The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-11

An Old 1Gaid's Duty.
(By Grace Kerrigan.)
Stephen Olney and Mary williams
had been married Z year, and all had
gone we'll It hadn't been what might
be called Q Quick-lunch or q rapid
transit match.
Stephen was . steady young man Of
years younger. They had couxted for
= year and studied each other. Stephen
hadn't written an average Of three
love letters day, and It hadn't gone
II ANYTHING occurred to prevent the
marriage. There was romance, but
there was also common sense.
There had been no disagreement for
there a little cloud. S That p was when Ma a
lame man passed the cottage AZ hus-
band and wife sat ON the steps. and
the wife remarked: IT wonder what
hurt his right leg?"
The limp Is In the left leg. DEAR"
was the reply.
! IT'S in the right!'
! IT'S in the left!'
Stephen olney do you think I'm
MARY olney, do you think I ami"
And Just at that critical moment.
AZ II sent by Providence, Mr.. Shoe
maker came along and said:
That's Mr.. Savage. who hurt his
o oSer ,t = year ago and will never get
80. then. it wasn't q limp in the
right leg."
Nor limp in the left leg"
! And what was there to do but laugh
and make up. but at the same time
heed the moral Of it-that almost ev-
trifle.
i One day there was an arrival. The
arrival was a woman. She came
Vvv& 70 h.
through six inches Of snow. Her name
was Agatha Saunders. She was a cou-
sin OF Mrs. Olney's and lived fifty
miles away. and she was an old maid.
ter or otherwise, for three years. She
/ had not been invited to arrive.
| The visitor had to Identify herself.
and when she had done so she said:
~ suspect you are surprised To- see me.
Eyes. but no one IL ILL.," was the
reply.
ITS worse than illness. according
to what hear"
why. what IL II?
Its that man you married."
But Stephen is all right"
You needn't tell me that, Mary!
No husband is all right Every one of
them IL all wrong. have come to
help you bring about q change.
meant to have come six months ago.
when I heard how Stephen was using
you, but sickness and other things
and trust it IL not too late"
J; But Stephen has used me az only a
loving husband should''
Don't seek to blind my eyes. for
I've heard all about 1t. There's six
Inches of snow all around your house,
and the well and the woodpile are OUT
doors and you must wade to them!"
But il Stephen to blame?"
rs he home here using the snow
shovel? II 80 I don't see him. He
wade or not. Wet feet lead TO pneu-
; monia and death. Does Stephen care ?"
But when he gets home"
"Oh. that is q different thing! I
have heard that when he enters the
house he throws his hat on the floor
or any old where and expects you to
pick it up
HE may sometimes"
He orders you to get his slippers"
HE asks me to-
goes out evenings and leaves you
alone"
He goes to his lodge now and
then"
, greater simpleton than thought you!
Lodge! Lodge! Out Of every o1e hun
dred cases OF divorce 50 come about
through the husband going to his
lodge. or pretending that he does. But
/ wen say no more about 1t lust now.
! 1t was my duty to come. and here I
am. shall try to bring about great
change in Stephen. II he is selfish
. and obstinate about it. as most hus-
bands are, I shall stand by you in get
ting . divorce"
but you were never married and
how do you know what q husband
ought to be?" demanded the young
wife.
gagged three times, ana almost engaged
four other times. and I think know
something about mankind. We will re-
. new this conversation at another time -
J II Miss Agatha Saunder hadn't been
q blood relative she would have been
invited or commanded to make tracks
, in that six inches Of snow-fresh tracks
!. tracks leading back to the railroad
depot. You can't take . relative by
the neck. however, unless the offense
IL more serious. 1t was certain that
the old maid had come to NEEDLE and
. make trouble. but the young wife re-
( solved not to say q word to her hus-
band until forced to. Two days had
passed when the visitor said:
Cousin Mary, Stephen took his seat
at the breakfast table this morning be-
fore you did. In leaving the house this
morning he simply kissed you on the
ear"
I'VE neither Of US 90 much ON kiss
} ing"
"When you asked II you should have
a boiled dinner he merely grunted in
! reply He didn't wave his hand at you
when he went out Of the gate"
Because I had gone back into the
Kitchen"
: ..lGary Olney, you see the hand
writing ON the wall ~ clearly ~ do.
hut you are bound not to admit 1t. I
; tel you that Stephen has become indif-
ferent to you. and when q hu<band
! becomes indifferent . separation II not
far orr
, Two or three days later It was:
, MARY, when Stephen arrives horne
At O'Clock he doesn't kiss y0u's