Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-07-22

coupled with profound discoura cement,
carried her or in q few years to make
room for the second wife, waitstilrs
mother, who was OF different fiber and
greatly his superior. She was q fine,
handsome girl, the orphan daughter OF
up country gentlcfolks who had died
when she was eighteen, leaving her
alone in the world and penniless.
Baxter, after a few days acquaint-
ance, drove into the dooryard of the
house where she was a visitor and.
showing her his two curly headed boys,
suddenly asked her to come and be
their stepmother. She assented. partly
because she had nothing else to do
with her existence SO far as she could
see, and also because she fell in love
with the children at first sight and for
got, as girls will, that it was their
father whom she was marrying.
She was as plucky and clever and
spirited as she was handsome, and she
made a brave fight of it with Foxy,
long enough to bring a daughter into
the world, to name her Waitstill and
start her little way on her life jour-
ney-then she, too, gave up the strug-
gle and died. Typhoid fever it was,
combined with complete loss Of illu-
sions and kind Of despairing rage at
having made so complete a failure OF
her existence.
The next year Mr.. Baxter, being I'M
usually busy, offered man good
young heifer If he would jog about the
country a little and pick him up a
housekeeper, a likely woman who
would IL she proved energetic, econom-
ical and amiable be eventually raised
to the proud position Of his wife. If
she was young. healthy, smart, tidy,
capable and a good manager, able to
milk the cows, harness the horse and
make good butter he would give dol
lar and a half a week. The woman
was found, and, incredible as it may
seem, she said Eyes" when the deacon,
whose ardor was kindled at having
paid three months wages, proposed a
speedy marriage. The two boys by
this time had reached the age of dis
erection, and one of them evinced the
fact by promptly running away to
parts unknown, never to be heard from
afterward; while the other, a reckless
and unhappy lad, was drowned while
running on the logs in the river. Old
Foxy showed little outward sign Of his
loss.
His third WIFE the one originally Sc
cured for a housekeeper, bore him
girl, very much to his disgust, a girl
named Patience, and great was Wait
stills delight at this addition to the
dull household. The mother was a
timid, colorless, docile creature, but
Patience nevertheless was a sparkling,
bright eyed baby. who speedily became
the very center of the universe to the
older child. So the months and years
wore on drearily enough until when
Patience was eight the third Mrs.
Baxter succumbed after the manner of
her predecessors and slipped away
from life that had grown intolerable.
The trouble was diagnosed as Liver
complaint but scarcity of proper
food, no new frocks or kind words,
hard work and continual bullying may
possibly have been contributory causes.
DR.. Perry thought SO, for he had wit
messed three most contented deaths in
the Baxter house. The ladies were all
members of the church and had pre-
sumably made their peace with God,
but the good doctor fancied that their
pleasure in joining the angels was mild
compared with their relief at parting
with the deacon.
81 know I hadn't ought to put the
care on you, WaitstilI, and you only
fourteen" poor Mrs. Baxter sighed, as
the young girl was watching with her
one night when the end seemed draw
ing near. 1--WE made out to live till
now when Patience is old enough to
dress herself and help round, but I'm
all beat out and can't try any more"
do you mean I'm to take your place,
be a mother to Patience and keep
house and everythingT' asked Wait
still quaveringly.
81 don't see but you'll have to, I'M
less your father marries again. He'll
never hire help, you know thatv'
81 won't have another mother in this
house." flashed the girl. There's been
three here and that's enough! If he
brings anybody home I'll take Pa
thence and run away, as Job did, or
If he leaves me alone I'll wash and
iron and scrub and cook till Patience
grows up, and then we'll go or to-
L
teen. Oh, mother, how soon could
be married and take Patience to live
with me? Do you think anybody will
ever want me?''
Don't marry for a home, Waitstill.
Your own mother did that. and so did
1, and we were both punished for it.
You've been great help, and I've had
a sight of comfort out of the oaby.
but wouldn't go through it again, not
even for her. You're real smart and
capable for your age. and you've done
your full share of the work every day.
even when you were at school. You
can get along all right"
81 don't know how I'm going to do
everything alone" said the girl. fore
ing back her tears. you've always
made the brown bread, and mine will
never suit father. L suppose 1 can
wash, but I don't know how to iron