The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1903-10-15
Tho ksteh Temper
By l. McRoss.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

4 NDREW KETCH swung the big
IA barnsdoor to with a bang, gave an
old tin pail in the path q kick that lift
ed it high In the air before 1t descend
ed into q <snowdrift 20 feet away; then
he hurried up the path to the house,
his heels angrily crunching the snow
at every step.
Left his work and gone to the house
at four o'clock in the afternoon" he
muttered. I'LL see what he means by
ouch doin's. I'd lick him il
He stopped; Robert. who had pre-
ceded his father few minutes before,
had left the kitchen door aiar, and
something the young man was saying
to his mother and sister Emily caught
Andrews ear and arrested his foot:
Il tell you, mother, won't stand
this day longer. no, not another hour;
the red colt is dead, Prince and Charlie
have come down with the, distemper.
and Of course father blames me, just
as he does for everything that goes
wrong. work hard from early morn
ing until late at night, and what do
l get for It? Abuse, blame, scolding
and ugly looks. And he's just as mean
to you and Emily as he is to me. When
has he ever spoken a pleasant word
to you?" 3
Mr.. Ketch held his breath . mo-
ment, waiting his wife's answer, but
he could not hear her words, only the
low. soothing tones; then he heard
Roberts angry voice again:
II say 1 am going to leave, and I
want you and Emily to come with me.
In his last letter Brother John sent
check large enough to take all Of us
to the city. He will find work there for
me, and we will have q home without
ugly words or actions"
20, mother, do, do let us 60; you
know how unhappy father makes all Of
us here"
Andrew choked a little; could that
be his Emily. his little girl, speaking?
Were all Of them against him? He
strained his ears to hear his wife's
decision. and he caught the calm, slow.
spoken words:
II have been looking for this; ever
since John ran away have known
that 1t must come, and quite while
ago decided that when the time came
for me to choose between my children
and their father, should stand by
--"
"You will. will your" Andrew burst
into the room. his face distorted with
rage. $50 you've decided to leave me!
A fine wife you are-turn against your
husband when he's in the most trou-
BILE! Talk about ugly looks! Who
wouldn't look ugly with all I've had
to bear this past year? First, there
was the wood lot got afire and burnt
up Ill that hard maple I'd got ready
for market, there was clean thousand
gone"
'Yes." interpolated Robert, "and
you poured all your wrath out upon
me. though It was your own careless
ness that set it afire.''
.aFhen there was the Jersey COW 1
paid $500 for, and she slipped on the
ice and broke her hip and had to be
killed. Then"
Who was to blame about the cow ?"
Robert again interrupted, when you
ordered me to turn her out, told you
that she was liable to slip on the ice.
but you said. do as tell you and mind
your business but 1t was weeks be-
fore YOU quit nagging me about it,
Now it's distemper with the horses -
Andrew continued. zone dead and two
sick. and all Of you propose leaving me
to bear It alone; well, go then! Go
just rs fast as you can lift your feet
ont cf the house!"
He shook his clenched fists at his
wife, who kept on, mechanically darn
ing q hole in stocking.
Andrew" she began, gently, but
he sllenced her.
CO. I tell you; never want to see
your 9ace or hear your voice again..
She cl0aad her lips . aitaempre firm
II tiAn u1sal, folded tho stoeling and
lai4 lt uihn the ending basket. an1
aIiSnfly vent toher todtn, sanX Rober{
ana EMIL went % theirs. ~ az
ItsEas not long before the three came
back stes4 lrifa,sans raadygto leave,
Z md wttanut q word or glance at An
dreM, Who Wfas Walking Us ana down
ths room. they left the house.