The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-11-04

foot kicked behind him at AIS shins to make AL
clear out and leave them oh, my poor Mena.
cried Mr.. Hoople thickly.
humble answered him; Mrs. Hoople had turn
ed with her face to the wall. and again drawn
the covers around her. The humble continued.
i YES YES sear'@ answered. Mr. Hoopie softly:
yes sleep will be good you after such
shock. You sleep just long you like now.
Me md Arm get up a little something to eat, nd
you needn't bother. Come on, AL"
But Mrs. Hoople didn't sleep. She turned her
face the ceiling. and seemed deep in heavy
elated and confident. awoke her from her revere.
But the dream was OF little moment II was OF
Coney Island, that same remembrance OF dancing
with her father.
Say 'ol man: you going to buy that shoe store
now. amt you?" asked Al, in his drawl.
Mr. Hoope's answer low and more discreet was
inaudible but she guessed it from AIS next words
Il shouldn't wonder but I'd take job with you.
then They amt no use in my keeping on at col
lege, now-and me md her don't need to wait so
long nuther, before We get married..
The second Mrs. Hoople. her eyes on the ceiling,
recalled the Tuesday Thursday and Saturday girl:
was So the second Mrs Hoople rolled over. and
again buried her head in her clothes; But there
to arouse her Now Mena. wouldn't you like
cup of coffee and an egg"
for neither coffee egg. Il want to be left
alone"
softly and withdrew. Later. his way out with
AL, Mr.. Hoople stopped at the door again.
Say, Mena. how'd it do was just to step in
and see them lawyer people," he suggested Il en-
do 1t easy, long about noon.
Mrs Hoople turned fretfuliy. Cant you
lawyers. They wrote particular they wanted to
personally.
Hoople. and few minutes later the door closed
behind father and son.
As their footballs beat tattoo retreat down the
stairway. the second Mrs. Hoope sat upright.
sound like a croak escaping her. She arose slow
ly. each foot. after her habit. touching the moor
with a groan; and DOMINIC canton-hannel wrap
per too short in front and too long behind, she
solemnly proceeded kitchenward. Twenty minutes
later she returned tray in her hand, and on the
tray egg pot OF coffee. two slices of toast.
and sugar and milk. Mrs. Hooples set II on the
bed and carefully climbed in afterwards. Then.
the tray on her lap. the second Mrs. Hoople. for
the first time in the history of either Mrs Hoopie.
calmly ate her breakfast in bed
The hours passed One by one they ned away.
AS Mr.. Hoople and Al set foot to the landing OF
the top-hoor fiat, the clocks struck-not naif-past
to look at a downtown shoe store on which Mr..
Hoople long had had his eye-hence the break in
their daily routine. In Mr.. Hoope's hand was q
large, slightly faded bunch of roses, which Mr..
Hoople had acquired at discount the florist skep-
fical of their ability to last another day. But in
their railty they distinction. the FIRST horaI
tribute known in Mr.. Hooples home since the de-
chronic anaemia and the shoe store had sent
wreath. Mr.. Hoople, inserting his doorkey, COM
posed his features to a smile.
"Mena, my dear!" he called. and stepped inside
the fiat.
There was no answer MI Hoople's smile slight
ly altered itself to frown Very disappointing!
Perhaps she was in the kitchen. though Al closed
the door, and struck a match "Mena!" called
little woman at the door No glad evenings well
come. No slippers warming before the IRE. Six
O'Clock and past, and dinner piping hot Mr..
Hoople stalked back to the kitchen and found 1t
empty, its fire gray and cold
Queer. amt it?' muttered Mr.. Hoople to Al:
-.s'pose she's gone gadding around spending money
and clean forgot the dinner?"
AL suggested a solution. "Mebbe them lawyers
kept her late. Don't let's make no kick for this
once"
Mr. Hoople breathed harshIy, a deep transpira-
nv NJ noff he vcIo naH Iva,
lief. Say AL. let's me nd you start in supper.
I'll make fire md you en- peel the potatoes
In that brief moment. his air was almost toviaI.
He still chung to the slightly withered which
he held awkwardly and tentatively, IL they wers
about to explode. Crowding them into a water
pitcher. he started for the front room striking
tunnel Of the hall. moment later Al heard q
loud and agitated
Hoople. collapsed on chair. His pale. respectable
whiskers dropped Imply: he still chung to this
an unsafe angle was quietly pouring it's water
down Mr.. Hooples legs. In his face appeared
bed. sim unmade lay in frouzy disorder the draw
ers of the bureau were pulled out and disarranged:
and Mr. Hoople with wild, miserable GESTURE
pointed tragically to the pincushion
Look" he moaned hoarsely.
large sheet of paper was pinned to the cushion.
and on top lay two-dollar bill. Something in
the combination cried a loud attention, and Mr.
Hooples whiskers auivered pitiably when he spoke
md to think-'nd to think of all the good home
Al lurched to the bureau. and snatched up tbs
sheet of paper. AL read the written words and
his face We'd in that moment. with the pasty white
of his closely shaver neck
Il pin this to the pincushion like I read once
in romance book. I've those lawyers and
they say it's There's eleven thousand all right,
and got little in advance. They're going to pay
the rest when I'm ready You'll find two dollars
with this and though amt good at sums, fig
out you won't be losing anything IL leave you
that. I've tried to subtract fourteen years Of hard
labor from the fourteen years board and lodging
you've Dragged about giving me- and don't seem
to get any results Maybe you still some
thing, but let 1t go. I'm willing. I've gone away
from here and taken my things. Maybe I'll go to
Coney, but you needn't look for I'm never.
never coming back. The Exchange owes me q
dollar seventy-nine. It's yours. and don't regret
the money. Good-by."
Al tossed the letter the floor and pocketed
the two-dol1ar bill.
Didn't always tell you she good no
drawled through his nose.