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

foot kicked behind him 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.
You away don't bother me-"
yes yes dear" answered Mr. Hoopie softly:
yes sleep will be good for you after such
shock You sleep just as long as you like now
you needn't bother. Come on, AL"
But Mrs. Hoople didn't sleep She turned her
face to the ceiling, and seemed deep in heavy
thought. A while later. the sound of AIS drawl.
elated and confident awoke her from her reverie
But the dream of little moment It was OF
with her father.
Say. 'ol man; you going to buy that shoe store
now. amt you?" asked AL in his drawl
Mr.. Hooples answer low and more discreet. was
naudible. 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
long, nuther. before get married"
The second Mrs. Hoople her eyes on the ceiling
recalled the Tuesday Thursday. and SATURDAY girl;
doubtless AL referred to her. Satisfied that this
the second Mrs. Hoople rolled over. ana
again buried her head in her clothes But there
is little rest for the weary; Mr. Hoople came next
to her. Now Mena, wouldn't you like a
cup of coffee and egg?"
His wife mumbled back at him that she cared
for neither coffee or an egg. Il want to be left
alone
.'Just as you like, DEAR" murmured Mr.. Hoople
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 it easy long about noon"
Mrs. Hoople turned fretfully. Cant you
stop bothering me? You keep away from those
lawyers. They wrote particular they wanted to
yes yes; just as you say. DEAR" placated Mr..
Hoople. and few minutes later the door closed
AS their footballs beat a tattoo retreat down the
stairway. the second Mrs. Hoople sat upright.
sound like croak escaping her. She arose Slow
ly each foot, after her habit, touching the floor
with groan; and DOMINIC a canton-hannel wrap
per too short in front and too long behind. she
oln 1u Cd TUan W mi
later she returned tray in her hand. and on the
tray pot of coffee two slices of toast.
and sugar and milk. Mrs. Hooples set 1t 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. Hoope.
calmly ate her breakfast in bed!
The hours passed. One by one they ned away.
the top-noor fiat the clocks struck--not half-past
i've but six. Together. father and son had gone
to look at downtown shoe store on which Mr..
Hoople long had had his eye-hence the break in
their daily routine. In Mr. Hooples hand was q
large slightly faded bunch of roses. which MI.
Hoople had acquired at discount, the florist skep-
tica of their ability to last another day. But In
their frailty they wore distinction the nrst moral
mise of the first Mrs. Hoople. She had died OF
chronic anaemia, and the shoe store had sent
wreath. Mr.. Hoople inserting his doorkey COM
posed his features to smile.
.Mena. my dear!" he called, and stepped inside
There was no answer Mr. HoopIe's smile slight
ly altered itself to frown. Very disappointing,
The door "a and struck = match. "Mena" called
Mr.. Hoople loudly and Mena answered No
little woman at the door, No glad evenings well
come. No slippers warming before the FIRE. SIX
o'clock and past. and no dinner piping hot MT
Hoople stalked back to the kitchen and found it
empty, its fire gray and cold.
Queer, amt it," muttered Mr.. Hoople to Al:
and se
AL suggested a solution. ''Mebbe them lawyers
once"
Mr.. HoopIe breathed harshIy, deep transpira-
tion. why. of course mott" he exclaimed in re-
viaf IA lot md VIM Gfo In Innor
Ill make fire md you en- peel the potatoes.
Then won't be KEEP so long when she comes in .
He still chung to the slightly wthered roses which
he held awkwardIy and tentatively. as IL they were
pitcher, he started for the front room, striking
match on his trousers to guide him through the
tunnel of the hall moment later AL heard
loud and agitated cry.
In the second Mrs. HoopIe's bedroom sat Mr.
Hoople. collapsed a chair. His pale, respectable
whiskers dropped Imply: he still chung to ths
pitcher and its roses, and the pitcher, tilted at
an sow unsafe ng s Ps i.s Its
terror, CONSERVATION. anything. Mrs. Hooples
bed. still unmade. lay in frouzy disorder: the draw
and Mr.. Hoople. with wild. miserable GESTURE
pointed tragicaly 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 loud attention. and Mr.
Hoople's whiskers quivered pitfaby when he spoke
md to think-'nd to think of all the good home
Al Iurched the bureau. and snatched up the
sheet OF paper Al read the written words and
his face We'd in that moment with the pasty white
of his closely shaven neck.
Il pin this to the pincushion like read cncs
in romance book I've seen those lawyers, and
they 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, I 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 1 don't seem
70 get any results Maybe you still owe me some
thing. but let 1T CO. 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 .
dollar seventy-nine. It's yours. and don't regret
the money Good-by."
Al tossed the letter the floor and pocketed
the two-doIlar bill.
Didn't always tell you she good" he
drawled through his nose.