The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-09-18
The Force
of Habit
By WILLIAM CHANDLER


heart is not like an analysis OF the
stomach--that Is TO say, love Is very
Elusive. We constantly see persons
devoted to other persons who are to us
unattractive.
However this may be. Molly Thomp
son was devoted to Bill Thompson
there was not even grain Of romance
in his name-and he was the apple OF
her eve. He was not successful man
and his wife by various devices sup
ported the family. Every man has
some pride at the bottom Of his ma.
ture, and Bill Thompson did not fancy
his position Of being taken care of In.
stead Of taking care of those naturally
dependent upon him. Not that his
wife upbraided him. Far from 1t; she
excused him not only to others. but to
himself.
Ono day Bill Thompson went out to
look for a position, he said, and when
the dinner hour arrived he did not ar
rive with it. Whatever were Bits
faults, he was never late for a meal.
Consequently his wife took fright at
once. Within an hour she notified the
police that her husband was missing.
and general alarm was sent out.
The alarm did not bring Bin Thomp-
son. A month passed, and he had
failed to turn up. His wife was in a
terrible state of mind about him, and
her friends began to think that 1t
would be better If her suspense were
ended by hearing that he was dead.
One day a cousin Of hers, seeing an
unrecognizable corpse in, morgue
about the size of Bill Thompson, con-
ceived the idea of palming 1t off on
Mrs. Thompson as her late. husband.
The ruse was uccessful-indeed more
so than might have been expected-the
good woman surprising those In the
secret by identifying patch she had
put In the seat of the trousers worn by
the corpse.
1t was hoped by the widows rela-
tives that Bill. being dead. would be
lieved. They were somewhat disap-
pointed when she insisted on having
her dear William cremated in order
that she might have the remains Of
what had been her husband constant
ly with her. The cremation cost all
the money the poor woman possessed,
and she had not the wherewithal to
purchase an urn for the ashes. She
determined to find a temporary recep-
tacle till she might save enough for a
BETTING one. Unfortunately there was
nothing at hand except cracked soup
tureen, which. though 1t would not re-
tain soup. would do very well for
ashes.
The remains Of the late head of the
house-or supposed head-were placed
on a mantel In Mrs. Thompson's bed
room. and every night she wept her
self to sleep. with her eyes fixed on
their abiding place, lighted dimly by a
night lamp. Since the support OF the
family was solely in her hands and
she needed every cent she could earn
TO feed and clothe her children funds
for the marble urn she intended buy
ing were. not forthcoming. Conse-
quently the cracked soup tureen re-
manned In use.
The widow, DESTROYS OF having fiow-
ers wave over her husbands ashes.
put the tureen in low box containing
earth and introduced the plants. They
iourished. and the good woman had
the satisfaction OF seeing them bloom.
She said It was almost as satisfactory !
as II they moved over a grave.
In time Mrs. Thompson saved the !
money TO purchase an urn, and the
ashes were emptied from the tureen
into IL. II was of marble and Of very
attractive shape. For three years she
devoted more care 10 II than TO her
house. Not a speck Of dust was al |
lowed TO remain on II, and the plants
amid which II rested were In perpet-
ual bloom.
Then one fine morning this beautiful |
constancy OF grief received a rude |
shock. Bin fhompson walked into the
house In the flesh and with a prosper /
Gus look on him. His wife stood be-
tween him and the urn containing his
ashes with a puzzled look on her face.
She had for 50 long accustomed her 4
self 10 think OF him as In the urn that 4
she could not realize be was there in
the flesh. Bin In the urn was her ro-
BIZ in the flesh. unseen for
three years. appeared to her. as be ap-
peared to Others. a very commonplace
person. Duty finally triumphed. and.
turning her back on the romance. she
the reality.
Thompson had gone away resolved
never to return unless IN a condition
10 support his family He had accn-
MINATED quite a property. He desired
bis wife 70 remove the ashes she had
been weeping over. But 70 do 30 was
loo severe a break In the habit she had
ncquired She consented 90 the re-
morhl ~ the urn from their bedroom
he FIRST night BTI slept az homo after
be return. bot her tears were - used
b flowing at the retiring heur that
'bey could not te stopped. BIN bear
BIZ q sch. rot cot % bed. went 20
.iosef where the Urn had been placed !
md ruf q back % the uHufeL
TIE rsrf day n we removed again.
bet IN ne sfeninr fhe tears beginning !
b fow. n vns replaced on ~ accus-
Iorned stnnd Bm tired ~ eurs be
xfe - srectinr tetionsv. buf fesr-
~ fhsf M thn were fgrnsN - fhuvsa