Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1901-01-26
AN EXEMPTED CONSCIENCE


look more and more peaked every day,
remarked Mrs. Adoniram Plat. survey
ing her sister-in-law with disappearing
eyes Mrs. Plat herself weighed 1913
pounds. and had little charity for those
whom relentless heredity or the vicissi-
tudcs OF life denied a reasonable measure
of plumpness. What are you dOin' 10
make yourself so thin and chalky look
in - she continued. Il thought at hrst
ii might be Williams death that preyed
ON your sperits. but here it is-lets see,
goin' on year and seven months, amt
ii? sence he was took from us, and res
ignatiOn to the will of Providence, to say
nothin' OF the lapse of time, ought to be
softenin' that atfliction of the flesh, ef
not TO the sperit.'
Janet Perry made no reply to the stric-
lures of her sister-in-law. She had
learned that silence, as a rule, was the
best way to neutralize Mrs. Platt's
habitually critical mood. She could not
remember the time when her sister-in-
law had called upon her and had not dis
covered something to find fault with. So,
on the present occasion, she continued
her household duties with an air Of even
more than w0nted preOccupation-an air
that might have offended one less accus-
toned to it than Mrs. Adoniram Platt.
Suddenly, however. she stopped short
in the middle of the kitchen floor clapped
her hand 10 her forehead and looked up
ut the time-stained face of the old clock
on the wall II declare"' she exclaimed
IF | haven't gone twenty-five minutes
past the time for takin my bicarbonate
of sodium, and there's more of that left
over than anything else. I'll never get
it used mp at this rate.
"Whatw exclaimed Mrs. Adoniram
Plat. The pallid little woman. swaying
to and fro in her uncertainty, started at
the exclamation and looked half-sheep-
ishly and half-detiantly at her sster-in-
law. I'm usin' up Williams old stock
of medicine, what was left over after
he died. she explained. There's a cup
board full of it yet, and I'm tired of see
in it set there. But twas awfully ex-
pcnsive stuff, and | can't bear to throw
away anything that cost so much money,
so I'm usn' it up myself to save it,"
Mrs. Platt threw herself back in her
chair with an exclamation compounded
of amusement and scorn. "Well" she
exclaimed. NO need of my rackin' my
brain any longer TO find out why yen
look as If YOU was in the last stages
Of consumption. The wonder is that you
amt dead already. But | might have
known it; it's jest like you. | declare.
l never did see any woman, or man
either for that matter, quite so far gone
VI NhN SHbiCft VI tNnibnN as YOU Dcs
Well, well! What will Adoniram say?
guess he'll come over here quick enough
and clear out that cupboard for you"
guess he won t--not unless he pays
full price for all there is left in itr' cried
Mrs. Perry, Fastening to the cupboard
with spoon and glass in hand There
she exclaimed, a moment later, with Il
WHY face. Il took a dose and half that
time to make up for bein' SO absent
d NV =
III leven, | want You to be sure ana re-
mind me to take dose of salal Levcn
. clock is my hour for that. Then nj
hall past leven take my peptonized ar
Senlc. and just before dinner a caetina
pellet Cactina's strong medicine, but |
think my dinner helps to carry it off.
And suppose You take somcthin' else
every half hour durin' the afternoon 2"
querled the MISUNDERSTANDING woman in
the kitchen rocker.
Mrs, Perry nodded her head.
well, | Shan't set here till 'evcn. nor
minute. longer cried Mrs. Adonram
Platt, rising with jerk. Il won't be a
witness to any such suicidal foolishness.
to say nothin' of encouragin' you in IT,
I'm goin' lone. and I'm going to tell
Adoniram the first thing. Perhaps it
amt too late 10 save you yet"
Iwon't do any good for you TO try"
replied little Mrs. Perry, doggedly. as
she went to the door with her sistcr-in-
law. I've set ont To save that medi-
cine. and I'm a-@"n' to do il cf ii kills
me. You can tell Adonram SO. He's
known me considerably longer n You
have. and | guess he'll understand that it
won't he amy use To interfere"
As Mrs, Adoniram Plat departed with
mrpoSetul haste the lonely, childless
widow sat down in the Still vibrating
int
any Of em know the real trouble that's
ratin' the heart ont of me-" she moane,.
on, ii William had only told me before
ne died that he had gone ana mortga gcd
his own "rave--tor that's just what il is
and Emma'S and Charlcy'S. too, II
breaks my heart To think of lit jest
breaks my heart
She Went TO the window and looked out
through her flooding tears at the little
private burial ground on the other side
OF the fence-a bit of knoll set ahout with
cedar> and enclosed by n slight naling.
whose white paint had long ago faded 10
dingy gray. Ii was just such A neglect
I'd out precious burial ground as one may
see on many 4 lonely farm throughout
New England. far from the little village
cemetery. Convenience and sentiment
unite IN its founding. 1t seems 81 much
better to the loving heart to commit ONES
dead 10 soil hallowed by long family own
etShip and by dear associations: to have
them near ut hand in su"mer'S heat and
winters cold; 10 see 'h.. white STONES
Giimmerlng over Them III the dark and
through rain and snow The village
Nard Is miles away, small. leSolatc and
oNertroWdCd. SO q grave is dug ON the
nelghboring hillside, and then another.
ahd another, until the family hurymc
ground Is fairly established. And after
NAT only those whose kindred have min-
Elt0 with lis dust lnnM. how. -.