tion that you, who have had so much
to do with bringing it on, are con-
PEELED to suffer its Inconvenience
with me-"
Mrs. Morton turned pale while he
was speaking, for she had never
known anything OF her husbands
business affairs, and supposed that
such thing as his failure was i'm
possible.
Mrs. Morton was for a brief time
silent She hardly knew how to an
swer; at last she said, There's your
sick friend up stairs. Isn't he q
rich mani"
Yes" ....... ..
[To BE CONTINUED