Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1895-08-08

was. laid aside her reading and pre-
pared to listen fair and square to
the conversation of that young en-
peror, her son Louis. But as she sup
posed would be the case, Master Louis
wanted only an opportunity to urge
again upon her the purchase of new
bicycle. upon which he had set his de-
termined little heart.
II don't see why papa can't afford it.
mother" Louis wound up another I'M
successful plea
81 suppose not, Louis" said the lady,
with sigh, ''or you would show your
love for me by saying no more about
it.
bill Wainwright got a new wheel
yesterday, bully one that cost ten
dollars more than the one picked out,
for I'll take the cheaper one, mother,
if can't get the other,'' he concluded,
obligingly, land Billy Wainwright's
father and mother don't live in half as
nice house as ours"
Mrs. Fenton sighed again; she was
becoming used to these arguments. and
found out that they required no an
swer.
II just wish, Louis burst out at last,
somebody that could afford things
would adopt me and be done with it. :"
A few days after this conversation
Mrs. Fenton went up to her boys room
just after Louis had gone to bed. He
was lying awake in the darkness,
stretching his toes comfortably in the
clean sheets and nesting under the
soft down quilt with its familiar
wreaths of corn flowers, thinking that,
after all, life had some agreeable mo-
ments, even without a new bicycle,
when he heard her enter.
THAT you, mother dear? Come and
kiss me-" said the boy, lovingly. Pre-
cious to both of them were these mo-
mentS of tender intercourse, when
Louis was accustomed to make clean
breast of his offenses of the hours Just
past, and to indulge in sundry caresses
he did not care to expose to the garish
light of day.
Tonight his mother lnelt, as usual,
beside him, and, as usual, his arms
went around her neck But, what was
quite unusual, Louis felt tears flowing
from her eyes upon his cheek. She had
come to tell him news reserved for this
moment of confidence; that the doctor
had ordered his father to go away from
work and care of all kind for several
months to come, as the only means OF
avoiding an utter breakdown of Mr..
Fenton's nerves and health.
Papa go away from his Officer said
Louis, in establishment at such posi-.
bility. And we are to stay here with.
out him?"
No, dear, must go with him, and
it was arranged to-day that we sail for
Genoa next Saturday. We were fortu.
nate in finding some one who will take
our house off our hands for three
months if we can give possession in a
week"
And I'm to leave school and travel
Hurrahe' cried Louis. boy-like, always
ready for change of existing circum.
stances.
No. dearest" said his mother. fall
tering. That's what makes it doubly
hard for me. You must not leave
school, your father says. On no &C
count will he hear of it,
Pm to go to boarding school?" saiG
Louis, sitting up in bed and rather
dazzled by the prospect.
Not even that. You are to stay Or
at day school, where we have every
reason to be satisfied with your prog
ress. Louis, your Aunt Maria wa.
here to-day, and she has offered tc
take you into her home until we re
turn."
AUNT MariRip said Louis. ignoring