The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1900-10-13

&<<<<<<+<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

I EMUEL BICKETTS was widower.
IL So also was Emanuel Croster. 1t
was but natural that there should exist
betweeR the two fellow feeling.
The wife of Lemuel had arisen one
day in fit of i'll temper-justified, per-
haps, SO far as i'll temper is ever justi-
fed and repaired to lawyers Office,
where she stated her complaint. Lem
uel had not treated her with due con-
sideration. He had expected too much
of her. He was old enough to be her
father. No woman, she said, could pre-
pare from nothing three meals day
and still retain her self-respect. The
lawyer admitted the truth of the state
ment. He inquired whether or not
Lemuel had ever treated her with
physical cruelty. Yes; he had made her
split the wood. Very good. AT the next
term of the district court she was de-
clared free of the bonds which had
bound her to Lemuel.
But the case of the wife of Emanuel
was sadder one. She was of long
suffering sort, and the thought of di-
vorce had never entered into her blunt
ed mind. She did the best she could
for Emanuel. When nothing to eat was
forthcoming she boiled dandelion greens
and endured the harsh criticisms of
Emanuel in silence. In the end she
stretched herself upon the bedding
which had constituted her dowry and
peacefully repaired to another world.
1t was severe shock to Emanuel.
When the funeral had been over for
several hours, and the two children had
been fed upon milk furnished by kind
neighbor, Emanuel strolled over to con-
dole with Lemuel and to be condoled
with. He found Lemuel sitting discon-
solately upon the front step of his resi-
dence. The two older children were be-
side him. His wife had taken the baby
Good evenin'," said Emanuel in
tone of sorrow.
Same to you" said Lemuel. He arose
to the full limit of his awkward, I'M
calmly six feet four inches and extend
ed his hand-he had but one, the other
having been removed with the arm at
a Fourth of July demonstration. ''Glad
to see you. How're you feeiin'?"
"Bad-bad," said Lemuel, hollowly.
How're your"
Bout the same" replied Lemuel.
The world looks mighty glum to
feller that hain't got a woman"
1T does that" said Emanuel.
"What're you goin' to do?''
Dunno. What're your
"Dunno."
Nothing more was said for time.
Then Lemuel cast off the abstraction
which was upon him and spoke.
II reckon somethin's got to be did for
the kids; they've got to have somebody
to look after EN-"
you're right" agreed Emanuel;
"the-the kids must be took care Of"
"And nothin' but woman can do it."
said Lemuel.
"Nothin' but . woman" repeated |
Emanuel.
Then"
"Yeah?"
THE thing to dos to get woman"
II reckon"
Women is plenty enough in the
world. We'd have no trouble, you and |
me, gettin' one if we was prettier.
I'm lopsided, and you've got impede /
ment in your gait"
This was very near the truth.
Emanuel by some prank Of nature had
been gifted with knee action at the
hips and with hip action at the knees,
an effect at which some
people laughed. 1t was tender point
with Emanuel, and he Jared up a bit
at Lemuel's words.
You're Ii" he began, but Lemuel
held up his great, over-developed
hand.
Don't get excited, Man." he said.
Don't forget that she's only been
dead little while. You owe som.
respect to her memory-though I
s'pose," he added, reflectively, "she's
bout as dead as she ever will be-"
Il s'pose." sighed Emanuel.
Then Lemuel sent the children into
he shanty and approached Emanuel
slancing about him cautiously as he
lid SO.
Man." he said, in a whisper, eve
rot the-the dangdest best thing YOU
,ver Seen"
What is it?" asked Emanuel, sus-
Lemuel drew dirty, wrinkled pa
per from his pocket and unfolded it.
Look at that!" he said, Triumph
lntly, holding up the sheet, "Cupid's
Dart. More'n a hundred beautiful,
wealthy ladies wants husbands-dy-
n for EN-, Man, dyin' for 'em."
Emanuel gasped. "D-do they mean
TT he asked, incredulously. Il
why, o course they mean it-any-
way as much as any woman ever
means anything. l found this here
'aper kickin' round in the road yester-
lr<>v -