The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1895-06-22

OF daughter, but fate had decreed
th 1t she should miss this pleasure.
She entered the kitchen, with its del
icate odor, betokening exquisite clean
Illness, and was building fire for sup
per when man entered the house. He
ten years younger than her
self, although unkempt and shabby.
His complexion was ruddy, and his
beard, of about weeks growth, was
of that peculiar bright blonde which
nearly touches red. His forehead was
broad and projected at the temples.
Some might have called him handsome,
but there was weak expression about
the mouth, coupled with steely CLEAN
from his blue eyes, that would make the
thoughtful pause before trusting him.
Supper not ready, Mary? Well!
we'll! that's too bad. l have to go to
town tonight to attend the Theosoph-
ical society. It's too bad you don't take
any interest in intellectual pursuits.
If you had. might have had a differ
emit career; mans wife can pull him
down so If she isn't constituted to en-
courage him. All my. life have been
struggling against odds. My father
never gave me start, as most IA
theirs think it is their duty to do by
son. After graduated he positively
refused to do another thing for me.
Then l married, which is the greatest
misfortune that can cross the path of a
genius. The saying that there is tide
in the affairs Of all men, etc, is mis-
take But no more of that; you do not
take as much interest in these things
as you should. Have you read that
Light on the Path gave you yester-
day?"
Mary acknowledged that she had not,
and silence reigned for some time.
"Can't you make some fapjaclSs for
supper? l think l would like some
with some maple strip. With all your
drawbacks, you are a good cook, can
say that much for you. 1t has been
the rule of my life to give credit where
credit is due, but all people are not so
just to me-"
Mary, or Mrs. Raymond, as most
people called her, stopped moment in
her hasty preparations and surveyed
HIM. She looked at him more from the
standpoint of a stranger than she had
in all the forty years of her married
life.
''What are you staring at me for?'
he asked querulously. Zone would
think you hadn't anything in the world
to do but put in your time star-gazing. >
His countenance changed and he
| added loosely: I'm the star-see!
think / can work that over for my
'Lounger' column in the Times. Have
you got the butter packed for the
grocery? And be sure you weigh it.
Those Smiths are cheats and have to
be watched pretty closely. l some
times wish l was built more on the
physical plane than the intellectual,
and 1 could look after these matters
myself. AS it is / simply abhor all the
details of trade"
| Another silence followed, during
which Mary carefully measured two
spoonfuls of coffee and put them in
the coffeepot with some crushed egg.
shells.
make my coffee good and strong
Mary, you know shall have to make 9
long talk tonight. 1t wearies me, but
they all depend SO much upon my fill
ing in the greater part of the time
that l cannot disappoint them. YOU
had better pour out my cup first, and
then weaken it down for you a bit. Il
you drink it strong it will probably
keep you awake, and there's no use in
your sitting up for me. A few of us
fellows will probably adjourn to the
club-room for social game and glass
1 enjoy those little convivial times. IT.
about the only recreation / get from
my writing. 1t has always been my
motto that it's better to wear out thar
to rust out If hadn't always beer
kept in an underling position by those
jealous of my literary talent, l would