Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1906-04-14
EHSTER STORY.
WRITTFN FOR The WORLD.

nuts 1t was a we'll known fact in
the neighborhood that no one could
make such tender, spicy doughnuts
as Mrs Henderson. The hot fat was
sizzling and sputtering on the big
cook stove, awaiting her readiness to
drop the soft spongy balls into its
clear depts To be brought out crisp
and delicious.
She was a little woman, and her
hair was we'll silyered, and despite
her years it was still soft and heavy.
She wore it parted and brought back
rather softly at the sides, making
becoming frame for her sweet face,
which showed any lines of care and
tired shadows resting about the eyes.
She had way of looking at you that
put you in mind of the expression
you have seen in the eyes of child
that has given its confidence to you.
Her life with David Henderson had
not been an easy one. He was hard
working man, and had by thrift and
energy laid by goodly portion of this
worlds goods. He loved the almighty
dollar, and was always loath to part
with it. In their young days they
had been poor and very happy, and
his heart had been full of love for his
pretty young wife. John, their eldest
son, had died, and it was hard blow
for their lives had been centered in
the bright, handsome lad. and his
mother never quite got over her
grief for her son. Mary Henderson
had worked hard, and many times be-
her strength. When she asked for
money her husband gave grudgingly,
and with i'll grace, and after while
she ceased to even ask. Jim and Kate
were the only children left. Kate
was lovable girl about sixteen, and
Jim a bright lad nearly nineteen, who
worked faithfully for his father,
while Kate assisted her mother in
the house. Mrs. Henderson never
complained, and she seldom seemed
moved out of her calm mode of exist
ence, although many times sadness
came over her features, and sigh
escaped her lips.
This morning, she paused in her
work and looked out of the west win
dow across the meadow just over
on the sunny hill side, where She
could see the quiet little cemetery.
The April sun had carressed the
brown turf, and the sweet south wind
had blown her breath upon it until it
had sprung up into new life, and the
low mounds were turning to a soft
green. She sighed gently as she turn
ed back to the stove, and was glad
that she knew it was well with her
hn
hardness of life. That morning Kate
had told her mother in girlsh eager
ness that the minister had asked her
to take part in an Easter exercise
that would be given at the church on
Easter morning, and that each girl
would have to have white dress and
white slippers, and ''On, mother
dear, I" she added Il hope l can for all
the girls are going to be IN it,"
swell, l will see DEAR. said her
mother as she looked at the eager
young face. "Bu6 you know father,
Kate" .sYes 1 do mother, and l
think he is just as mean ashe can be-,
she said with considera BILE ardor.
s'You haven't Il dress that is fit to go
any place in, and everyone is going
To tile ld>CCI SCIN4CSS ttllS AtI
DR.. Parker is coming down from the
city to hold special services this
month";" she added excitediy. Vel,
/ will see Katie said Mrs. Hender-
son as she began to pick up the milk
paI,s. After the children had left fer
scEol Mrs Henderson turned mat
tiers over in her mind, ana concluded
to ask her husband for money. 1t
had been long time since she had
done so, and felt perhaps he might be
willing TO let her have it. When he
came in from the barn, she turned
from kettle of frying doughnuts
and said, .sDavid, can you spare me
some money?' She spoke suddenly
and it rather took him by surprise.
.sWhat do you want it for?n he asked
more pleasantly than she had antici-
pated. while he picked up a brown,
crisp doughnut and began to munich
it. She took heart and told him that
she needed a new dress, and Jim
ought to have new suit, she then
told him what she wanted to do for
Kate. He stood and regarded her for
some moments He. had his pants
tucked into his boots and light
<sloucl hat slightly pulled over his
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