The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-01-04

/ 17apd otctrnnuus VINO was elSulyl dul
ma. who was seyenty-six years old
were wandering around With pale face
and set mouths. taking farewell Of al
the little trinkets that had beer
their household goods for forty years
and more. Thefarmyard was filed with
neighbors who looked pityingly at the
old people, but did not forget to bid
right smartly upon anything that they
wanted.
A dapper looking lawyer from town
was auctioneer. Another lawyer was
clerk. and kept run Of the sales with
lead pencil on the back OF a new
shingle.
Papa and Ma Stevenson had quar-
relied. It was not new for them. Both
had temrers. and both had shown
them all their lives. Yet. in spite OF
it, they had loved each other with a
fondness that had glorihed the little
farm on the side OF the mountain.
Five years before they had received
from a city man who had stopped at
the farm on a hunting trip among the
mountains a new-fangled coffee pot.
Ma had accepted 1t with delight. She
was tired Of making coffee in the same
old way, year in and year out She
hated above all things the scrap OF
dried fish skin that she had to put
into the old tin coffeepot every morn
ing Of her life. The new pot made
coffee as clear as a quill and as strong
as wine. But after little Pa hankered
for some Of the brew Of the old tin
pot that had served so long. He con-
tinually fused about the new article
till at last the patience Of the good
woman wore out. It was the first real
quarrel Of their married life But It
did not last long. Pa came in after
work one night, and sitting down In
the armchair in front Of the hearth
began to cry silently to himself He
was wet to the skin, from the sleet
he had worked in all day. He was
miserable, and his pride was broken.
But 1t took ma some time yet before
she would completely give in. She
helped him out Of his wet things with
her mouth in pucker. At last she
brushed back his long, wet hair with
her soft hand and said:
Never mind, Joe; I was as much
ter blame as You were" After that
the reconciliation was easy.
The next quarrel was also easy.
During the few years following the
old people frequently fell out over
trivial things. Their children had all
grown up and had gone their ways.
One was a prosperous farmer down In
the valley. Another was the wife Of
a neighhor on the next farm over
toward oxford. Betty Stevenson could
look across the hills to her daughters
house and draw comfort from the neat
appearance OF the building, when she
was lonesome. The old people. now
having nothing to take up their at
tention but the routine Of the place,
found it easier to make disagreements
out Of the little things Of life.
Six months before the auction there
had been a iercer misunderstanding
than ever. Pa had gone down to the
house OF neighbor and remained
there for several days. Ma had gone
to town and consulted a lawyer about
a suit for separation. When Joe heard
Of this he posted of to town himself
and retained another attorney. The
lawyers heard them through. and after
they were gone put their heads to-
gether. 1T is a shame to separate
those good people, when their tempers
have been kept under so long" said
Lawyer Canfeld II could see by the
very way she accused him that she
loved him. And did you hear him call
her Betty? It was tender from mere
habit Let's fix It up" And they
lid. To make a reconciliation more /
sure they got them to sign an agree
nent that II they ever Quarreled again /
hey would separate and sell all the
goods, the money to be d.
gided evenly. This was signed the
more readily because both Betty and
Toe thought that 1t would serve as a
,heek to their tempers.
But two weeks before the scene at
he farm there had been a more de-
ermined falling out than ever. It
vas so trivial a matter that after
wards neither could remember Just
What 1t was about. They had slept
wo nights at the houses OF neighbors.
md then had called the attorneys IN
o carry out the agreement. Lawyer
,anfeld. who was too soft hearted TO
'e a successful attorney. had done all
n his power to reconcile the couple.
Ie had failed completely. Though he
vas sure that there was love between
hem, the utmost ne could do would
lot bring it to the surface When he
Iot them together they fell to accus-
ng each other. and threshed over the
Id straw until his head reeled. The
hildren had refused utterly to say
7crd. They loved both the old folks
nd pitied them 80 much that they
new the fairest way was to show no
They stood ready to give
ZONES TO them when they wanted to