Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-11-02
DESERTED.

Mrs. Eliphalet Johnson was very hard
working woman-even her next door
neighbors admitted that.
Her chimney blackened the soft morn
ing air as early as any in town; her wash
futtered white under the apple boughs
long before breakfast-that is, before Eli
phalet's breakfast
Eliphalet kept store. He 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 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 a customer
came in who wanted not seat but serv.
ice, Mr.. Eliphalet johnson would tip back
his chair 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 servile 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 "theres lady over at
Clark's, Miss Burton, who wants board
in private family, and 1 told her she
could come here. 1 knew the spare room
was suitable, and one more or less wouldn't
make any difference to you"
"But 1 wanted mother for awhile this
summer" urged Maria "She'd be such
help pTescrvin and with the baby"
"Well, l don't want your mother" said
he, mot by a 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, 'Liphalet, where'd you get thisP"
she exclaimed.
"Sold the river lot, he answered an1
tipped back in his chair to its 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.
" fat fn mn hnf hp n Tod
and never meant to have had it sold III
the world"
You don't know nothin about bust
ness and never will, " said Eliphalet. but
now yod pay 'tention to this and see il
you can understand it.
"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 i,
that I've got creditors who might cleaI
me out at any time, but if can tide owe,
this year I'll get over it all right.
"For this year the hull property's in
your NAME and mono of my creditors can
touch it. Seer AS to that lot 'twasn It no
more yours than this house was or the
farm-they all come from your father-bui
when you married me it made 'em mine,
and it ought to.
"a man supports the family. He's go,
to hold the property. But for this year il
in your name"
The year passed slowly. Mrs johnson
grew to understand somewhat of tho value
of her position and to do moro and mort
of the business.
In truth, though she never owned tt
her most intimate friend that . 'Liphalei
drinked!" this sad fact was now becoming
painfully apparent.
Much had Mrs. johnson suffered in the
10 years of her laborious marriage. She
had worked on the average 10 hours day
and lost much sleep besides. She had put
into the family all its real estate and real
ly 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 DO blessing
in disguise That was the lady boarder
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 tho
absolute prohibition of all brain work for
three months she had brought with her q
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.
Cling woman and seeing the responsible.
ties Of life with wider reach, urged upon
her new view of her duties to her chill
dren and the world.
Wherefore it came to pass that when
Eliphalet walked up one morning very lato
indeed, after 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 sobered by surprise, he arose
and searched the house.
No wife, no child, no boarderl
And a 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
it was set forth that if he gave up drink
ing and became a self supporting citizen
she would gladly receive him again as q
husband-on her own terms.