Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-11-01
POOR WILLIAM.

10ooR WILLIAM always used to
wipe his feet on the mat before
he came into the house." OBJ
served Mrs. Ganderson, with a sigh.
"He was always considerable in that
way"
Il wiped my feet" protested Gander-
son. Il never fail to wipe my feet.
I've done it all my life, and it isn't
likely that I'd forget to do 1t low."
Then what is that mud?" demand
ed his wife, pointing to some spots
on the oilcloth. Nobody else has been
I'm here this afternoon. 1 don't see
why you should say you have wiped
your feet Ii you haven't. You've got
a perfect right to track up the whole
he1lse IL you want to. It's your house.
Ii may make little more work for
me, but then haven't anything special
to do except to clean up after you,
and If l had 1t wouldn't matter, would
it? Not enough to make you deny 1t.
That was one thing about poor Will
liam. If he did anything he'd always
own up to it."
''Of course" sneered Ganderson,
STOPPING to unlace his shoes.
Indeed he did" assented Mrs. Gan
derson. poor William"
Darn poor William!" muttered the
man. "How long before suppers
ready?"
James Broderick Ganderson!" ex-
claimed his wife.
"Well!"
well! I'm surprised at you To
say things like that about the dead!
/ wonder there isn't a judgment on
YOU But you always did seem to have
grudge against poor William"
Not me-" said Ganderson, surIily.
"I'm sorry he died. 1 wish he was
alive and well again this minute. I've
no grudge against him, further'n that"
Mrs. Ganderson set the teakettle
that she was holding with her apron
down on the stove and applied a cor
ner of the garment to her eyes.
well, there, now, l didn't mean to
hurt your feelings" said her husband,
half repentantly. "Only you always
told me that you and he didn't get
along together any too well, and now
you're always throwing him up to me-
He didn't do this and he didn't do
that, and he always used to do this and
that and the other. I'm sick of him.
But what's the use of making fuss :?
Forget 1t
The woman gave her eyes another
wipe and sighed. How would you
like me to forget your" she asked.
Poor William had his faults, as we
all have, but"
Ganderson threw the shoes he was
holding at a corner of the kitchen,
missed It and knocked a pot of ferns
Off the window sill. Then he kicked
the kitten to one side and strobe out
Of the ROOM Mrs. GanderSon sunk
into the Boston rocker and burst into
sobs. A thump or two overhead and
the slam of door indicated that
Ganderson had sought the seclusion Of
the spare bedroom.
The fat In the frying pan on the
stove began to burn and emit unpleaS-
ant odors, but Mrs. Ganderson re-
manned oblivious until a ring at the
aoorbell sounded sharply through the
cottage. Then she jerked the pan
quickly off the stove and set it In the
sink and stood listening.
The beA rang again, still more
sharply, and as there was no sign of
response from above Mrs. Ganderson
united her apron and opened the door.
A sour-featured, thin and elderly WON
an dressed in black stood before her.
She uttered cry that was almost
one of dismay. why, Mother Wa
ters" she exclaimed, and. hesitaring
an instant, bent forward and peclzed
at the old woman's cheek
Il amt got but an hour TO stay."
said the visitor, depositing small tel
escope in the hall. I'm on my way 10
Lucy's folks an l had to change cars
here, 50 thought I'd stop In an see
you. No, won't go into the settin'
room; I'll go into the kitchen. You've
got somethin' burnin' there What are
you dom? Gettin' supper? Is your
husban' to homer"
She looked around the kitchen with
q disparaging air and seated herself
n the rocker and loosened her bcnne,