Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1865-05-19
s eleft Story.
TRYING AN EXPERIMENT.

"A girl My dear Carry what are you
thinking of?
Peter Carver pushed his chair abruptly
back from the table, and surveyed the faded
little face on the opposite side the tea tray
with gaze OF innocent astonishment.
Faded enough, now, though she was bare
ly twenty-seyen, you would hardly have be-
ieved how fresh and pretty Carry Carver
had been on her wedding day, with cheeks
like newly opened ounce blossoms, and lips
like strawberry. Seven years of matrimo-
ny had dimmed the pink and scarlet, and
stolen the light elasticity of the step. Her
husband saw the change, but somehow he
supposed that all women faded Just so.
''They were frail things at best, not much
better than piece of washed-out calico.
And so Mr. Carver dismissed the subject
from his powerful mind
There is so much to do Peter, and the
children demand SO much of my time and at
tention, pleaded the meek wife, winking
back two bright drops that began to sparkle
omniously under the eyelids.
Il tell you what, Mrs. Carver, if [ were
manager in this household, things would hap
pen very differently"
81 have no doubt of it, said Garry, very
quietly.
There no earthly reason, went on Mr.
Carver, ignoring the sarcastic meaning of
her tone, why the work shouldn't be done
and you dressed and enjoying yourself, cul-
tivating your mind, or something, at eleven
clock every morning that we live. Washing
up few dishes sweeping room or two
brushing the children's hair-what does it
all amount to? Why my dear, don't you
see the folly of asking for a servant to help
you do nothing at all p
Carry rose to her feet, as near being in
passion as her gentle nature ever came-a
state that reminded you ofa white dove with
It's feathers Indignantly rufaed up.
''Peter you have no right to speak so,
when you have no practical knowledge Of the
subject"
'fAny man knows what housekeeping
amounts to, returned Peter, drawing up
the strings of his purse with a jerk
There's not bit of science in it--a mere
knack
Garry stood watching her husband as he
brushed his hat buttoned up his overcoat
and slowly sauntered out of the room. She
did not cry, she did not slam the breakfast
dishes, nor bite her lips, norclench her teeth
as some women would have done under sim
liar circumstances she merely sat down and
bowed her head on the table, crushed and
weary and sick at heart, feeling as some poor
heather devotee may be supposed to feel af-
ter the wheel of Juggernaut has rolled over
it, overwhelming sense and reason, and yo-
lition itself under the iron weight. Poor
Garry how MANY wives have fallen under
Juggernaut besides you
This viii never do, she said, at length,
rising slowly. s'Slow deathAslavery worse
than that bound with chains | must find
some escape from this bondage before it un-
dermines fife and health, and leave my little
ones motherless ~
Phe morning sunshine crept down thepale
green wall paper, sprinkling drops of gold on
the few little geraneum plants that Peter
called "a waste of time, and lay in noon
splendor on the carpet, and still Carry Car
yer stood there thinking-thinking-
"Carry Wife Aren't you going to
get up this morning 1t is half past seven,
and the"
II cannot, Peter, groaned Carry, turn
ing her face away from the light. i am
suffering such dreadful pain in that foot
sprained last night. | wish you would reach
me the camphor bottle and some fresh ban
dages
| Il all SOTTy, NdTTg. uOpE III ISL NSIJ
painful, said Peter, making dive at the
pomatum pot instead Of the camphor bottle
i'But what the deuce is a fellow to do fol
his breakfast? ? Tommy and Pet are sailing
their shoes in the wash basin, and the fires
are all out. Suppose / send over for Mrs
Simmons to come over and help round ;
bit p
Mrs. Simmons has gone to visit hel
daughter, answered Garry, family.
well, what shall do r.
You must take charge of the housekeep
ing yourself, Peter" said Carry, hiding I
smile in the folds Of her pillow It's onll
for day or two, and don't know OF an,
help you can obtain. 1t won't be much, yol
know, with your ideas of system.
That's true, said Peter somewhat en-
couraged Anybody could get breakfas
couldn't he n
"Oh certainly. But, Peter"
Yes, my dear. .
'Please darken the room and keep tn
children away, and don speak to me, If yo
can help it. / have such racking head
ache, and the least excitement almost drive
) me wild.
Peter shut the door with great caution
and went down stairs on creaking tiptoe
AS he passed the nursery duet of voice
chiIned shrilly on his ears
Papa papa we are not dressed.