Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1913-02-15
CHAPTER xu.-(cntinued.)

Never mind about the other man
He was handsome then. in way, and
he had money to spend, and he liked
me. He wanted me to marry him. II
IL the other, the one that went away.
had written l never would have
thought of such a thing, but he didn't
write And, my pride bein' hurt. and
all, 1 finally said yes to the second
chap.
well, for the first year 'twa'n't so
bad Not happiness exactly. but not
misery either That come later His
people was we'll off and he'd never
worked much of any. He did for
little while after we was married, but
not for long. Then he begun to drink
and carry on and lost his place Pref
ty soon he begun to neglect me and at
last went off to sea afore the mast
We was poor as poverty, but / could
have stood that: did stand it. / took
in SEWN and kept up an appearance,
somehow. Never told a soul. His
folks come patronizin' around and Of
fered me money, SOS l needn't dis
grace them. 1 sent 'em rightabout in
a hurry Once in a while he'd come
home, get tipsy and abuse me. Still
1 said nothin' Thank God, there was
no children; that's the one thing I've
been thankful for.
"You can't keep such things quiet al
ways. People are bound to find out.
They come to me and said. Why don't
you leave him?' but l wouldn't. 1
could have divorced him easy enough.
there was reasons plenty, but /
wouldn't do that. Then word came
that he was dead. drowned off in the
East Indies somewheres- / come back
here to keep house for Sol, my broth
er, and l kept house for him till he
died and they offered me this place
here at the parsonage. There! that's
my story, part of 1t. more'n 1 ever told
a nvin' soul afore. except Sol"
She ceased speaking. The minister.
who had sat silent by the window.
alphabetically listening or trying to lis
ten. turned his head.
81 apologize. Mrs. Coffin" he said
duly, you have had trials, hard ones.
But"
But they amt as hard as yours,
you think? Well, 1 haven't quite fin
ished yet. After word come of my
husbands death, the other man come
and wanted me to marry him. And l
wanted to-oh, how 1 wanted to. /
cared as much for him as 1 ever did !;
more, / guess But / Wouldn't
wouldn't, though it wrung my heart
out to say no. l give him up-why
cause 1 thought had duty laid on
me"
EIlery sighed. 81 can see but one
duty" he said. THAT is the duty
given us by God. to marry the one we
love"
Keziah's agitation, which had grown
las she told her story. suddenly flashed
into fame.
rs that as fur as you can see?'' she
asked fercely. It's an easy duty,
ithen-or looks easy now. I've got a
harder one; it's to stand by the prom
Use / gave and the man I married"
He looked at her as IL he thought
she had lost her wits.
''The man you married?" he replied.
"Why, the man you married is dead"
NO, he amt. You remember the
letter you saw me readin' that night
when you come back from Come-Out-
Iers' meetin'? Well. that letter was
from him. He's alive Yes, he's alive.
Alive and knockn' round the world
somewheres. Every little while he
writes me for money and. If l have
iany, ! send 1T to him. Why? Why
i'cause I'm |. coward, after all. 1 guess,
land I'm scared he'll do what he says
b win and come back Perhaps you