Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1905-12-11

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 "Is he to have it washed with soap, maw?
 "He shore is. Any one would think you had been born and raised in Arizony or Nebrasky, to hear you talk. I'm plumb ashamed of you, Judy
 But, deed. maw, ain't big enough to wash his face with soap. It takes Topeka to hold bis head"
 The subject of the discussion still sat on the edge of the bed. small lord of creation. letting his women folk arrange among themselves who should minister to his wants. As an instrument of torture the washcloth, in the hands of his sister Judy, was no ignoble rival of the cactus thorn. The question of making terms for his suf- ferings again appealed to him i'll the light of feasible business proposition.
 "Muvvy, tan't have the apple? Judy hurts me lot when she Wathes my face wis soap"
 "Yes. you can have the apple, honey; and. Judy, you be gentle with him, Don't rub his features up. and be care full and don't get soap in his eyes,
 Nom" And Judy heroically stifled the longing to slick her hair, like Tope- kas, with the wet hairbrush. There were easier tasks than washing the face of her younger brother.
 When Topeka and her mother were alone in the kitchen, Topeka grinding the coffee and all unconsciously work ing her jaw in an accompaniment to the coffee mill, her mother bent over her and said:
 Did you dream of anything last night!"
 Topeka simultaneously stopped work ing the coffee mill and her jaw and re garded her mother solemnly. She did not remember having been thus ques toned about her dreams before.
 "No'm" she answered. after 'al5ori ous consideration But something in her mothers face held her.
 You're sure you didn't dream noth ing?'
 "Yes, maW."
 "pid Judy or Jim say that they dreamed anything?'
 "Jim said he dreamed he had q pup"
 "Was that all? Think hard Topeka"
 Topeka held the handle of the coffee mill in her hand Her jaw continued to work with the labor of her mental process. i've thought hard. maw, and all he told was about the pup ! Aida went back to her bedroom and again felt the brown bureau. "What's s :, the matter with me, anyhow It's the lonesomeness, and they bein' agjn Jim the way they are Lord, this country's $ hard on women and horses!'
 When breakfast was over and young Jim had received the reward of his valor in presenting a brave face to his ablution and Judith the reward of her i skill, the evidence of which almost pre-. vented the young martyr from smiling while he enjoyed his treat, their moth CT sent them all to play in the canyon. She told them not to come home till she should come for them. and if any one l should ask about their father to say that he was away from home. And this, as well as the mystery of her ia ther getting his sleep out" reused some slight apprehension in Topeka who was old for her age. They were seldom sent to the canyon to play. To peka looked at her mother as she had when questioned about the dream, but there was no further confidence be i tween them.
 You do as your sister Topeka tells you and remember what l said about your papa" Aida said to the younger children. Jim and Judy clasped each others hands in mute compact at the edict Their sister Topeka had a real genius for authority. They were mind- ed all too we'll when she swayed the maternal scepter vicariouSly.
 Aida made fresh coffee for Jim when the children had gone. She made it carefully. There was this morning, un- consciously, about each little thing that she did for him the solcmnity of flu neral rite. Struggle as she would she could not diveSt her mind of the con viction that what she did this day she cid for the dead She would go to the door and listen to his breathing ana tell herself that she was d fool. then Wr.n- ;le..= hands at the remembrance of the ,siealn.
 As he tossed half waking. she heard him Gr0an and curse the eat, lemen with oaths that made her glad she had sent the children from ho9e. I.4en she bent ore- him and woke him from his une,sy slumher.
 Jim, don't you want me to bathe your head? And heres some nice hot coffee all ready for Eou.'
 Jim woke slowly to d realization of his troubles and his blessings. His wife was bathing his head with hands that trembled. Not always had she greeted his indiscretions with such loy- ing forbearance He noticed, though his waking faculties were not over keen. that her face was pale and fright ened and that her eyes, meeting his, held q dumb, measureless affection.
 What are you babying me for!' But his roughncss did not deceive her womans wits. He was not getting the