Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-11-25

frown on her smooth. white Torch eau.
Indeed. Eugene, was a note of
irritation in her voice-"I fail to see
why a woman should be pronounced
Crazy because she expresses desire to
visit her home after an absence of
year and half"
"Home!"-he echoed the word a lit
tie reproachfully, his eyes wandering
around the neat dining-room. This is
home, Agatha. The first real one we
have either of US had for years"
The color deepened on the wife's
cheeks. Her husbands words were
true; her girlhood's home. with an
uncle in q distant city. had not been a
happy one. This uncle had been too
proud to let his sisters child earn her
bread, and as there had been more pride
than love or money in the home Agatha
had realized the bitterness of the bread
of dependence.
The coy farmhouse. shared with the
quiet man who had won her love. had
seemed haven of peace. Used all her
life to the hustle of a city and to home
crowded with gay young life, Agatha
began. after time. to long for a change.
Just now letter from her cousins, tell
ing of concerts, lectures and parties.
before her look very dreary.
She sat toying with her spoon until
her husband had finished his break
fast. Then she looked up. a coaXing
light il her soft. gray eyes.
why can't we go. Eugene?"
Cant afford it, he replied. little
ungraciously. for her persistence an
noyed him. Besides. the railroad fare
there'd be lot of new clothes wanted
and
"Clothes!" Agatha was angry now.
Really, didn't suppose you knew that
woman ever had to have clothes. I've
seen nothing since l was your wife to
show any such knowledge on your part.
I'm tired of this scrimping and saving
and stagnating."
There was pause. Husband and
wife confronted each other. both with
flushed faces and hurried breath.
And I'm" he began. hotly. Then.
moved by some memory. he stopped
A moment later he cried out: "Ah.
Agatha. never dreamed that you felt
that way! 1t cost so much for us to
start. and the crops have been poor. I
thought you understood" and break
ing off abruptly he strobe out through
the kitchen on his way to the barn.
As the heroine of nineteenth CEN
fury story. Agatha should have sat
down and burst into tears. But there
was little of the heroic about her. She
was only an ordinary woman whose
temper was aroused. although not to
such an extent that she could entirely
forget the usual chord of pain in her
husbands voice. However. she went
about her work. setting down her pref
ty china with an unnecessary amount
OF energy. and saying to herself: II
think it downright mean in Eugene. /
wonder how / shall ever endure this
long lonesome winter! No place to GO.
and no one to see"
The matter was not referred TO again.
But there was cloud between husband
and wife-the first since their veddino
day.
The third day after the scene at the
breakfast table. Mrs. Ferris. called and
asked Agatha to accompany her to a
meeting of the sewing society. The
young wife eagerly accepted the invita-
non. 1t would enable her to FORGET for
little time. at least.
agatha went rapidly about her toilet
her guest was seated in the dining
ocm. and by leaving the door open
:nsrsation could be carried on dur
ing. - e~s enans
where are you going to spend
inanksgiving?" Mrs. Ferris askea
me she studied the arrangement of