The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1920-04-29
THE
HELPING HAND
IcopyriRht 1920. Western Newspaper Union
By GEORGE E. COBB


once been sentiment and romance il
Abner Wheeler. The bringing up o
a family had made the practical way:
of life serious, and little by little he
had drlfted away from kiss aud ca
Iess, although never unkindly. Ht
was always pleasant with his patient
toiling helpmeet, but never dreaming
that she might still cherish those
trifling amenities Of affection that
keep mans heart warm.
Their children had married and had
gone away, the home become lonely
and, Abner engrossed with business
cares and Jane his wife, with her
ousehold duties, it was natural that
ach should treat the evening hours
s period of rest. Those hours were
dull ones to Jane. She did not com.
plain, however, because Abner read
and dozed, or sat lost In business
thoughts. He took her silence as a
natural sequence to the absence Of
the children and drifted into making
home mere incident in everyday life.
Still, it warmed his heart whenever
he thought of the devoted attention
Jane paid to his preferences and his
comfort.
Every morning Jane looked to ar.
ranging his necktie snug and neatly
set in place, feat Abner could never
accomplish. She would smile up in
his face and talk casual nolhings
While performing this duty, and re
ceived goodbye kiss as a reward.
Jane had suffered a sprained wrist at
one time and made this the apology
for not always getting the tie 'just
right" One morning Abher noticed
that she WINGED slightly in adjusting
it.
"See here, little woman, you're not
straining that hurt arm of yours in
taking my own lazy duty off my shoul-
ders, are you"
"Ohl no--just little touch of
rheumatism, Abner," replied Jane
"Its this spell of damp weather, !
think. Everybody is complaining"
Abner accepted the oif-hand expla-
nation casually and getting out on the
street and finding he had left some
papers in the house, returned to the
front door. Glancing past its glass
top he made out Jane rubbing one
arm from the barred elbow down.
There was an expression OF pain on
her face, and as she arose to put on
IN m
she could not reach behind to adjust
the strings, but had to tie it in front
and then pull 1t around into place
Abner proceeded to his Office with
bowed head and thoughtful face.
81 WONDER" he muttered to him
self, 81 wonder if l have been neg
lecting that dear woman all these
years| Somehow he was uneasy all
that day. Every time he thought Of
those busy, faithful hands that had so
ministered to his comfort, the pitiful
and pathetic appealed to him. That
was day given over to retrospect,
to tender memories, signallzed as a
period for casting up accounts and
realizing just where he stood.
"Why, Abner, where Is your regular
necktie?" spoke Mrs. Wheeler in man
fest surprise as, preparing to attend
10 his usual neckwear adornment. she
found her husband drawing into place
one Of those ties which have a set
mot and fasten with a pin.
"Ohl Ran across this sort yester-
lay" responded Abner with affected
Convenient You can
set it in place readily and, besides. it
saves you a lot of trouble"
"Saves me-" uttered Jane In a
ialf troubled, half wistful tone. "Why,
t has got to be my last pleasant
hought as you leave the house to see
hat you are trim and snug" she
vas almost at the point of tears.
"Well, well-smooth out any stray
my bungling finger may have
eft" Interrupted Abner. "Then--
lere, let me tie your apron for you.
That's it-really an artistic bow for
clumsy fellow like me. Now then,
kiss--no, the cheek won't do. say,
lane, I'm going to have two weeks
'acation and this evening Wen plan :
low Wen spend it, eh? Goodbye, :
Iear."
He was as brisk and volatile as a
oung man and as he swung from the :
louse Jane sank into a chair, over :
ONE. She was too bright a being :
ot to comprehend that instead of be- :
ng callous to her failing strength. :
Ibner had observed, and the new :
ecktie and the adjusted apron
trings were the result. She sat like :
ne dumbed, and then cried as if her
cart would break. The thoughtful
ess, the tenderness, the love suggest
d by the two little incidents thrilled
er soul, bringing to the surface all
he latent suppressed emotion of
ears. :
And that two weeks vacation
traight back to the town where both :
ad been born Abner Wheeler took .
is wife Amid the scenes where they .
ad played, boy and girl, where they :
wed and married. He led her through :
nnny, flowery paths, and in the same
arden where they had plighted their
9th he renewed the pledge.
"When you go b~ck home, dear" :
lid Abner you will find a hired :