The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1897-04-03

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with little blunt pencil on the back OF
an old envelope by the aid of chanee
copy of city paper.
II tell you, Marthy, we've got to
! economic like sixty, now we're in debt
for the Cummins farm. Ireckon well
save two or three dollars buying in the
city and old Skinner at the crossroads
store'll find it don't pay to wrangle
with me about accounts"
Finally Mrs. Berry settled back into
her seat and began to rest and her
thoughts turned into pleasanter chan
mel. maybe can manage to go to the
art museum" thought she, land see
the pictures Miss Long told me about"
She finished her shopping sooner
than she expected and had a trifie left
for car fare. Jacob had not provided
for this luxury. you'll be tired set
tin still SO long and need the walk
said he. In sudden spasm of gen.
crosby he continued: "You might git
pair of them dollar and half shoes
they advertise. You don't really need
'em. but you kin put 'em by till you do
and here's quarter for your dinner. l
got a good one for Is cents" Jacob
| neglected to state that his meal was
eaten at lunch counter patronized ex-
clusively by men.
When Mrs. Berry's accustomed din
ncr hour arrived, the excitement had
taken away her appetite and she started
to feast her eyes upon the beauties of
the art museum, which her summer
boarder, Miss Long, had dilated upon,
after the work was done and Mrs. Ber-
ry had few moments to rest on the
porch before bedtime. When she ar
rived at the entrance of the museum, to
her CONSERVATION, an admittance fee
was demanded. The doorkeeper court
eously explained that it was pay day.
She gladly rendered her precious quar-
ter of dollar. 1t seemed to her as if
the gates of Paradise had Enclosed as
she entered the domain of art, and to
her great joy she found Miss Long, who
was copying picture. Miss Long
kindly laid aside her brushes to guide
the visitor. She conducted her to the
choicest paintings and statuary and
explained the stories they sought to
tell. Many times she was surprised at
a low interruption: "Oh, yes. know.
/ read about that years ago, before l
was married. / haven't had time to
read much since"
: The hours sped all too fast and Mrs.
Berry found she had barely time to
reach the train. AS she was claiming
her parcels at the check counter, the
gates closed and there was nothing to
do but wait long three hours for the
next train. AS she took her seat, dizzy.
faint feeling came over her and she
knew nothing more until midnight,
when she opened her eyes too weak to
ask where she was. She had never been
in hospital before, but when she had
collected her thoughts, she knew that
she was in an Institution of that kind.
A white-capped nurse administered
medicine occasionally and in the morn
ing grave cid doctor made his appear
ance.
II didn't eat anything all day." she
whispered, land wanted to see the
pictures and it was pay day" I
"Oh, yes, yes" exclaimed the doctor,
hastily, don't waste your strength
talking"
Jacob Berry finished his days work
and sat waiting for his wife to come
and cook him good, hot supper to
make amends for his cold dinner. The
hours passed and finally his Indignation |
gave way to real alarm, which was in
creased the next morning by the re-
ception of telegram summoning him |
to the hospital. He entered the huge |
building with awe and trepidation, but |
when he saw his wife alive and looking |
as usual, only trifle paler, he felt him.
self much-abused man and as she told
him of her visit to the art museum
Irown gathered on his face, and the
alert nurse, seeing her patient was be-
coming worried, ended the brief inter-
view.
Jest as I expected" began Jacob, in
IN aggrieved tone, as he entered the
ioctor's Office. "She brought all this
IN traipsing around after foolishness,
md here's farm work coming on and 1
Ions suppose she'll be able to do much
or couple of weeks"
The doctor, busy compounding medi-
'ine, ignored Jacobs complaints. After
moments silence he remarked:
Your wife is hard working woman,
Ter hands show it." For the first time
n Jacobs life, he felt ashamed of his
vife's toil-stained hands.
WELL" replied Jacob, somewhat con-
used, me and my wife both work hard
nd will have to as long as we are in
|ebt."
"Aren't your children OLD enough to
'e OF some help?" queried the doctor.
We haven't any," replied Jacob. |,
Then what's the use of working so
ordT' continued the doctor. Ii