The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-03-29

and sick. but it is all nonsense to speak
| about the promise Of loan
Mine had a good cry in the kitchen.
| What should she do? If she could not
give her uncle that two yen he would be
very much disappointed and the poor
family would not be able to meet the
! New Years obligations.
! She must get the money by some means.
She spied some money in the drawer of
a writing box. To touch it was just the
same as to take it; would she commit that
awful crime for the beloved ones sake?
| Her mind was like a tangled thread, and
! she felt as if she would go mad. 1t was
| about noon when a jinrikisha man came
| from the first daughters house asking
/ her mother to come at once, because it
I was her first experience in confinement,
| and she was much in need of a mothers
| help.
| Them istress was very anxious to go.
/ but she feared her step-son might do
some mischief during her absence. She
| was very much vexed at her husbands
easy going methods-going off Fishing
when the world was so busy. But finally
! she made up her mind and went off, tell
! ing Mine about everything during her abb
sence.
With smiling face her stability dress
ed cousin came to the kitchen door, fear
/ Ing lest some one should notice his ap-
pearance Yet he was so glad TO see
Mine. and ne asked tirnidly for the money
which she had promised to give him.
Now, she was obliged to decide whether
she would give disappointment to him or
TO listen to the voice of conscience. and
with faitering steps and a beating heart
she stealthily walked into the mistress
room. There was not a moment to lose
she thrust her hand into the drawer and
took two yen out of the roll of bills and
hastily made for the kitchen, where she
found her cousin waiting with a happy
face. She was as one deluded. All she
said and did was as if in dream. 1T
was so fortunate" she thought, that no
one noticed the awful deed" But for
tunately or unfortunately, 1t was all seen
by an unknown eye.
Toward evening her master came home
from fishing, and the mother returned
from her daughters house, and the family
seemed to be in jovial spirits. Only the
mistress. hearing that the step-son was
still in the house, looked very unhappy
and called out in loud voice, Here, y
Mine. have you made everything ready
for tomorrow? Are all the New Years
dishes cooked? Oh, how busy l am, 1
wish some lazy person would lend me
hand"
1shinosuke awoke from his lazy SUM-
ber and with very modest face went to
fo4l
spoke as follows Father. I ought to be
at home and welcome the happy New
Year. but I am not fitted to sit very
soberly and I hate all this fuss and cit
quette, and besides I am tired of being
rebuked and scolded by all around me
so L think l would be bet better off some
where and make myself free. And may
ask you, father, how much you will give
me for pocket money!"
The mother sat at his side and heard
the reuest, and waited anxiously for the
answer from her husband. She did not
utter even a word. which was very I'M
natural and unlike her usual rafting
man. With a grave face the father I'M
locked the safe and took out fifty yen
bundle, and laying it before him. spoke in
this money that you may not behave I'M
becomingly and bring shame upon our
family name, and also for the sake of
your sister. who is married that you
might do anything to annoy her. Now I
you can go-I have nothing to say to
you. but just consider well whether you
will be a true and noble son as you ought |
to be. In the New Year we shall have to
make calls. and what help you might rem
der met But instead you give agony and /
grief to your old father You have read (
many books. and you ought to know how |
to be good and diligent Now go. and sin /
no more" Having spoken these words, /
he rose and went into his room, leaving /
his son to consider well and repent Ish- /
inosuke was silent. but the money was
thrust into his pocket.
''Well. mother. wish you all may have |
a good and happy New Year. Now. good /
by" So saying he called Mine to bring /
round his geta Shoes to the front door.
and he went away gayly with his money.
which would all be spent in vain pleas
ures that night In all the wide world
what is sadder than to have prodigal |
son and a stepmother who brings up such
a one,
The mistress was very glad that the
hated one left the house, for now she
could have her own way. How sorry /
felt when that fellow took away the mon
ey, How cunning that fellow is, | would
like to look upon the fact of the mother
who gave birth to such a fellow" she
muttered
Mine could not realize what was going
on. Her heart was beating fast, yet she
could not believe that she had committed
a great wrong. WAS II a dream?" she
thought Surely the suspicion will come
bnon me. when the money is counted
what shall 1 do then? l care not what
may befall ne but II my sick uncle be-
comes the object Of suspicion-as he is
poor-what shall 1 do?" Poor girl; she
was in agony OF suspense for her con-
duct and her fearful eyes followed every
OF her mistress. and her spirit
lowered around the money drawer Late
In the night yearly accounts were begun
It was the mistress who received twenty
ven from a debtor and put them in the
drawer. Now she called out: 20 Mine,
bring that box here" Now" the girl
thought. the time has come-life or
my master all about the unkindness of
my mistress and also about my uncle's
innocence. alone am guilty II it. but
in case he does ont believe me. l viii
only have to die before them
Now her mind was fixed. She stood
~ resolutely. but her step was like that
II a sheep led before the butcher. Trefn-
1linsly she brought the box 70 her mis-
-ress ard the drawer was pulled out.
There was TO money. and 10 the great
surprise OF tbs girl. who had only taken