The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1901-05-10

their meals at the proper hours. l
am sure when | was girl, my MAN.
ma would have"
What her mamma would have done
in a similar state of things Miss Mar
jorie never knew, for at that moment
the door opened and corpulent, red
faced, good-humored looking man en-
tered. closely followed by a stupid
looking boy of -. The young lady
subsidized into graceful attitude upon
the sofa; the boy established himself
at Miss Marjorie's elbow, and began
an indiscriminate assault upon the eat
ables; but Mr.. Magnum dutifully sup
piled his wife with cup of tea and
plate of bread and butter before be-
ginning his own meal. which he took
at the small table which always stood
beside her easy chair.
We'll, my DEAR" he said, cheerfully,
how has the world used you to-day
LAS usual" was the whining reply
THE neuralgia any better?'
mo, my dear"
"And the headache?"
"As bad as ever
Dear! DEAR" said Mr.. Magnum,
sympathizingly.
Mrs. Magnum sighed and leaned her
head upon her hand.
She was the invalid of the family.
From early morn to dewy eve she
sat in her velvet chair; and during
nine months of the year, before fire
hot enough to roast an OK. The at
mosphere of the parlor was so sitting
as to make a stranger feel faint after
breathing it for five minutes at a
time; but Mr.. Magnum and his son
and daughter inhaled it contentedly
enough. Miss Marjorie, indeed, was
constantly troubled with giddiness and
determination of blood to the head;
but she was only a companion, and no
one paid much attention to her all
ments, unless they were of an obsti-
nately intrusive kind. So, through the
sharp winter the double windows of
the parlor were closed and padded, and
list was nailed around the doors, and
sand bags laid at every crack and crew
ice, lest a breath OF cold air should by
any chance steal through; and the in
valid. basking before the piled-up
crate, dozed and ate, and drank, through
the short days and long evenings, till
the light and heat of summer forced
her to live a little less like sala-
mander and little more like an ordi-
nary human being.
Mr.. Magnum was a retired ironmon-
ger who had made money enough out
of his pots and kettles to leave them
forever in his fifty-fifth year 1t had
been his fathers business before him,
and he had started therein at the age
sand pounds as pocket money to say
nothing of a trade connection extend
ing half over the Black County. Yet,
in speaking of the earlier part of his
life he was accustomed to allude to
himself pathetically as a poor or
phan," and to hint mysteriously at ter
rible hardships undergone by him
leaving you to infer that those hard
ships had been surmounted by him
alone, without the slightest aid. The
story had a somewhat ludicrous eff
feet when you gazed at the face of the
narrator. and heard the putting signs
with which his obesity compelled him
ever to interlard it. Certainly no one
Ioof-ol laea lilo q UnOOr ornhanv than
he.
Tea was at length over. Mrs. Mag
mum nestled herself into the easiest
corner of her easy chair. Julius went
out; the fair Kitty began to crochet,
and Mr. Magnum read the daily paper
laboriously aloud. If any one listen
ed to political speeches and stock lists
IL was not Miss Marjorie. She sat in
a far corner of the room. ostensibly
engaged in correcting a French exer-
else of Miss Kitty's, but really think
ing of a time and a person far. far
away.
At last Mr. Maenum put down his |
paper and turned to his wife. with the
air of one who has a secret of import
ance to reveal.
My dear. who do you think met /
at the works today"
How should know" replied Mrs. /
Magnum, somewhat testify. Some
horrid ironmaster. presume.
NO. my love-quite n different per
son. A banker You must remember
hearing me speak OF him Mr.. Cowley.
Of Mecklenburg Square"
Miss Marjorie looked up. flushed ana