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THE HESPERIAN
The same upholstered furniture, but no
piano. In the room adjoining the parlor a
long table set, awaiting its occupants. The
little woman with the curls, paler and more
careworn than of yore, bustles about, put
ting this and that in place. Her husband
sat looking gloomily on the floor.
"I think you might help me, Randolph,"
said his wifo. "Oh, Sis, don't bother me.
Don't you think I have enough to worry
me?" Mrs. Gray opened her mouth to
speak, thon clo3ed it again.
. It had been over a month that sho had
struggled on unaided to support the family,
aud to parry inquisitive questions. "I don't
know what we are coming to," sho said to
an old family friend, with tears in her eyes.
Randolph doesn't do anything but mope and
brood. If ho would only talk to mo I could
stand it. He does not act like a man. Do
you know, I am almost afraid sometimes
that he did do it."
And so things went on, until one day he
told his wife that he could stand this no
longer. He was going away. Ho didn't
know where, and he didn't care. "I am
only a burden, anyway. You and Daisy
will get on far better without mo."
There was no change in the house on. the
corner, except that the little woman grew
paler and thinner. But when her friends
inquired where her husband was, sho would
answer with a smile, that 'he thought
of securing a position out West that she
thought the climate would bo good for him.
He needed a change.' There wore not
only inquisitive neighbors and inquiring
friends, there was also her little daughter
who was always questioning her, if not in
words, with her wistful little face,
"Mamma, when is Papa coming home?"
Then she would assume a cheerful look and
voice, saying: 'Pretty soon, dear, I hope.
"Wo must do thus and so, to be ready for
him.' " But the child seemed only half con
vinced. Many times her mother, wonder
ing where she was, would catch a glimpse of
her through the parlor door, perched on a
chair, under a largo portrait of lier father,
looking up at it and saying, over and over
again: "I want you to come home, Papa.
I want you." Then her mother would tip
too away: for Daisy had never spoken of
this to anyone not even to her mother.
Threo months, and still no word. Daisy
had ceased to sit before her father's picture
aud ask him when he was coming home.
She had almost censed to talk of him. There
was a shadow on her face now. She had
grown more quiet and thoughtful. "My
little woman, V her mother used to call her.
One day her mother found her crying as
if her heart would break. "What is the
matter, dear?" she said, stooping over her.
In answer sho only throw herself into her
mother's arms, crying 'Oh, Mamma, 1 am
so sorry for you."
Sho understood it all at last.
AN OPEN LETTER.
To the Editor of The Hesperian:
You have asked me to publish my views
in regard to contemplated reforms in Uni
versity athletics. In simple terms you have
asked mv opinion as to what are the leading
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defects in the management of athletics at
the University of Nebraska, and what, in
my opinion, is the proper remedy for those
defects.
Most willingly I respond to such a re
quest, because my past connection with the
University has made me feel almost like an
alumnus. I love the University of my
adopted state almost as an alma mater, and
two years of close companionship in joy and
sorrow has awakened within mo a feeling of
comradeship with very many of its present
students.
Wlyit I may chance to say upon this sub
ject, I foresee, is likely to be personal. My
excuse, if any is needed, is that this letter is
written to friends who know me well.
I select for my immediate text an article
published in Hie Nebvashan of Dec. 7, last,
entitled "A Suggestion," and known com-
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