The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-01-05
A Happy DELAY.



her prediction You'd better wrap up
warm and have plenty of straw in the
bottom Of the wagon III heat the soap
stone for your feet"
mo. you won't + don't want to be
coddled like a baby" replied stephen
Crane. Then, as if ashamed of his
roughness, he added, in a gentler tone:
1T isn't nigh SO sharp as it looks from
the inside You women squinch at the
least bit of cold"
I wasn't squinching for myself.
Stephen" the wife answered, in a hurt
tone. You are all I've got to take care
wei. well! Don't make baby of
me. that's all What do you want from
why, it is almost time for Christmas,
Stephen, and I'D like some raisins and
spices, and-and-it seems as if some
nuts and candy would taste real good
We haven't had any in so long, and
some cranberries, for turkey don't seem
natural without cranberry. sauce"
Stephen Cranes face had darkened
angrily at the mention of Christmas.
I don't see no need Of getting Christ
mas trimmin's,' he said harsh1y- L can
get the things, if you say SO; it isn't
that begredge theIas but there won't
be no flavor of thanks to go with them.
That can't be bought at the store"
But you can ask the Lord for it,
Stephen" replied the wife eagerly. lit
does hurt me SO to see you hard and
bitter toward him. Look at neighbOr
Blake's people, losing their only one,
they haven't been bitter against the
Lord"
Death is something that comes to ev-
cry home, but the other isn't" re-
piled Stephen Crane in a choked voice
Don't say any more about it, Martha"
And he stalked out but thinly clad for
the possible changes in the weather, his
wife looking after him with quivering
II never would have dreamed that
trouble could change man so!' she ex-
claimed sadly "Oh, Lettie, Lettie! How
could you treat US sO?' And her tears
flowed freely as she drew from the
bosom Of her dress a faded photograph,
the lines of the face almost obliterated
by many kisses and tears 1t was the
picture of a beautiful young girl, with
dark, curling hair and roguish, dimpled
face
The only daughter, and a beauty from
her cradle, Lettie Crane had been the
idol Of her fathers heart. No sacrifice
was too great for him to make for her
happiness when her need did not clash
with his stern will, but there came a
day when the petted, INDUCED child
merged into a woman with a warm. af-
rectionate heart, and not a little of her
fathers determination. Her lovely face
drew many admirers to the farm, and
among these there was one whom her
father had especially favored. He had
both wealth and character, and MI
Crane said, Yes promptly when he
proposed himself as a son-in-law Lettie
might have loved him in time: indeed
she had persuaded herself that she could
be happy with him as a husband until
she met Clifford Bentley from the city
That vicious, INSCRIPTIONS young
man. attracted by the beautiful face of
the child and the broad acres of the
father, found but too ready a dupe in
the trusting country girl, whose will had
never been seriously thWarted, whose
powers of discernment of character had
never been cultivated: and. though the
wedding garments We're all made and
the guests invited, Lettie eIoped with
her city admirer, and from that day her
fathers heart, instead of breaking,
hardened into an adamantine thing.
In vain the mother urged him to go
to the city and search for her.
''She has made her bed; she will have
it to lie in" was all the reply he would
make. There was no waiting light in
the window for the returning Wanderer
should she come back to her home. and
the only drop of comfort which had
come to the mothers heart was the
marriage certificate which had come
through the mail. There had been one
letter, but of this Mrs Crane knew
nothing.
Got a letter for you today, Martha,
said Mr.. Crane on his return at night,
as he came into the dining room, where
his wife was setting the table for the
late supper. He had deposited a heaV-
lily laden basket on the kitchen table as
ne passed through the kitchen
ssOh, Stepheni"
Her hands began to tremble and she
almost. dropped the plate of crullers she
was bringing from the cupboard.
Don't be anxious. It's only from
Mates folks" he added quickly and in
a kinder tone than usual He knew
what hope had blanched her cheeks and
taken the strength from her hands, and
in the morning there would have been
a set hard look of silent repPoOf on his
face but softening Influences had been
at work with him all the day as he re-
viewed the long years since he had
1t 1,e,tf
worse There has been a. lot of worse,
taking it by and large" he said to him
self. But Martha has always done her
part by me, however I've done mine by
her. I'm a cranky old fellow, now
that's a fact-and I reckon I'd better
get little oil into the cranks before
they rust in"
mates folks are coming up to spend
Christmas with US, Stephen exclaimed
Mrs. Crane as she read her letter
isn't that nice? Matilda says they are
sort of hungry for home diet and home
folks. and I'm so gladH'
sAnd so am 7, J" replied Stephen heart
lily. i've been almost afraid that Nate
was forgetting us and old times We
used to be such chums when we were
boys. Sol and Abram were nigh Of an
age. SO Nate and hung together
mostly"
nm SO glad you brought the things.
Stephen remarked the wife gladly as
she unpacked the basket Il can get
reay for them now without sending to
town I was sorry asked you for any
thing afterward."
well. I wasn't I was sorry though
that I was 50 grumpy, Martha" Mr..
Crane swallowed hard as if the words
hurt him, and drank a long draught
from the tin dipDer. I'm a cranky old
piece. and you mustn't mind what say
too much"
His wife looked up in surprise.
Il won't, Stephen. Your heart Is
right, I know, if your tongue does get
sharp once in a while"
In the city home the day before
Christmas Mr.. Nathan Crane and his
wife were preparing for their trip to the
country.
1T seems like an age since have
80, 500 ,. rem 2 rl.ad the older brother