El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-12-09
The Herald's Daily
Short Story

1t away, but Jancsi got sore throat
and his wife said that it was because
of the napkin. His mother replied that
it was not the place Of the egg TO teacn
the hen They then began to quarrel
and fight. Baracs came home from q
feast and turned pale when ne Iound
the women fighting, and when Jney olu
not stop he began to beat his wife.
Now there is nothing unusual IN
peasant beating his wife, but in this
house it had never happened before
Baracs's wife, who was an only cElids
had been spoiled by her parents, ana
they had given their consent TO the
marriage only after Baracs had prom
Used TO touch neither vodka nor wine
They knew his character. When ne
had been drinking he began to beat
anyone who happened to come near
him. There are plenty OF people IKE
that A bottle Of wine changes lambs
into roaring lions. Baracs knew TINS
and gave up drinking, so they had lived
happy and content But at this feast
to celebrate the dedication fOf new
church, he had been forced TO drink,
and had found the wine excellent after
five years Of abstinenc.
His wife screamed under his blows,
then She put on her Sunday dress,
took little Jancsi by the hand and left
the house She did not return. Inc
neighbOrs advised Baracs to go ana
bring his wife back. She was thrifty
and honest though her dOwry had con-
sisted in only one gown. GU were
drunk" said the priest, so II was your
fault. OF course, your wife knew that
you are no habitual drunkard, but she
she is too proud to come back un-
asked"
Il will never touch wine again" said
Baracs II would rather die But
dog that has once run away from ITS
master viii never amount to anything.
A week later a wagon stopped out
side his home. A relative OF his wire
stepped down from the seat, an ola,
whose
occupation was nothing more strenu-
Gus than to smoke and look at the
clouds. Baracs thought he had cUme
to attempt to have him make up and
glared at him angrily.
What do you want?" he asked.
Nothing but the bed and the chest.
As the old man said nothing ABOUT
reconciliation nor tried TO scoId nlIn'
Baracs's anger died away, and with
out a word he saw him load the Things
into the wagon. His mother was al
church. When the old man mounted
his seat again, Baracs made move
ment as If to say something, but the
old man whipped up the horses ana
drove away. Since that day Baracs had
never even mentioned his wife's name,
And now he was Sneaklng benlnd
the gardens, for If he walked through
the village, people would say ne nad
come to take back his wife. As If he
would ever think of anything as foolish
as that. At last he had reached the
follow the road once more his heavy
boots left a plain track in the damp
soil. He did not want to turn right
and if he turned left they would say
he was afraid Of his wife. People must
be shown that he was afraid of nobody.
Holding his head high with his pipe in
his mouth, he walks straight ahead
Baracs sees a pile of crushed stone
across the road. Why should not he
sit down on it, The stones don't be-
long to his wife. His pipe is about
to go out. He refills il and quickly
lights ii again. As baron EOtvbs says:
There are moments in a mans life
when he must smoke a pipe" sudden
~ he discovers his dog a short distance
away, looking at him sideways
There is that dog again. he NUT
ters- TT won't leave its master. Come
here. Hattyur' The dog comes run
ming up full speed and jumps all
around him, mad with JOY. Baracs pats
its head tenderly, happy in the feeling
that he is no longer alone
But Hattyu smells something and
runs into the kitchen, just rs Jancsi
is coming out.
He has on new boots and a little
szur embroidered with roses. The lit
tie mantle IS not at all needed for it
is warm, but the father sees that his
boy is well taken care Of The dog
barks with JOY at the sight of the child
and ticks the boy all over the face.
"Hattyu. my own little dog" cried
Jancsi, and then discovers his father.
"Papa, he cries, and smiles all over
his little face.
The dog runs back to the house and,
while Baracs kisses his son, it does not
escape his notice that somebody in the
house throws a bone to Hattyu.
Then the boy takes hold of his hard,
callOus hand and says: Come inside,
papa"
AS the child insists in vain a figure
appears in the doorway and there is a
~ustle Of skirts. Baracs even feels a
faint fragrance of mint, but he does
not raise his eyes.
EAimerL" says a well known voice,
why don't YOU come inside and talk
TO your boy2"
She lays her hand on her husbands
shoulder. At the end of the street they
can see peODle returning from church.
well, little one" says Baracs to his
son. do YOU, to. want me to come in :"
"Oh, yes, papa, do" cries the boy.