New-York tribune., 1897-01-10
CALEB AND HIS WIFE.
THE STORY OF HANNAHs F1RMNEss
A QUESTION OF MONEY.

Mr DrOpperS
ANAL head. 1t had been said Of him that tneIe
80 ~. hast ~ reasons why "Droppers couldnt I
have much brains cause he hadn't any place ~
-, 49,, - put az I, was "Poorhouse 10" Garth
- ,,.da ,his observation Mr.. Droppers trled
,o. 20 no offended He remarked In return 'ha'
ho didn't knows anybody but God was respon-
.,h,o for what 10 Garth chose TO say. ana ne io
ono wasn't going to interfere with Goo. lneh
the sneaker put his hand up to his foreheao anu
drosv u SLOWLY down to his chin. pulling out .he
narrow tuft of hair which grew below MS uhoei
lip. .ho
u;s wife sat at the window "sortin' over the
,roned clo'es" as she called her occupa'oi' '
laid on the stand all the garments 'ha' "ee
mending and she returned 10 'he o"' -
.,os. that were whole. She glanced up al her
h,sband as she put his flannel undershirt' WIN
a great hole in the sleeve. on the s'anu'
She had never thought about the size OF 'h'S
mans head, but now she did notice tha' II was 40
che would have described it, monstrous s'''"'.'
Perhaps II il had been larger-out mere ~
naused She did not think that she oue"''
~, nor thoughts to wish there was chahce ioi
Mr. Droppers TO have more o'a'h' "
as he was" she sighed.
w., o,,rorion had stretched out his right leg
80 ,hot he might thrust his hand into his trou-
s.rs nocket He pulled out into view large
,rovn leather pocketbook which was encircieo
hv strap Mr. Droppers, in a very lelsureiy
,,.rrer began taking the strap from its loops
Meantime his wife was gazing at MIN inteh''!'
and a mink color was gradually spreading o'e'
her face .,.s,
..,.ovs Won seen Dr. Forbes?" she asked at last
"I seen him this morning" was the reply
HAS he paid you for that piece OF my laho
Mrs Droppers felt the red coming deepy !"
nor checks: II was beginning to burn her ioie-
head.
"yes" more In a grunt than woro'
Mr Dronners had now opened his pocketoooK
~ The compartment where the bllls were az
ranged at length. He began to count these o'''s'
"D,d he give you three thousand dollars size
asked. ,,o,. cain.
"Yes-or he shouldn't have had IL. ne gum
10 call for the deed this evening
Mr. Droppers was holding a hundreo-ooiiaro'''
and scrutinzing IT, ~.
hand. ,,, =. min.
ute"
What for, I shd like to know!
mcause never had so much money IN my
hand I'll give II right back to you
"poob, that's a regular womansh notion.
But do lemme, kellup.
o1 a,n.t no patience with womanish notions.
tell ye."
Nv Dronners began to lay the money back IN
the book. ,.- cold
"you know I wouldn't try to keep H. said
Mrs Droppers. Il jest want to hoio II d ii'''".e
a. see how it feels to have hundred dollars IN
my hand"
you're real silly, Hannah
Won't you. Kellup?'
"No. ,t,s too foolish" The pocketbook was
folded together.
ITS pay for my land that father ieit me-
said Mrs Droppers. Her eyes had pright drops
IN them Her heart was beating IN her 'hroa'
She was aware Of an intoerapie sense '""'
would presently suffocate her
In the midst Of this emotion she wondered II
her husband would have been different II ne
had had a larger he'd How sman IL oiu '"oN'
set between thosc broad shoulders.
sbe sat hack in the little. low rocker, and tried
"a ~. nerfectly still AT that instant she won
aar.d ~ she had eyer 10 yed the man who was
s,ranning his pocketSook with the pay for her
land in 1t. $4,000, ou
Mr. Droppers crossed his legs and looked over
at his wife. He spoke pleasantly and he smiled
a little.
.J know YOUR father left you that land Han
nah hut I'm your husband. n I can take care OF
YOUR money bettern you can
"Rut only wanted to hold the bill minute
7 never held hundred-dollar bill in my life
You're real foolish. Hannah. n thats a
fact"
M- Dronn.rs rose and went to the window,
gazing out of II.
The winds got round east, n III Det we
sh'l have snow fore mornin.
He walked to the door and paused there to say:
m iniin cakes for supper. n have bit OF souse.
I,ye been In the air s'much to-day that l feel
powerful catfish.
Mr. Droppers passed on out Of the house and
his wife saw him going across the yard to the
harm She gazed intently at him until he had
gone from sight
Then she took up the next article In the basket
and turned 1t over and over In her hands with
her eyes fixed on IT, The garment was her nus
bands white Sunday shirt
Suddenly her hands closed 1t tightly and
there was a sound OF tearing cloth. She had
torn the shirt down its length. Or. rather. 1t
seemed to her that her hands had done 1t without
any command from her
She glanced through the window toward the
barn. The wide yard was empty pile Of dry
leaves from the two naples flew up in the air
and went toward the West. Those leaves had
been blowing back and forth all the fail. Some
men would have raked them UP. The yard was
always "cuttered." But deep in her heart.
Hannah Droppers knew that she didn't care for
that 1t wasn't that which made her now sud-
denly press her hand TO her side with pteous
gesture.
$50 he wants rye N injin cakes n souse for
simmer" she said 10 herself Wall" rising, II
guess en- git um for him. But can't eat no
supper; 'twoud choke me. declare" now
speaking aloud. II jest wish 'twould choke me-"
A step came along the passage that ran from
the woodhouse to the kitchen The door was
open into this passage.
Hello; you alone" asked the woman, who
entered Thought / heard you taikin'; thought
/ heard you wartin' 10 be choked