The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1911-01-07

mad company. There was always
some one to be interested in how she
did her lovely fair hair. In the set
OF her cheap but stylish waist, and
always somebody eager to 60 home
with her, or to take her to a dance.
Fred would not take her to the hall
dances any more. He said that was
! one of the things he married her for
Ito get her out of that crowd She
knew he was right-but nevertheless.
1t was along in the afternoon some
time. after stopping her work to
I, feed the baby again and settle him to
another nap, that she burned herself
with one of the hot irons. Her nerves
were at high tension. and the sting
Ing pain was the last straw. She sat
down and cried. and the baby walked
and cried, too. The spring sunshine
came In from the big outdoors and
laid an oblong of yellow light on the
bright rung. but she did not notice It.
She took the child up and soothed
him.
Then she wrapped her burned fin
oil, combed her hair as well as she
could, deliberately put on her hat and
jacket, and got the baby's go-cart
from the closet under the stairs.
She dressed the child in his best for
out-of-doors, put him in the cart, and
was just starting out with him. when
new thought came to her. Instead
of just going for a walk, she would
go to Fanny's.
Fanny was a friend who lived
across the town, had no children, and
always seemed to be having a gay
time. She would go for several days.
perhaps a week She had often been
invited. but had always thought she
could not leave Fred and the work.
She would leave note,
She got a pencil and paper and
wrote him message.
II am all tired out and burnt my
hand. have taken the baby and
gone to Fanny's for a while. 1t is too
lonesome here, and you do nothing
but work, and then sleep. The work
is getting to be like a chain, and /
am tired Of dragging 1t. l suppose
you'll get on somehow, but when you
really want me to come back you can
come and get me. I've got just .
dime. and can't seem to ask you for
money II you don't want to give 1t to
me yourself. MARY"
It was inconsequent, childish enough,
but she was only twenty. She pinned
It to the pin cushion on their dresser.
She never had left him a note-she
had never been away long enough
but she felt like a woman in a story
she had read. Then she walked the
half mile and took the car and forgot
about the burn
She had not been downtown for
weeks, and the faces and voices
everywhere seemed good. Laughter
rose to her eyes, and the little, drag.
ging lines in her face lifted. The
pretty baby cooed and attracted
pleasant attention. She did not
transfer straight through-she had
the extra nickel-but took the child
to the store The manager saw her
and gave her a bright word. and
praised the baby, and the girls. the
minute five o'clock came, crowded
around her.
She noted with her quick eye that
they looked at her with sort of envy
many of them were pale. And Nora
her cheeks were far too bright. and
her eyes too big. Watching the girl.
<~f~ H.
cough-the cough that had once made
her afraid. She asked Nora to walk
about a bit with her.
As they left the building newsboy
yelled his wares.
Men killed at Stone warehouse!
Fell 40 feet from scaffoldt"
Mary snatched at . paper. handing
the boy her nickel, her face white.
But It was not Fred! Three Of his
men were dead. Would he be In any
way blamed? Without q word, she
made her way to the car, forgetting
she was penniless, Nora, into whose
arms she had thrust the baby. follow
ing her.
Come home with me for the night,
Nora" she said.
The girl silently obeyed-and paid
the conductor. II seemed an hour to
her corner, and the car was crowded.
the platform full Of workfngmsn.
AZ she and Nora got OF she suddenly
saw before her. sober-faced enough.
but unhurt, her husband. She
ciutched at his arm.
Il went out-for some air." she
stammered, while he took his son
from Nora. and gave the girl . smile.
Il left the work and all. Oh
Fred"
He read her anxiety. and FASTENED
to reassure her.
"The man who was to blame died
with the Others" he said. But
don't see how you got downtowB,
child! ought to be shot, but for
weeks I've been forgetting to leave
you some money" He put five-dol.