The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1913-04-17

CaSely.
Those on thekoutside can see best
what's going on" muttered Amanda
grimly. "Whenl get husband, If $,
be 1t Pm ever afflicted that way. and
it. won't be Oil lose my reason.
guess he'll understand III have my
rights in my own house,
There amt any reason for yon to
get all bet up over it. Amanda" sooth
ed Mrs. Drake "NIebbe you'll never
have to be married. and then you
won't have any trouble"
Mrs. Cheney had nearly reached
home when she found that she bad
forgotten her thimble She chose n
short cut back to Amanda's house,
where the weekly meeting had been
held, and arrived ut the back door just
In time to overhear the spirited DIS
cussion regarding her husband.
With burning cheeks she turned and
left the house, closing the door softly
behind her. Across the frosty fields
she sped toward home. hurt pride
lending wings to her usual precise
gait. Once there within the comforta-
BILE sitting room she sank hreathlessly
into a chair.
A vivid spot of red fiickered in her
delicate cheeks as she removed her
gloves and unfastencd her coat All
the time her umid eyes were staring
back Mt the large crayon portrait Of
her husband that hung on the opposite
wall. Stern, severe uncOmpromising.
brow. eyes and lips declared his in
domitable will. while certain pinched
lines indicated the misery strain thar
was in his blood. From q thrifty
young man Henry Cheney had become
In his middle life n niggard and a
churl. who denied his patient wife ev
erything save the banst comforts of
existence and who Rs,ated over the
accommodating balance on his bank
books. Now he was banker himself
and his fine stone bank building was
on the corner of the main street of
Little River.
Dora Cheney was thinking Of the
light words that had been banded
about the little sewing circle In Annn-
da's house. 1t hurt her sensitiveness
to learn that her domestic trial was
not the secret she had thought 1t to be
and that all her neighbors knew and
understood why she wore the plainest
clothes until their shabbiness was clio.
quent Of poverty, and only her own ex-
Qufsite neatness enabled her to appear
to advantage among her more showily
clothed friends. She knew that they
commented upon the many closed
they must guess 1t was because Henry
begrudged the coal it would take to run
the heater In the cellar. That was why
they lived in four rooms on the ground
floor and heated them with stoves
Amanda Waters was right-no self
respecting woman would stand snch
treatment" said Dora Cheney to her
self. Then she hid her face in her
hands and pressed her fingers against
her aching eyes. II know just what he
will say when | tell him, and he will
go down to the parsonage and tell Mr.
Lees that the monthly entertainment
must be held elsewhere, and be will
give 81 to help 1t along. He doesn't
know that I want the companionship
OF my neighbors and the pleasure Of
entertaining them in my own home 1t
isn't right"
At last the gate at the foot Of the
lawn creaked noisily. and she heard
her husbands ponderous step on the
path that led to the side door.
Before Henry Cheney had reached
the door his wife had tossed aside Der
wraps and removed her hat with one
sweep OF her hands Then she had
lighted lamp with trembling fingers
and was lighting another in the kitch-
en- when he opened the door and
came In.
He was large man, tall and broad
and heavily built. with a
lace that might have been handsome
had It not been for the stern lines and
the look Of greed in his eyes. His hair
was frosted with gray. and his clearly
shaved face betrayed certain hard
ness. He shifted the air hungrily as
be removed his overcoat
"Pm hungry, Dora. Isn't supper
readyT he asked. with little frown
Il was resting awhile and didn't
realize how late 1t was, Henry 1t
will be ready in fifteen minutes"
Mr.. Cheney grunted and retired to
he sitting room with newspaper,
while his wife few nervously about
rom kitchen to dining room prepar
ng the evening meal She was think
ng OF the days when they had first |
,een married when the very sound OF |
IFS step on the path had set her heart |
o futtering with anticipated JOY |
Now her heart fiuttered through
'ense of misgiving at his approach.
she wondered bitterly what change
lad taken place within bis heart that
le should be so hard and cold toward
Ter. Was It because she had always
zen meek and timid OF his every |
vord? Perhaps 1t would have been
,etter II he had married woman like
amanda Waters. Dora Cheney smiled
0 herself as she thought Of it.
"I suppose you've been to that meet