The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-11-03

out his arms to his wife. and with one awkward
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 Hoopie had turn
ed with her face to the wall. and again drawn
the covers around her. The humble continued
Yes. yes dear" answered Mr.. Hoople softly:
yes, sleep will be good for you after such a
shock You sleep just long you like now.
Me nd Alll get up little something TO eat, nd
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. while later, the sound of AIS draw,
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. 'oI man you going to buy that shoe store
now amt your" asked AL in his drawl
Mr.. Hooples answer. low and more discreet, was
inaudibe, but she guessed it from AIS next words
Said Al:
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 nd 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;
doubtless Al referred to her Satisfied that TINS
the second Mrs. Hoople rolled over ana
again buried her head in her clothes But there
is little rest for the weary; Mr. Hoope came next
cup of coffee and egg?"
His wife mumbIed back at him that she cared
for neither coffee or an egg. Il want to be left
alone"
softly and withdrew. Later. on his way out with
AL Mr.. Hoople stopped at the door again.
Say Mena, how'd it do l just to step in
and see them lawyer people?" he suggested I en-
do it easy, long about noon"
Mrs. Hoople turned over fretfully Cant you
stop bothering me? You keep away from those
lawyers. They wrote particular they wanted to
personally"
Yes, yes; just as you say. dear" placated Mr..
Hoople and few minutes later the door closed
behind father and
AS their footballs beat a tattoo retreat down the
stairway. the second Mrs. Hoopie sat upright
sound like croak escaping her She arose slow
ly, each foot after habit. touching the moor
with a groan; and DOMINIC canton-nannel wrap
per too short in front and too long behind she
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 it on the
bed and carefully climbed in afterwards. Then.
the tray her lap the second Mrs. Hoope. 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-foor fiat. the clocks struck-not haf-past
nve 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. Hoople's hand was a
large, slightly faded bunch of roses. which Mr..
Hoople had acquired at discount the florist skep-
teal of their ability to last another day But in
their fraily they distinction. the first Moral
tribute known in Mr.. Hoople's home since the de-
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
the fiat.
There was no answer Mr. Hooples smile slight
ly altered itself to frown. Very disappointing!
the door, sna and As struck match. Mena called
Mr.: Hoople loudly. and no Mena answered No
come. No slippers warming before the fire. Six
o'clock and past and no dinner piping hot na Mr.
empty, its fire gray and cold.
Queer amt it," muttered Mr.. HoopIe to Al:
-s'pose she's gone gadding around spending money.
and clean forgot the dinner"
Al suggested a solution. ''Mebbe them lawyers
s sept her late Don't let's make no kick for 'hi.
Mr.. Hoope breathed harshly. deep transpira-
tion. why, of course mott" he exclaimed in re-
lief Say, AL. let's md you start in on supper
III make a fire md you en- peel the potatoes
Then we won't be KEEP so long when she comes in "
In that brief moment. his air was almost toviar
He still chung to the slightly withered roses. which
about to exniode a cpowainr them into , water
pitcher. he started for the front room, striking a
tunnel of the hall moment later All heard a
loud and agitated cry.
In the second Mrs. HoopIes bedroom sat Mr.
Hoople, collapsed on chair. His pale. respectable
whiskers dropped Imply; he still chung to the
pitcher and its roses. and the pitcher. tilted at
unsafe angle. quietly pouring it's water
down Mr.. Hoopies legs In his face appeared
terror. CONSERVATION. anything. Mrs. Hoople's
bed, still unmade lay in frouzy disorder. the draw
of the bureau pulled out and disarranged:
and Mr. Hoople. with Wild miserable gesture.
pointed tragically to the pncushion-
Look" he moaned hoarsely.
large sheet OF paper was pinned to the cushion.
the combination cried a loud attention, and Mr.
Hooples whiskers quivered pitiabIy when he spoke
md to think-'nd to think of all the good home
Al lurched 10 the bureau. and snatched up this
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.
II pin this to the pincushon like read once
in romance book I've seen those lawyers, and
they it's There's eleven thousand. all right,
and got a 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. fg-
ure 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 and / don't seem
to get any results Maybe you still owe me 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 =
dollar seventy nine It's yours, and don't regret
the money. Good-by."
Al tossed the letter on the floor and pocketed
the two-doIar bill.
Didn't I always tell you she good" he
drawled through his nose.