Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-12-28
HIS SECOND WIFE.
A NEW YEAR STORY.

Ind Jake to get along" continued the
complaining voice Of Mary Ann Bur
on. you know when we got married
'sther lowed to give me something to
start on. but crops was bad that year,
md Jake never liked my saying any
hing about 1t since. I've done just
- Jake said these ten years, and now
thtngs are getting SO bad that he had to
Five In and consent. So l came over
70 see fatherr
"Well, wha. dtd he say" her COM
,anion asked brusQuely.
gust what he said when we was
married.. Crops is bad and he can't
zee his way to helping MS this year;
that lawsuit mighty nigh broke him
share next spring il he amt in the
poorhouse himself by that time. ! sup
pose father does have a powerful hard
time, like the rest OF us. But next
spring won't do Jake any good: he'll
have fretted himself into the grave by
then" The weak. uncertain voice sank
into . sob OF distress. The woman OPP
posita her sat bolt upright in an un-
compromising chair. There was a look
on her face OF genuine sympathy,
mingled with indignation.
Mary Ann" she said, don't you
know that your father is the sttngiest
man In seven states?" She brought
this out as il from forced conviction.
She was angry for having to say
plainly what she had reluctantly ad.
mitted to herself not long ago
Mary Ann stopped sobbing from
pure establishment. You don't mean
to say he was lying to meY" she asked
mo, he didn't think he was lying to
you. He thinks he's getting poorer.
You've heard Of misers? Well, John
Anderson is on the way TO become a
miser. | believe he lays awake at
night ~tormenting himself about the
poorhouse. He's laying up money in
the bank all the time
But what's he going to do with itw
Mary Ann asked in bewilderment.
do with it? Why, give it to you and
the children, and to them he cares for,
to be sure. He can't bear to part with
q cent until it comes his time to die.
and sometimes folks get mighty tired
waiting. III tell You what, Mary Ann,
I'd hate to see anything of that kind
happen to your father, as good as he
is"
Out 1t won't" protested Mary Ann.
ME and Jake wouldn't want him to
die for all the money in the world
Mary Ann sobbcd again. '"Ihings
are getting mighty hard. Little Susie
amt got no shoes to wear TO school
and frosty mornings are coming on.
Jake don't sleep at night for thinking
about it. We've had sickness, as you
know. 1 told father all that and he
said it was hard
Yes, and that's all he'll do. Here"
she said. untying a knot in the corner
| OF her handkerchief, "Take this mon
ey and get Susie some shoes, and III
find a way into your fathers con-
science and bank account or my name
amt Mirandy Bowen. About tomor-
row III be coming over" She went
| to the door with her visitor and added;
eff l was YOU. Mary Ann, l wouldn't
| tell Jake what your father said, but
I'd kind O. get round it some way till
l come"
She had come to the home of John
| Anderson before his wife died, had
| stayed with that good woman through
her long illness, and seen Mary Ann
married. Then she had remained te
keep house. Now, ten years later, she
was still there, and was regarded al
the hostess by the visiting country
| neighbors, to whom the fact Of her be
ing hired help was no detriment.
She stood with her elbow on the
mantel, the freight from the hearth
lending an additional glow Of color tc
the bright dress. The dark wood be
hind brought her out In stronger relief
and she was far from %unlovely. /,
looked like one Of Rubens' bright IN.
t~eriors, only Mirandy was unconscious
| of that, and she grew momentarily III.
| certain. The color shot into her face
as she heard a step outside John An
derson came in and looked at her-the
central figure in his especial Rubsns-
surprised and pleased.
why, Mirandy." he said, Il reckon
you've nxed up to be kissed" Ht
rubbed his hands and chuckled ovel
his own %gallantry. he was a hns
looking man, hale and hearty, with )
strong tendency to humor. MirandJ
looked at him, finding 1t hard to resis
him.
NO" she answered. With a touch q
eoquetry, mo man kisses me until tn
preacher makes as better acquainted.
1T say, MirAndy. what's to hinde,
our going over to the preacher to-mor
row and getting married.. We ca,
tell Mary Ann the next time sh,
comes. and it amt anybody slss's bu.
lnes&."
She gave 4 hyster.cAl laugh ant
blush, then shut her teeth together ant
drew 4 hard breath. There Ain