The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-12-27
DESERTED.

neighbors admitted that.
Her chimney blackened the soft morn
ing air az early as any in town; her wash
duttered white under the apSle boughs
long before breakfast-that is, before Eli
phalet's breakfast.
EIiphalet kept store He preferred keep
ing store to farming because he could sit
down more.
In the store IL was all in the way Of
business His customers sat down on ev-
cry available object-the counter, the sug-
ar barrel. the cracker box, even the cask
of molasses, but not on that last until
the counter and other things were full.
The house was over the store. The stairs
connecting the two came down in the end
where the store was, and when customer
came in who wanted not q seat, but serv-
ice. Mr.. Eiiphalet johnson would tip back
his chair a little farther, open the stair
door and say, "Marial''
Then Mrs. johnson would hurry down
and attend to the customer. Mrs. John
son had a good head in q seryile sort Of
way and usually kept the accounts. This
she did after the store was closed and the
children were in bed.
But in spite of all her efforts Eliphalet
got into difficulties He never fully ex-
planned to her what these difficulties were,
but they were such as induced him to
transfer the family bank account and bust
ness liabilities to her name.
This, he explained, with lofty COM
prehensiveness, was merely a matter of
form and quite essential for the safety of
the children.
"And, Maria he added, seeking to
bring the conversation to a more compre-
hensive level, there's a lady over at
Clark S, Miss Burton, who wants board
in private family, and / told her she
could come here. l knew the spare room
was suitable, and one more or less wouldn't
make any difference to you
But l wanted mother for awhile this
summer" urged Maria. "She'd be such
help preservin and with the baby
We'll, l don't want your mother" said
he, mot b. long chalk. And this lady
is to pay 81 a day right along, and you re
to bank it in your name-here's the book.
Maria took the book and looked at it.
Eight hundred dollars was set down al
ready to her credit.
why, 'Liphaiet, where'd you get this!"
she exclaimed.
SOLD the river lot" he answered and
tipped back in his chair to it's farthest,
looking at her with narrowed eyes from
under the rim OF his hat.
A dull red color rose ON Mrs. Johnson's
faded face.
That was my lot" she said slowly.
My father gave it to me before he died,
and l never meant to have had 1t sold in
the world ~
You don't know nothin about bust
n ls-l IS,,x
now you pay 'tention to this and see II
you can understand 1t.
Here's the deeds Of this house, store
and all, and 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 at any time, but if can tide over
this year I'll get over it all right
For this year the hull property's in
your name and none of my creditors can
touch it. Seer AS TO that lot, 'twasn't no
more yours than this house was or the
farm-they all como from your father-but
when you married me 1t made 'em mine
and it ought to.
a man supports the family. He's got
to hold the property. But for this year il
in your name"
The year passed slowly. Mrs. Johnson
grew to understand somewhat of the value
of her position and to do more and more
Of the business
In truth, though she never owned to
her most intimate friend that . 'Liphalet
drinked!'' this sad fact was now becoming
painfully apparent.
Much had Mrs. johnson suffered In the
Is years of her laborious marriage. She
had worked ON the average l5 hours day
and lost mL.ch sleep besides. She had put
into the family all its real estate and real
~ Kept 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 a blessing
in disguise. That was the lady boardcr.
If Mr.. johnson had dreamed of that
worthy woman's real position, he would
never have placed his conservative spare
chamber 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 !.
three months she had brought with her a |.
few little calf bound books from force Of |
habit.
So it CHANGED that Mrs. johnson, in the |
invigorating freshness of new acquaint- /
ances, was led TO read somewhat in the |
penal and civil codes of her native state.
Moreover, the boarder moved by a strong
sense Of human kindness TO this strug-
gang woman and seeing the responsible
ties Of life with wider reach, urged upon
her a new view of her duties to her chill.
dren and the world.
Wherefore it came to pass that when
Elipbaiet walked up one morning very late
indeed, aftera little heavier drinking than
was usual TO him and called vainly, with
quite advanced profanity, for his faithful |
wife, he found her not in attendance.
Somewhat sobercd by surprise, he arose
and searched the house.
No wife, no child, no boarderl
And q little later. to his incredulous
horror and amazement, he discovered that
the house and store, stock, furniture and
farm had been sold over his head. and the
proceeds had disappeared with his wifel
She left him letter, however, in which
Ii was set forth that if he gave up drink
ing and became self supporting citizen
she would gladly receive him again as
husband-on her own terms.
In the meantime she would allow him
$50 a month, 10 be paid TO him personally
On application to her lawyer, whose ad-
lress she inclosed.
For herself she had gone into business
and should do well by the
Elinhalet read the letter repeatedly.
The name of the lawyer confused him.
Elizabeth" said be. Elizabeth Bur
ton Great Scottl''
Then the deserted husband took up the
burden of life.
1t made new man Of him.-San Fran
1