Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1899-02-10
"Kis and ,Kst,s sister,"

Kitty Riley and her sister Maggie had
been married on the same day nearly
two years ago. Both had married hou-
est workingmen, with steady positions.
and the wages of both husbands We're
about equal. Each had been presented
with a son and heir, and both the sis
tiers ought to have been happy. but
while Kit and her husband were ale
ways in good spirits. l~ight-hearted. n
tented aud pleased with their lot, there
seemed to be q shadow hanging over
the household that was ruled by Kits
sister.
1t was not that any trouble OF mis-
understanding existed between Maggie
and her husband. Far from 1t. They
loved each other dearly. and were al
ways happy in each others society, as
true wives aud husbands ought to lie.
but there Don crept into the young
wife's eyes a careworn. worried look
that betolkencd secret sorrow of some
kind. Between care for her baby and
her household duties her time was fully
occupied-indced, it was noticed that
she did not take her infant out for an
airing anything like as often as did her
sister Kit. At first her husband, John
Clarke. was too busy to notice any
change in his wife. ana it was only
when Kits husband, Tom White, be-
gan to ask IL Maggie vas ailing that
poor John directed his attention to his
| wife's appearance.
Maggie" he said one evening in n
elf-rcproachful way, Il have been
rather ncglectful of you Of late, am
afraid, and 1 haven't been taking care
of your health and comfort. You are
beginning to look pale and thin. and,
now I notice it, the baby is not as
healthy looking as he ought TO lie.
You'll have to go out more. You don't
get enough of fresh air. and neither
does the child! Why don't YOU put him
i'll the baby carriage and take him out
for an hour or so in the mornings and
~afternoonsy"
II haven't time, John.' replied Mag
gle, in n sad lone of voice. "Tllere is
so much to be done in the house. you
know, and between that and the baby
1 don't have q minute to spare"
"Wcll. your sister Kit has just the
same to contend with. She keeps her
house clean and attends to little Tom
my, and yet she finds time to take Il
run in the park every day with the
boy, and she is as blooming and fresh
in appearance as a new-blOwn rose"
IL know she is, John, and l can't
understand It," (IIere n tear crcpt into
the little wonlan's eye and her lip rem
bled.) ut isn't that l don't feel well,
but somehow or another l am always
tired. l am trying to keep things clean
and straight all the time, and yet 1
never seem TO get ahead. God knows 1
would often like to take baby out for a
blow of fresh air, but l don't seem 10
be able TO afford the time!"
"Well. see here, now. Maggie" said
her husband kindly. "Your health and
the child's is of much more Importance
to me than the house work. Don't DO
so much cleaning! 1t isn't a bit neces-
rubbing many a time when l couldn't
see the use of it. Take more healthy
exercise and do less hard work.
mo. John, that will never do" an.
swercd Maggie; I'm quite willing to
have some restful exercise, but not at
the expense of a clean house. like
my home to be scrupulously clean ut I'LL
times"
well, it is clean; Ill give you credit
for that" said her husband quickly,
"but then you are too particular. Give
as much care to yourself and the baby
as you do to the homework, and you'll
feel better and so will l! Now just get
baby and yourself ready, and we'll
walk over to your sister's-therc's u
good girl"
Maggie rose and dressed the baby and
handed him to papa while she prepared
herself. In the midst Of her prepare
lions she said: REALLY, John, l don't
see how 1 can afford the time to go,
That kitchen floor ought to be scrubbed
tonight and l was going to clean UP
all the door knobs and brasswork."
Let the brasswork be-photograph'
cdw exclaimed John, somewhat testify
you'll keep on rubbing and scrubbing
and brushing and cleaning until you
drop into the grave! Hereafter you'll
have to go out every day for at least
two hours. 1 insist on 1t, and I'm going
to ask Kit to come over and take you
with her regularly from this day"
AT Kits house they naturally me,
with a cordial reception from Tom and
his wife. The house was as trim and
neat and straight as busy hands could
make it, but Kit and the baby had
been out in the park all the afternoon,
John Clarke sighed as he noticed the
different compilations of Kit and hel
sister. The ono was ruddy with health
the other pale, var and sickly looking
you poor dear!" exclaimed Kit, rom
miseratingly, I'm sure she must be i'll
John, or she would not look so tiret
and weary"
II am not i'll, Kit-indeed 1 am not