Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1909-01-29

your life and far better than you ne--
serve. The fact is that you have got
into a miserable, carping, grumbling,
fault-fnding, mean, ugly way and
don't want to see or hear any more OF
it."
She said considerable more. This was
only the opening part Of It, and when
the session was concluded Kilpatrick
was in a very chastened and humble
frame Of mind.
Mrs. Sproale stayed nearly three
months and in that time it seemed that
complete reformation of the mans
character was effected. If at any time
there was hitch in the usually smooth
running order Of the household Mrs.
Sproale had only to look at her son-in-
law to elicit from him the most cheer
full acceptance.
1t was genuine reformation. The
day that Mrs. Sproale left, Fitzpatrick
turned it all over in his own mind and
decided that her going should make no
difference in his conduct. He returned
home that evening full Of the noblest
resolutions.
He had to ring seven or eight times
before Mrs. Fitzpatrick came to the door
to let him in. Somehow she did not
appear as glad to see him as he had
expected.
II let Bertha go out" she explained.
"What have you done with your keyT
an the pocket of my other suit,
DEAR" replied Fitzpatrick, as he STUN
bled over a chair that had been left in
the middle Of the unlighted hall. I'm
! glad to get home. I'm tired-and hum
CRY as a wolf"
I'm afraid you won't get very much
to eat, said Mrs. Fitzpatrick. II thought
as Bertha wasn't here and we were
all alone we'd just get along with a
little cold ham that was left from
lunch, and apple sauce"
Bring on your ham," said Kilpat-
rick, cheerfully.
you'll have to wait until finish
little sewing that I'm doing, unless
you want to get it yourself" said his
wife. az won't be very long, though.
What you smell is the oil stove, Bertha
let the furnace go out and the stove
smoked and got SCOT over everything"
"Poor girl You've been having your
troubles, haven't your" said Fitzpatrick
alphabetically. 9Th go down and
start up the furnace while you're fin
ishing your work, If you're bound tt
finish It. Then we'll get u bite to eat
Anything will do"
About half an hour later Mrs. Kilpat
rick entered the library and found he
husband standing contemplating tn
ruin of his pipe rack on the floor. I
had fallen or been knocked down ant
evidently stepped on. The big ambe
!. mouthpiece of his meerschaum wa
broken and the bowl of pet briar ha
! been crushed like an egg shell beneat
some needless foot.
"Oh, you found that, did your sal
m his wife, indiffereutly. II had an acc
r. dent"
l. Fitzpatrick turned on her face ths
ar was anything but amicable in EXPIRE
" sion.
Or Found 1t" he eXclaimed-expl0de
1T should say had found it. VIII 70
ar tell me how in the name Of everythiE
err that is clumsy and careless you d
that? Or was it just wanton mi
IL chief?
lie For answer Mrs. Fitzpatrick tire
OF herself upon his bosom, laughing al
lie sobbing Historically. go on" 81
as cried, "just scold me well. oh, dear
ed thought l couldn't make you, and tn
i'd you've been SO unhappy, James"
"a. Fitzpatrick thought his wife had go
ad insane.
at James" she said, "you know moth
ed -father-you know how poor de
II father is. He always was so afraid
H. her and so meek and-unhappy. ha
err been sorry for him ever since / was
ng child, and-and-oh, James, thong
lis your spirit was broken"
KENNETH HARRIS