The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-05-11
She FORGOT the Baby.


"G'long, Nick; g'long. Seems IL Nick
showed his age worse than ever today.
Wen never go home less he starts ms
legs Eastern tnis''
And Martha Croker leaned over and
slapped the reins vigorously. The old
horse jerked forward, sending the wheels
of the ricketysold express wagon into a
hole and out Of it with bounce that
almost shook Martha and her sister Jane
off the seat.
The day was unusually raw, even for
New England November, and the wind
stung the women's faces till their sallow
| cheeks were iecked with crimson.
Iaere was one homogeneous OBJECT. Fas-
tened on top of a bundle of old gray
laths in the back OF the wagon was a
baby's high-chair-a new. implanted
| wooden chair. It was a rough. splintery
chair. but clumsy and ugly as IL was
il told of new life in the midst OF age
and decay
At last, with furtive look at her sis
ter, Jane broke the silence:
Mother must be getting pretty tired
keeping house alone. Guess I'll have 10
go back by Saturday, sure
thought you'd stay until Thanks
gym: Amt mother going to Johns for
Welt d'n' know From what she
sad in her last letter, 1 guess she amt
going after ALL And-well, 1 believe
she'd rather have me to home
Now. Jane Hobson," began Martha
with some spirit. "You know you just
! don't want to stay. And IT'S hard lines
L a sister don't like TO be with her sis
! ter
Nick suddenly stopped short With a
.ureh that threatened to send women,
ialns and chair in a heap TO the ground.
Land o Gosheni Guess cur dinner'll
| be settled enough to make rom for sup
per time we get home. Why don't you
! want to stay with us for ThanksSivin' %
Jane shifted her position uneasily and
| then looked up with a shade of defiance
| in her eyes
| Wen, reckon you can guess" she said
! grlmIy I've got tired hearing that ever
| fasting grumbling and cursing Of Benja-
minis. must say like 70 listen 10
something halfway pleasant. once in
awhile"
| Martha, sighed again. "You see" she
! began, with an Apologize air, PENS had
hard luck this year There amt a thing
gone right from the cranberry bog to the
| potato field. And he amt been able &c
! get anything to do this fall. And a man
! don't feel like smiling much when things
are so bad
''Humph"' retorted Jane, "this amt the
first time I've ben to your house since the
| five years you've been married. / must
| say he's wOrse'n ever, but I didn't eyer
think Benjamin's amiability would outdc
the suns shining. For my part, 1 praise
the day l gave Jim Dutton the mitten
He seemed like a decent enough fellow
but, land! I'm mighty glad I didn't rur
the risk"
Martha's pinched face grew more pinch
| ed and strained as Jane let her rough
words have full swing. Suddenly. tc
James CONSERVATION, she covered her face
J with her hands and began to sob vic.
lently.
For the land" muttered Jane. Now
Marthy, I'd ought to be ashemed of my
self. Twas all uncalled for, my tall
and I guess amt much pleasanter thar
other folks"
Finally. after the violence of her grie1
had spent itself Martha spoke; atefirs1
brokenly, and then more connectedly.
mo, no. Jane. faint your fault.
don't blame you for saying what yol
did. It's been hard enough for me not K
say the same things for going on five
years. I've kept hoping things would bs
better. And with sob, "they got wors-
steady. And yet, Ben amt ever dont
| what lots Of men do. He amt ever ha(
anything to do with any other woman
and he don't get drunk. An that's Z
good deal, Jane Hobson.'
Jane, in spite of her regret that she hat
thus precipitated matters, could not re
frain from answering.
'Humph! Well, I don't believe he't
have found any other woman who'd hav-
| cd To nj ta n n i'm
Guess a wife's the only person woult
have stod his ugliness."
Martha hardly noticed the interruption
Certain she went on. Il knew for
ever 1 married Ben he wasn't an angel
But I never mistrusted he was as h
is. Sometimes does seem as if he didn'
speak a pleasant word the livelong day
And, and, Jane, can't stand it"
Martha hid her face again. In a min
ute she resumed, in calmer but harde
voice: II don't blame you for wanting
to go home, and 1 amt going TO ask yor
to stay. I only wish I could go home
to- I've thught often lately how mic
and quiet and peaceful it must be there
Jane cleared her throat. We'll" sh
said slowly, 81 was rather extra raspe
today but I DIN know but what I'll sta
for a while longer. But l don't see, Mar
tina Croker, how you put up with il
Why don't you pack up and come home
I guess you could earn enough to bu
your victuals and clothes; you did for
you knew benjamin Croker"
Martha looked up. and her breath cam
quickly. 20, don't you suppose w
thought Of that? But you forget, Jane,
and her face and voice softened incred
IDLY, there's the baby. You forgot tn
baby"
lust then Nick slowed the wheels int
a hole again, and as Jane turned to sc
If the chair was secure her face, too
had changed. The hard lines about tn
, old maids mouth had relaxed, and Their
was a tender, yearning look in the shar
eyes.
Yes" she said, with a little catch
her hreath sres-I forgot the baby. -