The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-06-16
Stories of an Inland State.


John Wright felt secret guilt as he
looked upon his wife. as she sat near the
window for her pinched face. her furtive,
restless eyes accused him. so when he tried
to smother his thoughts they obstinately
fought his efforts. remained and seemed
to grow with such intensity that she was
certainly on the point Of detecting them
With her thin. yellow fingers. she clutch
ed at her sombre shawl and gathered II
tightly to her throat, shivered, moved un-
easily in her seat. sighed and turned her
sad eyes upon him again. SO that he half
turned to avoid her.
II was very warm. for the southern wind
had been blowing all day, and now, when
he looked upon his ailing wife, he felt in
spite of himself, that the wearing Of the
shawl had come to be a habit. as her per-
petual ill-health ard complaint. Certainly
she could not be cold with the sun blazing
down as it was. She was his wife to be
sure, and for years she had complained and
moped and failed until the doctors today
possessed the profits of his farm, and he
was practically without a cent.
With a sudden rebellious turn Of mind,
he wished she were dead. He tried to put
the thought down, for 1t was brutal and
unmanly, but IL remained gallantly, and as
ne tried to put it away Il insisted on the
justice OF its remaining. He had been
faithful through long years of tedious care
Of her without other thanks than the querul
Gus assurance that "she would soon be
gone and trouble him no more"
Now he admitted her argument. When
she was gone she would trouble him no
more! All He felt il, His last penny was
gone. More medicine and more costly visits
from the doctor without mortgaging the
farm were impossible and he would not
mortgage the farm. If she died he would
be troubled no longer, but free, free from
the everlasting sound of her peevish voice.
How he wished that she might die!
Was he murderer? he asked himself
Would another man in his place admit such
a brutal thought? No. She was his wife
and to her he owed all and for her he must
sacrifice all, and he must battle to preserve
her life. The wish that she were dead was
the work of the devil in him and he turned
away to avoid her glance which he knew
was reading him.
John" she said with slight cough
closing her eyes wearily, How many did
old man Billings have?'
Twenty-Five" he said hoarsely without
turning.
And he was unpopular, John. And Jen-
kins who got divorce from his wife had
only twenty?"
Yes"
There was Mrs. Smith with only ten
and as good a Christian as ever lived-only
ten, john
Yes. I know It."
And Walter Brown, who always sat up
on the front seat in church. VINO was Cod
fearing and all that and who was a good
man John-didn't he have three, or was it
four?"
Three"
"And poor Susie Elkins had only five
she was a good woman. John. and only
five and her husband John -''
Yes said John Wright. shifting uneasily
on his feet for he realized the trend of her
conversation and was quaking inwardly.
"And her husband, John made the coffin
himself out of pine and painted it himself,
the stingy fool! Do you remember that?''
/ Yes"
| Made II himself, ohm, SO that 1t had no
| handles and the men had to pick it up like
| they would an old dry-goods box when
| Martin has as pretty cof.ins as was ever
brought into this country. with silver
l
the front and a name-plate all shining right
| on top and plate-glass over the head, and
he could have bought one of these. seeing
it was the last of poor Susie. John -
II am listening
"And then only five buggies followed her
off to the graveyard while old man Billings
| had twenty-five buggies and an iron cas-
| ket"
| 'Yes. I know"
| 'And at Susie's funeral there was no sing
| ing. Only short prayer and then they
rustled her off. And Elkins married again
in seven months"
| YES"
| when I'm called, John, are you going
to marry again?''
| NO he SAID with terrible conviction.
| 81 am going soon, JOHN she continued.
"and I'll trouble you no more"
| He was defantly silent.
| And how many will come to the funeral
and go out to the graveyard. John?'
| How should 1 known
| She burst into tears.
| How should I knowT he repeated
| hoarsely, savagely almost.
when do, john she said tearfully.
''Are you going to get one OF the fine cas-
| kets down at Martins to lay me in and one
4
| He looked upon her coldly.
| Remember, John. Mrs. Watson Is to be
called in to lay me out. and expect one of
| Martins finest caskets, do you hear / ex-
pect i'll demand it,
| He started neHpusly and looked at her
| fearfully.
| Martin" he said, ''never takes eggs
from US. Hits does. If there's coffin
| to be bought. I'll but II of Hts"
| The woman was speeches. Then she
struggled TO her feet and raised her long
| bony hand at him.
| II said itr' he exclaimed fiendishly.
| You sad it, she cried in feeble rage.
Yes"
| DO YOU hearr she cried white with rage
that this man had at last dared to defy
her You will buy that casket of Mar
| tin. Buy ii of Hits, Buy 1t 10 lay me
away in his old-fash!oned. cheap boxes!
| You will noti Do you hear, you will not.'
Hits" he said quietly.
| She grasped a lamp and let It fly at him.
He lodged it sheepishiy an1 reiterated:
| Hits
| She sank back in her seat with her shawl
flying loose and her eyes closed and Ter
hands fallen Imply to her lap.
| He planted hHse!1 N irOnt OF ner dno
| began:
Year in and year out" he exclaimed
! savageIy. 81 have been faithful TO you and
your ills. Every cent that I have made
has been expended on you. The doctor has
| il ell. l have not mortsaged the farm.
| shall not mortgage the farm. Everything
| IS gone. When you're dead. you're dead.
No casket no matter what il costs can dc
you any good. And even II II could 1 viii
not buy an expensive one 1 shall not be
held up and robbed by an undertaken who