The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-12-01

hey- But he Gid not notice, and so fed
his team, and came slowly toward the
house. AS he neared the X itchen door.
strange feeling came over him, for he
saw that il was closed. He turned the
knob. Great Scott.'' 1t was locked.
He went around the house and lifted
the big fat stone, where the key had
been hidden. the few times in their mar
ried life when Hannah had gone to
neighbor's. There il lay.
Where has she gone? and harvest bak-
ing TO DO. This is a pretty state o
things
The Il re was dead and no warm coffee,
nor dinner set out awaited him He drop
ped into a chair and stared hepelessly
around the neat kitchen.
Great Scott. nebhy she's sick; and lie
hurried into the hall and up the stairs.
Opening the door with a rush. he strobe
into the bedroom. meaning 10 ask the
reason OF all this.
The room had no occupant. and the
strange spectacle of letter on the table
attracted his eyes. Grasping the missive
with fingers suddenly grown cold. he sat
down upon the nearest chair, and tore it
open
seem to find a chance 10 rest here, and
am going where / can. Don't try to find
me: it will be 10 use. You can get Mar
tina. Her brother will be among the
hands; so she will not object to coming.
Your wife. HANNAH
Abner sat as one suddenly paralyzed.
mama gone. how did she go? She
must have made way with herself" And
the frightened man rushed down the stairs
and out OF the house. in an agony OF fear.
IN a short time the neighborhood was
raised. But, search as they might, no
Hannah was found
Martha came over and cooked for the
men. But Oh how different the house
seemed without Hannah,
SO Abner was left alone and the ma
irons said it served him right.
The weeks dragged YEARLY. and Abner
began to look unkept and seedy. The
white chat is, it was once white) kitchen
floor was sight to see; and the whole
house. from cellar TO garnet. was in dire
full confusion.
Outside the chickens were "doin no
good" the cows had nearly gone dry,
and Abner was growing thin from the
want of properly cooked food.
He had baked cold water corn pone."
till he AIRY hoped next years corn crop
would be blasted. Every shirt he had
was dirty. and his socks were in holes.
lie sat dejectediy in front of the kitchen
stove, one morning. and, for lack of some
thing better. addressed that ashes-and-
greast-besmeared creation OF iron in
sorrowful tone:
Ia no idee woman did make SIGH a
difrence i'm the house. And then. to think
OF her making way with herself. and
where. and how, is an awful mystery. If
she hadn left that letter. l might been
hung. WaH. did thing heap o Hammer
no discount on that-and If I only had
her a gin, ther'd be difrent way o dom
things IN this house. and a red bandana
was hastily whipped out OF his pocket
and applied to his eyes.
Yes; Abner Green was truly crying.
The house cat, grown sleek and fat from
frequen> depredations on the dairy, where
the door was left aiar, ard the milk not
securely covered. purred contentedly at
his feet, while the clock licked loudly
above his head.
It's no use; 7 amt got nothing to live
for. now, 10 how. I'm goin 10 find yer,
Hammer" And Abner rose slowly from
his chair and walked out at the open door
and down the path to the barn
But some how hanging seemed dread
full way OF dying. and after handling the
halter rope a while he laid it down and
started toward the house.
IN 20 down town and buy some quick
poison" And. wheeling around he went
back to the barn and saddled ct, Hannah's
favorite mare.
Abner fingered all day in town. He had
the ''strychnine for rats safe in his peck
et; but he reasoned that night it would
be the best time to take it,
At shutdown he went home. and. hay
ing fed the stock. went with bent head
toward. the house, entirely forgetting to
milk the cows.
He did not notice that the door. which
he had left open, was now closed; and.
opening it, he stopped spell-bound. There.
in front OF the stove. stood Hannah. fry
ing fritters for supHr-Hannah looking
ten years younger. plump as a quail. She
turned toward him. and with an oh:
Great Scott. Hannah he had her in his
arms. giving her kisses and caresses
enough. for once in his life.
And Hannah. with happy tears in her
eyes, listened TO his promise to make her
future life more bright and told him her
own story.
Il won't touch one cent O your money.
Hammer; do what YOU like with IT, But if
she'll come. Martha shall make her home
with us. and I'll buy a carriage. and see
Il We cant find some pleasure in life. l
Jest tell you. Hammer. | could not afford
to have you die. and leave me, for I've
gone to total wreck in these weeks you've
been gone.
He kept his word. and, inside of n year.
the most astonishing thing happened
Abner Greens wife presented him with-as
fine son as one could wish 10 see. And
a prouder husband and father than Alb
ner. or a more peaceful. smiling little
mother than Hannah. could not have been
found.
When she was strong enough to write TO
Aunt Hannah she wrote: Change your
viii and leave your money TO my boy;
Abner and have enough
And so. when good Aunt Hannah pass
ed from earth. they found she had COM
piled With the request and -Abner Green.
Jr. was her sole heir.
ANOTHER JEAN.