The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-11-06
The Story Of a Bible.
From Cornhill Magazine. In Four Parts
PART Ill

| asmuch as there was no mangle; Mrs
Midgett's bed, with its blue and white
check counterpart, occupying the place
of honor. To make up for which disparity,
it appeared that Mrs. NUGGETS (who was
discovered at tea when in a literary sense
the curtain rose upon her) was engaged
with bloater by marriage of the two for
which Mrs. Wicks and Emily had just
made themselves personally responsible.
eff you'll promise to go with your tea.
same as though 1 wasn't ere" the visitor
stipulated, "else I'll go. an come back a
bit later
"You won't do no SIGH thing" perempto-
rily. "Set down now, do, and take a
cup a-longer me. I'm sorry there amt an
ether bloater-'
Don't you mention It now, Mrs. Md
gets, don't. Men Emily but this minnit
finished; what's more, we 'ad d bloater
same as you're DOM
WELL was the answer, 81 must say
enJys a little someth:nk with my tea.
Dinner I don't get much time for, 'cept
it's Sundays. And 'ows you an Emily
bin gettin' on this while?''
"Only middl:ng. Emily, she can't abide
Barker's Buildings. an she's been an set
'erself agen the FlindereS next door, an
what with one thing an another, she's al
ways a-grumbling. Fack is, if Ii weren't
for me an the mangle, shed Ike 20 go
out to service. She always vas genteel
from child, was Emily, and FER minds
set on them long-tailed caps what they're
a-wearing now"
Well said Mrs. Midgetts, as she wres-
tied with broken spouted teapot for its
last dregs, we're on us set on something,
come to that. fou'n me, we've got our
fads an fancies. l shouldn't wonder, only
we keeps 'em to ourselves more"
"Ah, you're right there, Miss Midgetts;
you're right there. dunno 'ow tits with
you, but if there is one thing as I am
set on, it's the country. There amt moth
ink 1 wouldn't give, if I'd got it, to be
able to go back to them parts I come
from, as / 'aven't set eyes on for nigh
extraordinarily year. l am feeling it
worse'n ever just now, an I'll tell you
why. There's my brother Jim's wife-ne
was a good bit younger'n me, was Jim
down at Whittlebridge, she writes me
letter to say as old Mrs. Jenner's going
to give up business, going to live a-longer
'er son what's well to do, an don't like TO
ave it said as rs mother gets 'er living
by the wash-tub while he drives is own
green-grocer's cart, quite the gentleman.
And a nice little business It is, too, good
will and fixters an the lease o. the cot
tage all going for twenty pound. Twenty
pound 1t might IS we'll be a 'underd, only
there tits, an'more'n one night I've lay
awake thinking on it. Once I dremp I'd
got the money some'ow, an bought the
business, AN was doing wonderful.
don't say nothink to Emily cos she amt
one for the country--not being born an
NJ md Rnt
there, you wudn't believe 'ow the thought
o. that nice Ettle business. AN the cottage,
an the goodwill an fixtures seems to
regler aunt me-"
Mrs. Midgetts clicked her tongue in SYM
patty.
Amt that always the way? If you'd
got the money ready to yer and Ike, may
be you wouldn't jest be knowing what to
do with il, an because you amt 'ere's
somethink as would suit you every way.
Ii does seem ard, but this 'ere's a ard
world. Bless you, 1 know what It's to
look forrard to a thing, an never git il
after all. I've told you bout Aunt Mar
tha, 'er promised to leave me a bit o.
money!
Mrs. Wicks nodded, and leaned back III |
her chair in manner that invited the
other 10 tell the story once again.
Twenty pound it were. Jest the very |
hidentical sum you was speaking OF, AN |
made that sure of It, got looking on It !
same as though it was my own"
And she never left you nothink after |
Hip"
"Noth:nk but the Bible there" pointing |
% bulky volume which, together with
ca tray, two wine-glasses. and a china /
,odle, composed trophy that was much |
admired by her intimates.
Not as I'm one for running down the |
Bible, specially one with SIGH large print,
l must say I've never thought |
he same of Aunt Martha since"
LAS I'm not surprised at" remarked
drs. Wicks, AN that reminds me as that
vas the very thing 1 come about. You
aid you'd be pleased to lend it TO me any
me an as tomorrer's the districk visitors
lay. l thought it'd be nice for 'er 10 read
chapter outer. For you may say what
-ou like, but it's a Bible to do any one
redit, don't keer who they are
Take it an welcome, Mrs. Wicks.
on't need TO tell you to be careful of 1t,
or 1 know what you are; and as for that
ottage an fixters what's worrying you, |
wouldn't think of it more'n 1 could
slp"
II won't" said Mrs. wicks. rising and
aking the Bible carefully IN her arms like
baby. Auy'ow, I'm glad 1 found you
D. It's wunnerful 'ow little chat livens
ne up"
well, look in agen, soon" said Mrs.
Iidgetts Hospitality; and as for the Bible
on can keep it jest as long as ever you've
mind"
well. I'm sure it's uncommon kind q
I So do 49, ~
boxing in it to make sure as there wasn't
othink id away, as I've card of folks
ucking bank-books atween the leaves?"
Mrs. Midget shook her head despond-
ntly.
NO SIGH luck. Not but what did think
that myself, opened i; IN ever s'many
laces, an turned over the leaves an 'eld
up an shook it till 1 most shook the
iside OUT
We'll, It's ard" said Mrs. wic1s 81
ant say no less
She was more than ordinarily careful in
ascending the stairs. which were fire.
uently dangerous by reason of stray !
irejs of potato par!ngs or hsIfgnawed |
-usts OF bread dropped upon them by
,reless fingers. In spite OF which she
early slipped up on al empty pea-pod
hich lurked about midway.
II never see the Ike OF Barker's Build |
gs for strewin' things round she NUT
red, as she stopped TO remove X. Then.
ish the pod N her hand. her mind sud
snly switched itself away from its present
nssvory. squald surroundings to the IN
.;ainable paradise OF the wasaerwomaa's
,ttage al Whittlebr.dge.
II reckon Ia soon be CROWN my own
ess once l was down there" she added.
lds- her breath. an yebetuoble marrers,
o.
The district visitor for Bsrker's Build
gs was an elderly lady. who fulfilled her
disappointed task with a thoroughness |