The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-10-11
DESERTED.

n . hlpnateU johnson was very hard
working woman-even her next door
neighbors admitted that
Her chimney blackened the soft morn
ing air as early any in town; her wash.
hnrtered white under the apple bouqhs
long before breakfast-that is, before Ell.
phalet's breakfast
Eliphalet kept store. He preferred keep
ing store to farming because he could Sic
down more.
In the. store 1t was all in the way Of
business His customers sat down on ev-
cry available object-the counter. the sun-
ar barrel, the cracker box, even the casIr
of molasses, but not on that last until
the counter and other things were fun.
The house was over. tho store. The stairs
connecting the two came down in the end
where the store was, and when customer
came in who wanted not "a seat, but serv-
ice Mr. Eliphalet 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 good head in q scrvile 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 busi-
ness liabilities to her name.
This, he explained, with a 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 IS, a Miss Barton, who wants board
in a private family, and I told her she
could como here. knew the spare room
was suitable, and one moro or less wouldn't
make any difference to you"
= But 1 wanted mother for awhile this
summer, I" urged Maria Shed be such
a help preservin and with the baby"
We'll, don't want your mother, " said
he, mot by long chalk. And this lady
is to pay 81 day right along, and you're
to bank it in your naIno-here' IS the book"
Maria took the book and looked at it.
Eigh: hundred dollars was set down ale
ready to her credit.
why, 'Liphalet, where d you get this?"
she exclaimed.
sold the river lot, - he answered and
tipped back in his chair to its farthcst,
looking at her with narrowed eyes from
under the rim OF his hat.
A dull red color rose on Mrs. Johnson'G
faded face.
That was my lot" she said slowly.
: Ny father gave it to me before ne died,
and 1 never meant to have had it sold in
the world 4"
You don't knc-- nothin about bust
ness and never will said Eli chalet. But
now you pay 'renftcn to this and see ~
you can understand 10.
Here's the deeds Of this house, store
and all, and all tho furniture and stock, oil
in your name. Now, tho reason Of So is
that I've got creditors who might clean
me out at any time buU ii can tide over
this year I'll get over it all right.
For this year the hull property S in
your name, and mono # my creditors can
touch it, See? As to that lot, 'twasn tuu
moro yours thEn this house was on the
farn-they all come from your fathor-but
when you married me it lnado 'em mine,
and it ought to.
"A man supports the family. He's got
to hold the property. BL5 for this year it
in your name -
The year passed slowly. Mrs johnson
grew to understand somewhat of tho value
of her position and to do more and more
of the business
In truth, though she nevar owned to
her most intimate friend that 90 'Liphalet
drinkedi" this sad fact was now becoming
painfully apparent.
Much had Mrs. johnson suffered ia the
Is years of her laborious marriage. She
had worked on the average . hours day
and lost much sleep besides. She bad put
into the family all its real estate and real
" kept the store.
She had borne and re@ved crur children
and lost two, and out of all this she had
learned nothing until what she thought
in disguise. That was The lady boarder
If Mr. johnson hnl areaiued of that
worthy woman's real position, he would
never have placed his conservative spare
chamber at her dl-posal.
But he did not u-pect and never learn
ed until it was too Late
She was a hwycr, and fla spite of the
absolute prohibition Of all brain work for
three months she had brought with her
few little calf bound books from force Of
habit
So it CHANGED that Mrs. johnson, FIJI tho
migrating freshness OF now acquaint-
ances was led to read somewhat ia 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 responsibili-
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
walked up one morning very late
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 boarderI
And a little later. to his incredulous
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 a letter, however, in which
1t was set forth that If be gave up drink
ing and became a 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, to be paid to him personally