El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-01-16

4 4
M tusche, a little cheek is
w all right, but as cheeky as
you are"
ct don't want to listen to any more
of your lip, Grigoleitsche- 1t will
surely get you into trouble some time"
What are you talking about"
shouted Frau Lebenatusche with a
mocking laugh. when I say you are
too cheeky 1 mean it and am willing
to give you black on white for it"
You are? Too bad you would have
to learn how to write first"
She saw how her words struck home
and repeated: Yes. you would have
to learn how to write first. Augusta"
With this parting shot she went in
side. while Frau Grigoleitsche clenched
her fist at her Quarrels like this were
ordinary everyday occurrences between
the two women since Janus had kissed
Stepka-
1t was the old story. The one did
not like the soninlaw, the other the
daughterinlaw.
Frau Lebenatusche and Frau Grigo-
leitsche had grown up together, and
their nuSDdnQS, WHO DOli WClhC0 IA
the royal forests, were the best Of
friends, too.
A friendship like this is worth some
thing. 1t is never necessary to run TO
the grocer for a spoonful OF flour to
thicken the soup so long as the other
woman has any left in her bin And
when one of them had a visit of the
stork, which happened quite often, the
other took care of both households.
The Oldest son In the Lebenatusche
family had been born with a lame foot,
and. according to old tradition. he
should become a cobbler, but Janus
was so smart and picked up learning
so easily, that old Czwalinna, his
teacher, took it into his head that he
must go to college. Fate poured much
water into this wine, but Czwalinna
succeeded in having him sent not
straight from the school to the village
cobbler's shop. but to the office Of
lawyer in neighboring town. Three
years later Janus got position in the
county clerks office, and when he had
been there for another three years he
entered the municipal service Of the
town.
At the age Of 81 he now had a steady
position paying $50 marks a month,
and was sure in time to become town
secretary His mother even now never
mentioned him except as, MY son the
town secretary"
Frau Grigoleitsche took a friendly
interest in Janus's career, and this
vas the original reason Of the family
quarrel, for Frau LeDenatusche got the
idea into her head that her friend was
scheming to make Janus her sonin-
law.
81 have noticed, Augusta" she said,
that you want to get Stepka married
to Janus, and I will tell you right now
that you may as well give that up"
What a silly idea, Minna, as If
would want my girl to marry a Grip
PIE"
This was too much. For a while the
two women did not speak Only in the
forenoon when they were both cooking
dinner in the common kitchen they
could not keep silent. The men paid
no attention to their wives quarre1s.
Saturday night and Sunday they went
to the inn together, drank "schnapps"
out of the same bumper and came
home together equally conviviaL
Frau Grigoleitsche kept an open eye
on her daughter Stepka. The girl was
Only 16, but knew very well that she
was pretty. Janus had told her often
enough, end he was quite handsome
fellow, but for his lame foot.
They hac grown up together like
brother ana sister, and matrimonial
alliance had never entered their par
ents' heads. Frau Lebenatusche said
to her son:
Janus. 1 hope you do not care for
that silly hussy, Stepka."
What do you mean, mother?"
ST mean that an official like you in
a good position can get quite a differ
ent kind Of wife than one who has