Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1913-03-01
CONCERNING A MERRY
VILLAGER

A jovial voice hailed Harland as
he was leaving the Office building,
and he turned, to see Sam Bolburn,
a friendly bookkeeper in neighbor-
ing establishment. "Going homeY'
Sam inquired, and Harland nodded
without replying, his face hardening
little. His cheerful comrade glanced
at him curiously, as they fell into
step. "Say, old man." he ventured,
"you look sort of down on your
luck. Anything the matter' Bet !
know, though, come to think. The
missus is still away on that visit to
her mother, isn't she, and little
James is lonesome? Been gone
about a month, eh7 And mother
lives way up state, doesn't she9
Well, l don't blame you"
Again Harland nodded. "AIrs. Har-
lands MOTHER" he began, a little
stif1y, ais in rather poor health,
and" Sam interrupted with
laugh.
"You needn't tell me how the dear
old ladies hold on to their daughters
when they get chance. Hubby just
has to wait. My wife's away, too, on
a similar errand of mercy; but, luck
lily, it's only for the weekend. Now,
according to the funny papers, you
and / ought to be improving each
shining hour; you especially. Gives
me the creeps to think of you piking
away out there in the suburbs, ten
miles or so, and staying in your lone
some house with only that super
animated cook to make home happy.
It's uncanny. Say, let's go on a
mild tear together. Well take sup
per together and go to the theater,
and I'll put you up for the night, at
my little fiat, and glad enough of
your company. You can phone the
faithful Topsy, or whatever her
name is"
Becky. Yes, suppose might, :"
unused Harland, his lonely heart
warming a little to the plan. "At
least, I'll tell her not to expect me
until late. I'm not SO sure of leav-
ing the poor old soul alone overnight.
1t is sort of lonesome out in Reardon
sometimes"
"Ghastly, / call it Don't see how
you ever came to settle out there.
But perhaps Mrs. Harland is fond
Of the country?"
"No, not especially" Harland
flushed intentionally, remembering
how his own enthusiasm had at first
blinded him to Lillian's distaste, and
led him to overrule her many objec-
lions. Yet he had not meant"
Economy, then, 1 suppose" pur-
sued Sam; Though when the coal
bills come in you have your doubts,
TO say nothing of the railroad fares.
Besides, with the raise you got this
week, you can afford to spread a
little. Better move into town, old
man! Well, where shall we eat"
After satisfying meal they
bought tickets for one of the good
Did comic operas, which was being
revived with great success. "Some-
how" explained Sam, half apollo
getically, 81 don't take SO much to
that tobasco kind when 1 can get
this. l was raised sort of decent,
and heard good music; and / guess
Pm hopelessly tainted with old-fash-
toned ideas"
"Same here" confessed Harland,
as they took their seats.
Didn't you tell me once that Mrs.
Harland was musical-prize pupil at
the conservatory and all that?"
"Yes." Harland spoke laconical-
ly, glad that the curtain rose Just
then, to help him hide the pain which
the chance allusion to Lillian gave
him. What would Sam think if he
knew the truth; that after a stormy
quarrel his wife had left him, vowing
that if there was any way for her to
live she would never return? The
pretense of visit could not be kept
up indefinitely, and soon his world
must know, since he had begun to
give up hope. How had il all begun