The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1917-02-02

Heaven knows I've wished it long
enough said their mother. "But
what's the use of wishing? If l had
the nerve I'd put poison in his coffee,
but | hayen't-so there"
Jasper Balsam turned white with
rage. He had always been a kind ia
ther to his children, he had thought
his wife loved him. And now his daugh-
ter wanted to marry Jim, a farmland,
a shiftless sort of fellow who seemed
the last person on earth for any de-
cent girl. lie had never suspected
that And his wife wanted to poison
him, and all three longed for his
death! He jumped out Of his chair.
81 heard you" he beloved. "Now
| know your hearts, thanks to my new
plan. You want me dead and out Of
the way, so that you can handle the
old mans money, do you? 1 suppose
you'd like to get married again too,
Mehitabel?"
st" would" answered his wife
promptly. I'D like to marry a man
without scrubby black whlskers, who
didn't chew tobacco"
"And l wish-I wish I were rid Of
We ALL" snorted the farmer, turning
away.
He went back into the parlor, filling
it with a cloud of smoke as he puffed
morosely at his pipe. That had always
been his privilege; unlike many wom-
en-, Mehitabel had never raised objec-
lions to his smoking anywhere in the
house. She had been a good wife to
him, and he had never guessed the
feelings which she had harbored in
her heart. His children, toO-what
yipers he had been nourishingl He
had offered to send the boy to college,
but Jualus had declined. And Octavia
had been promised a new piano and
music lessons only the day before.
He stalked angrily upstairs at length
and shut himself up in the spare room
His mind was filled with turbulent
and vindlctlve thoughts. If they did
not want him around he would &c
away, but he would no longer support
them.
Suddenly he heard low voices II
the hall outside his ROOM. At first hi
could not distinguish what they were
saying, but then he heard his own sol
speaking.
"Of course father means well, If h,
wouldn't take up with those cranl
IDEAS" he vas saying.
81 think you were too mean for any
thing, Juny," protested Octavia. "Say
ing that you wanted to get rid Of hin
so as to have the farm instead of be
ing hustled to death on a dog
wagesl"
"And what about you, calling hin
an old brute and wishing him to droI
off so that you could marry Jir
GriggsT demanded Junius.
"You knew 1 didn't mean that!
cried the girl. "When l marry II
going to try to find a man as good a
father. l was just pretending in Of
der to teach him a lesson. But you
you let the thoughts out Of you
hearth"
mo l didn't either, Tabby, becaus
he told me only lately that l could G
to college any time l wanted to. An
it was ma who started the game, sa!
ing she wanted to get married ono
more, and talking about pas whist
ers."
my dears, l was trying to teach hi
n lesson" answered their mothei
"Tll tell you a secret. It was your fl
theirs whlskers that made me fall |
love with him. There"
But Jasper Balsam was outside hi
door, smiling a little sheepishly, an
lingering his whiskers as he spoke.
81 guess you fooled the old man a
} right" he said. "But the system ain
a bad one. Only l forgot to say, W
must only speak when we're thinkir
of pleasant things"