The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1911-02-04
That Refrigerator
By LAWRENCE ALFRED CLAY
Copyright. plO, BY Associated Literary Press.)

II was only an error OF judgment.
George has no right to act this way,
and we must learn him a lesson. You
are to come home with me for the
night. When he comes from the
store this evening and finds you gone
when the hours pass and you do
not return-when he has passed q
lonely night-you will hear no more
of that looking-glass door. He viii
come to you and on his Bonded knees
ask your forgiveness"
Dolly didn't believe 1t, but at the
same time felt that something must
be done. They couldn't go on sulk-
Ing this way. She. therefore. agreed
to go. but mentally resolved to slip
away after dark and return. II she
found George with his head on the
cold kitchen floor sobbing as II his
heart would break. she would go in
and make up If he sat on the porch
whistling some rag-time air she
would turn her back on him.
Mr.. Burnham returned home at the
usual hour There was a stern ex-
preston on his face. He had not
and never could, forget that two dol
lars extra. He was having to go with
out his MONDAY lunches on account Of
It. He expected to see fearful eyes
raised to his as he entered the door,
but there were none. Dolly must have
wept herself into a headache and was
lying down. He would look In on
her, but no words of sympathy. Just
q look and a sort of "humph." and
then withdraw. He looked. but he
did not "humph." Dolly wasn't
there! Five minutes later he knew
she wasn't in the house.
When . wife has made up her mind
to leave her husbands bed and board
and looking-glass refrigerator she
generally leaves q note pinned to the
mantel drape. where It can be seen
the FIRST thing. Mr.. Burnham looked
about him for . quarter Of an hour.
Then he went out and sat down I'M
der q plum tree In the yard. He
would not follow He would pre-
serve his dignity. Dolly had sowed
now let her reap.
Night fell A husband could be
seen sitting on soap box under .
plum tree that had never borne
plums. A woman's figure could be
seen stealing up the street. She
moved slowly. as II In doubt and
now and then she stopped and pressed
her hand to her heart and caught her
breath.
The man under the plum tree real
ICED that a wire nail was digging into
his leg. but he did not move. He must
not move.
As the man sat and the woman
came haltingly on, junk wagon could
be seen stealing slowly down the
street The old horse in the thills
looked straight ahead with unwinking
eyes. and the two men on the seat
conversed in whispers. There was
tragedy in the air.
The wind sighed and moaned. and
the man sat and the woman drew
nearer and nearer. So did the junk
wagon. At length 1t stopped in front
of the cottage. The two men got
down, passed quietly around to the
back and two minutes later reappear.
ed Juggling a refrigerator with a glass
door. They loaded 1t up and
drove away in the darkness. The
man rose from the soap box and
walked to the gate. He caught sight
Of the woman and called:
That you, Dolly?"
Yes. George. Did you see them!"
Yes"
They have stolen our refrigerator"
I'm glad OF it,"
so am L.
And the doves Of peace COO around
that cottage from sunrise to suset.
and though the butter melts on hot
day. there is only peace and joy over
It.