Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1904-06-29
mnoN,T you like meat now. daddy .,

nDON'T you like meat now, daddy 2"
- Jack Simpson smiled YEARLY at
the question of his little daughter,
Beatrice, and she prattled on without
waiting for an answer. "'Cause you
never have any, you know; and there's
hardly ever anythin' in the cupboard
now wants some milk for supper;
please, mamma, let me have some
milk"
mo, no, dearie," said Mrs Simpson,
a very young and looking
mother; here, have this piece of bread
and drink of water. Come, there's a
good girl; l must take you off to bed
now
Dearie was put to bed, and when they
were left alone in the kitchen together
dearies father and mother looked ear
nestly into each others eyes. Then
dearie's father pushed a large knife
across the table and held out both his
hands.
"Cut 'em off," he said, hoarsely; no
body wants 'em. There's nothing for
'em to do. Cut 'em off"
Don't, Jack, DON'T" she pleaded;
work will come and we shall pull
round all right. For my sake, do moth
ing desperate, Jack. Don't give up
hope; you will get work"
"And where shall 1 get work?" he
retorted, bitterly. "They have done
with me at Fairlow's and I've tried
and tried-Heaven knows how I've
tried! And I'm getting tired of being
told there's nothing for me; I'm tired
Of seeing you getting paler and thin
ner"-she moved closer to him and ran
her fingers through his thick brown
hair-"and I'm tired of hearing our lit
tie girl ask for things, little bits O.
things, we can't give to her. Some
thing will have to be done quickly. 1
can't understand Holder; he plays me
on and off, half promises, and then
says he can't start anyone for weeks.
And he smiles when he says it. Smiles
just like he did when he gave me a
weeks notice with profound regrets,
as he put it, at Fairlow's having no
further use for my services. 1 hate
him when l think of it. Only yester-
day begged of him to find me some
thing to do, if only for the sake of you
and the little 'un. He shook his head
and said he was sorry, and smiled!
Sometimes l thin'--why, what's the
matter, JESSE"
Nothing, dear; why do you ask"
'Your cheeks-they are red as pop
pies. They remind me of the old days
All, Jess, dear, what sad mistake you
made to marry a mere workman"
"a very sad mistake indeed" she
said, as she contradicted the words
with a kiss
''You might have been Mrs. Who
knows-who." he went on, half serious
half chatting
I'D rather be Mrs I-know-who," she
answered, returning his fond look with
interest; and then, timidly, Jack
dear, l can't bear to see you looking sc
wild and reckless as you did a short
time ago. A little patience will surely
bring us into the sunshine again
Think how you have striven, with my
poor influence, to lift yourself out OF
the rut. Why here's Mr.. Bernaby tc
see you. l wonder if he brings good
news"
But Mr.. Bernaby was in no hurry tC
disclose news of any kind whilst she
was present, so she left them to them
selves. Her departure was evidently
a relief to the visitor. He nervously
placed four shillings on the corner Of
the table and said that he was sorry
he would not be bringing any more re-
o. fro he al, t. l., Il
at the last meeting. Couldn't say as
10 how his mates had voted against
the small weekly subscription they haG
been giving. Couldn't say that he liked
the job of carrying such disagreeable
news. Could say as how they was al
sorry, and that they hoped he would
soon get another place. Could say as
how 1t was no use trying Holder
Gould also say as how Holder was
slow, but he was sure and he was Gun.
ming, and surely Jack Simpson had no
forgotten that he, a mere sub-foreman
had carried off the lovely Jessie Revillt
from under his very managers nose
Could say as how it was a very nasty
raw evening for anyone to be out, anC
that he wished him very goodnight
And so, when she came in, she found
Jack still brooding over his wrongs
with new light Illuminating thei
cause, and wandering nearer anC
nearer towards the abyss of despair
Jess" he said, eagerly, "I remembel
you telling me that Holder paid yo,
some attentions before we were mar
ried. Did he ever ask"
Her cheeks turned into poppie
again. Yes" she said, che asked M
to marry him. told you all about ii
but you made light of it then"
"Of course" he said, "and it neve
once occurred to me that it might hav
touched him seriously. Besides, it i
over f-e years ago and yet his lonely
morose nature would perhaps neve
forget Jess'-he waved his arm
vaguely round the almost enapty room
Jess, can this be deliberate schem
-