The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-12-08
Met the Difficulty.


she went on as they passed down stairs
/ again, and I shall begin 10 pack to-
/ morrow. It viii be so nice TO turn
around and not always be running into
J everybody And now Ar. Petersen's IS
+ ter is living with US. Well good day.
/ The things viii begin to come by day
4 after tomorrow. Good day"
Theodore Foster stood looking after
/ her a moment: then he went into the
/ empty Darlor ana took the large TO
Let" placard from the front window.
! He carried it Up to his sitting room
I i hope it viii be a long time before I
/ have 70 see you again, he told Il as
/ he put il in his desk.
/ It was the first time for month that
/ he had felt really happy. During that
I time he had tried TO get tenant for
his house, but had been unable to find
! a suitable one Ii had been horribly
/ lonesome coming home at night to
/ cold, echoing house. But now he would
/ have the Petersens there and he looked
/ forward to the day after tomorrow with
( JOY. He used to know Joe Petersen, but
/ he supposed he wouldn't see much Of
him, as Joe was away from home all the
week. There were the children. too. He
! vas fond of children, even if he was
an old bachelor. Then he remembered
that the children must be nearly grown
were almost as good as children.
It was the next day. while he was out
taking his constitutional, that Everson
I saw him and crossed the street to speak
to him. so you have got the Peter
sense he said, after they had wa ked
a few blocks "Well. there's only one
thing about them that you won't like"
What is that?" questioned Mr.. Theo-
dore
Their piano"
"Oh. I don't mind piano practice as
some do" said Mr.. Theodore, easily. 'In
fact I rather like it"
You haven't lived over the Petersens
yet" said Everson, sententiously "You
wait a little It's an old piano that
/ came over on the Mayhower-that is, If
any pianos did come over then this is
one Of them. I could get more music out
Of a brass kettle and tin pans. It's all
out Of tune, too, and, worst Of all, they
keep banging away on It all the time.
In vacation it's something awful. There
are three girls that take lessons and
they are bound to be playing, so they
keep the old thing going about nine
hours a day"
Mr.. Theodore's face had heightened
/ during this description What makes
them keep such an old trap?" ne asked.
well, you see, they're kind of poor,
and they can't afford a new one"
Mr.. Theodore walked modify along
after his friend had left him. Then,
suddenly his face frightened. It can fix
it all right" he said, and went on more
brislSIv.
The next morning there was consider
able grumbling from the two men who
moved the Petersens because Theodore
Foster insisted on helping
He was especially troublesome about
the placing Of the piano. He insisted
on having it on the very end Of the load,
and tied it with his own hands. When
the team started, he trotted along beside
it, and they reached the house at the
same time.
It was a raw morning, and the men
were putting blankets on their horses,
when suddenly there came a jangling
crash. They hurried to the back of the
wagon and found Mr.. Theodore looking
in horror and dismay at a very badly
smashed piano. IT'S all my fault"
was all he managed to say before a ter
rent Of abuse and curses loud and deep
overwhelmed him.
Mr.. Theodore went and told Mrs Pc
tersen about the accident, and after ne
had gone a loud wall arose from the
three girls. but when the household ef-
fects were moved and the Petersens
themselves went to their home. there, in
the parlOr. was a beautiful, brand new
piano.
They all stood in the doorway and
stared in amazement.
Mr.. Foster had It sent" Aunt Sarah
Petersen explained. She had been there
attending to that end of the moving.
HE said that as it was due to his
carelessness that the other was wrecked.
he would take the liberty Of sending for
this one"
Maud. the oldest girl. went and tried
the instrument. isn't 1t beautiful" she
cried raDturously.
Time went or. and the girls pracHced
diligently. Their aunt also took advant-
age of the chance to play, so that Mr.
Theodore had all the music he wanted
The Petersens had been there two
months when Mr.. Theodore asked Maud
to go with him to the piano rooms.
ct want you to try them ALL" he said
land see II there is one you Ike better
than the one at home"
Maud tried them. mo" she declared,
there isn't one so nice"
Are Isabel and Katherine satisfied
with it?"
why yes, indeed they are"
BY the way. won't you play that new
waltz for me?"
she seated herself at the nearest IN
strument and began to play. When she
had finished she looked around. but Mr.
Theodore was not beside her as she had
supposed. Instead, she saw him attthe
far end Of the room coming toward her
with piece Of paper IN his hand When
he reached her he passed her the paper.
"A birthday present, my dear. ] believe
it IS your birthday today"
Maud looked at the paper blanlly.
Then it dswned upon her that Il was a
bill Of sale of the piano at home. made
out in her name.
Maud never would tell her sisters what
she did III that moment, but when she
came home and told them about 80 they
all declared that Mr.. Theodore was a
dear"
Don't you think IT would be better
for you 70 SO out Of doors more. Miss
SaraA?" Mr.. Theodore asked her ore
day. Il would be greatly honored f YOU
would accompany me on ny daily
walks. IL IS rather tedious going alone
And so * became the custom for The
old bachelor and the maiden aunt 10
walk out every day together.
But after a year o. this. Miss Sarah
told him one day that she was going
away for SIX months visit
Air Theodore was filed with conster-
nation az This and begEed her to re-
consider He pleaded 60 earnestly ard
eloquently that she finally promised 70
stay away only two weeks. and when
she came back 30 sat the dag"
That was The longest wax they had
taken. and toward she end II Il 1Tr
Theodore said, "3fv dear, there s. so-re-
thinE 7 have wanted 20 ten you ever
since have known you L Is about the
ul7-o"
don't think you win have 20 tell ne
now she saf5 Il have known i al
tha time. I saw you DO tt"
ue 90 Ito ID whzt2"
'Cut the rc7e."
lie stood stlu and locked a hsr