Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1902-01-25

next year. They unimproved. Johns
business affairs went wrong. 1t was
the year of panic, and collections were
di1hcult to make. Instinct prevented
him from groaning in the market
place, hence he brought his groans
home and discharged them in an av-
alanche at his wife.
Then John failed. He came home
one night, and sat for a long time be-
meath a cobweb in corner of the
sitting room, staring with wide unsee-
ing eyes at the picture of Garfield upon
the wall. saying nothing. needless Of
the food upon the table.
Emma sat in the kitchen, rocking
ceaselessly, their child asleep in her
arms. She knew what had happened.
A glance at John had told her all she
cared to be told.
SO the minutes became hours, and
the fire died out, and chill came into
the air. The clock struck nine. John
spoke.
En-" said he, Its all over
s'I know it, she returned. What
are you going to do about ft?''
Il dent know" he replied. I'm
clean discouraged-beat. I'm a poor
stick"
You are she agreed promptly.
He started violently What" he
cried. You say that? 1 reckon. mad
arr, I'm as much cf d success as you
you that deceived me-that lured me
TO marry you under false pretenses,
You that made out to be helping your
ma so good with the housework. You
that run whenever you saw me coming
and put on your apron and rolled up
your sleeves and dabbled your hands
with -four OR grabbed up hatiron!
You-O. / know all about it! 1 should
think you'd have been ashamed of
yourself. letting your ma do all the
work while you Just LACED round. I
should think you'd be ashamed of
yourself this minute sitting there on
that f;oor thai hain't been swept for
a week. Did you think wouldn't find
you out? o. you deceiver your
He arose to bis feet. excitedly pacing
from one room to the other; then
paused, an expression of surprise and
bewilderment in his eyes, for Emma
was smiling at him through tears.
John" she demanded. quietly, who
told you that?"
Il overheard your pa telling Squire
Wigham," he said, land they seemed
to think Twas the best joke ever was
But. it hurt me fearful and rolled me
up. You've 70 idea how it rolled me
up. Em."
Yes, have. John" said she
Mercy. Do you think I'm blind and
deaf? But it wasn't so bad as pa
made it out to be, honest, it wasn't
Just once l run and put on an apron
and rolled up my sleeves to deceive
you, and that time twas because Ii
| torn a big hole in the front of my
dress and the sleeves were all stained
| up with raspberry juice Pa was al
ways teasing me about it afterwards
He thinks he's an awful rich joker. d.
| does And as for my failing to keel
| house good for you, John, there WASH
| any trouble till baby came, and theI
l didn't have time nor strength to d.
| 1t. and you couldn't afford to hire help
| and YOU wouldn't tell me why. and
| and-O, joint"
| She placed the child in its cradle
| and with deliberate impulsfvenes
threw her arms about Johns neck
! His arm slowly wound itself abou
her waist
Were just rs foolish as-as TIL
| fools. john" she sobbed-
.-Fooler,. declared he decidedly q
hain't given you fair shake. En- In
going to be different"
They were silent for an interval
an Interval az cloee. Nordlezn com
46Nl62 1s84 60 4 <4S R1Snl4E 31V