The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1899-03-02


she got it. She got every blessed thing
she took notion for, from a burglar
proof closet for her silverware to
Poppa Gontecr rosebush. You got that
seam done, Mis- Medcaf?"
Mrs. Medcalf held up the seam to show
| that it lacked several inches of being
| finished.
'Oh, you'll soon have it done. It's
| pity she amt got any children. He'll
be SO much more lonesome, comm
home at night an not findin' anybody
here"
Then of a sudden the other woman
spoke: II reckon he won't be any lone
scmer'n she's been all these years,
a.settin' here alone, night after night,
til. II o'clock
| No knife ever sent a more sickening
pain through heart than those words
sent through the heart of the man who
lay there in the dark and heard.
| ''Hum-er-hum," said Mrs. Gregg.
:! expect it did get kind of lonesome
for her. He-he-that is, l guess e
did have to stay downtown most of the
time. But he didn't have any bad hab-
its-didnt drink or gamble or look at
other women. lie was perfectly mod
IL husband"
There was no reply 10 this. and pres
ertly Mrs. Gregg continued: "Inever'd
thought she'd up and utter word of
complaint agen such husband"
"She never did," said Mrs. Medcalf
"Never n her life, so far's know. She
worshiped the land he walked on. You
could see that with haf an eye. But
she led mighty lonesome life, model
husband or no model husband. He
didn't have any bad habits. know
that. He just simply want domestic.
He'd rather set down town an play
some fool game or other than to set at
home an read or play cards with his
wife. Ii ain't no sin, an amt sayin' it
is; an when woman has that. kind Of
4 husband the whole neighborhood's 8
ready to scream out: 'My-O! What
does ,gettin' lonesome amount too? She
amt got any call fer complaint. S
can see. She'd best be thankin' her
stars she amt got a husband that comes
!, home drunk an abuses her. or CANDLES
. everything he earns away in some old
/ saloon or other!' Au' l amt the one to
be claimin' they amt right, an she
want the one to complain about any
thing. But what see with my own
. eyes l guess l know. One night she
come over to our house for somethin'
, an when she comes in-well, If dc
i say il myself. our little settin'-room
/ did look bright an cheerful, even il
, we amt got much in it. He always
| builds up big fire'n the fireplace ir
winter, an pops big pan O corn an
gets up some apples from the cellar, an
$ then sets down an reads an talks while
sew. An we was settin' there that
a night when she comes in with blue
5 dress on an black lace scarf over hel
r head, an cries out: oh, how cozy 20,
+ are! Why. is your husband at home
: evenings?' An she had the wishfu!les
2 eyes ever looked into.
e "'Yes,' l says real quick, for didn'
I want to hurt her feelin's. he works S.
y hard all day he don't feel much like go
+? in out nights
= "'Why, he isn't home every night, il
e hep she cries out.
r "'Yes, be- says he, before l ccul,
n speak. wy, amt your husband"
e mo- she says, an she walked owe
I an stood lookin' down into the fire; an
r then she says, very slow: I'D be tn
o happiest woman on earth if he was
= WELL says he, lookin' at her close
e he's home sometimes in the evenin
t amt he?'
e Don't you like popcorn cries
n jumpin' up quick, for knew he neve
y was; an sure enough, her face was a
red as fire-an' if there want tears i
o her eyes l don't know tears when
l.. see 'em!"
d "He was my idee of perfectly mode
s husband" said Mrs. Gregg, sternly. 6
d don't see how anybody can find it i
y their heart to utter word agen him.
l. Il amt a-utterin' a word agen hin
e Mis- Gregg. I'm just tellin' you ths
she was turable lonesome woman
& even if he did give her everything hear
q could ask. That time after her bah
d died he stayed home with her ever
It evenin'-he didn't go downtown a-onc
. not a-once-"
II You got that seam most finished
& demanded Mrs. Gregg, in q tone of e,
T. treme irritation. after you get it a
finished we'll go out in the breakfa.
room an get somethin' to eat. There
" nice lunch all laid out on the tabl
- Well make some tea on the gas stove
= But it didn't last long," went on Mr.
~ Medcalf, unmoved. "In less'n tw
- weeks he had 10 run downtown just fl
II a min ute"
=, "You like tea or coffee best, Mis- Me
caf? We can boil one as easy's Il
other"
- Tea. An his minutes KEEP getti
n longer and longer, an in less'n tv
~ weeks more"
re- ''I've got my seam all done, Mis- Me
or caf. Ca-ha-ca-ha-ha," coughed MI
en Gregg. There, I'm ketchin' cold"
H. "In two weeks more he was a-stayi
~