Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-01-27

books, the open piano, the music that
lay loosely on the rack, the general air
of occupation in the room, that SO
fretted the old maid sisters, were home
like and pleasant to Conrad, and man
like he took the pleasures, and did not
question the machinery that seemed to
work SO smoothly. ESometimes a little
smile lurked in Edith's eyes when he
would brag to his mother.
g Edith don't know anything about
but she has good ser,
wants, and I defy anybody to. find al
pleasanter home than mine. It is as
neat as wax, if not SO prim as this one,
and vet never hear her fussing as you
girls did, If I walk across the foor!'
But there came time when the little
doll-wife had to llnveil the loving by
pocrisy that she kept hidden so long
and we'll. 1t was two years after the
wedding day, and there was wee blue
eyed Eide creeping about the floor, and
a dding her rattle and ball to the pretty
home disorder, when Conrad was taken
i'll with violent fever, and lay for
weary weeks on the borders of the
grave. Mrs. Wyman came to aid the
wife in house-care, while the duties of
nursing took up every hour, aud finding
everything, as she declared, sat
SKIES and sevens," polished and scour-
ed to her hearts content, unable
even in her mother love and care to
understand how Edith could forget she
had house in her absorbing devotion
to her husband. By her scolding
tongue and many exactions she sue
ceeded in driving both cook and house
maid away and Edith only kept her
child's nurse by giving herfull controlin
the nursery, where baby's interest and
baby's pleasure predominated over the
rigid order reigning in all parts of the
house, save that room and the sick
room were Conrad fought for life.
So it pefel that on the day when
Conrad, pallid and feeble, came into
the sitting room for the first time, his
mother went home, and Edith found
herself constrained to do her own
work, until new servants should be
found.
"For mercy's sake, said the invalid,
sinking down in a great armchair,
"upset things, Edie. Can't you dance
Jig on that table, or tip over the chairs.
1 can't breathe, it looks so awfully
nice /"
" Don't upset yet, DEAR said Edith,
laughing, for there is no one to put
it to rights again but me, and my
hands will be full until we get new
girls -
Get them now, then p
"I have advertised, but good Sgirls
don't drop from the clouds p
| "a" But IN the meantime y cried Con.
rad, aghast, beginning to realize that
the doll theory was not exactly fitted fo1
this emergency, ......,..
g In the meantime I will do the
wo1k.''' -s~I IL. g.a-e"fas -.'
&c thought you knew nothing about
housework.' s't'<. -d1 L. aH i
Edith blushed rosily as if detected il
a crime. -s.sa maI sE,ia tga aei
"You dear old Conrad" she said
nesting her head against the arm-chair
81 suppose like Topsy I'll have to TESS
Did you really think [ was a useless
little fine lady, that never took any care
of her own domestic arrangements
You would never have had any comfor
if everything had to be done by such
servants as we get in this country -one
good one for forty bad ones. You see
dear, you hated to see me working, that
I tried to keep dressed up and idle fo1
your inspection, morning and evening
but. really / am not the useless dol
your sisters consider me. Many nice
dishes have you praised I made for you
and I never trusted the sitting room tc
a servant. Did you, suppose. because
you always found things where you lef
them, they were never moved or busted
= that the room was never put to rights
[ will get couple of girls as soon as
can; but in the meantime you won
mind very much, will you, if I do pu
on an opron, tie up my hair, and be, my
own help2''
| For answer he only drew her into his
arms and kissed her fondly. "Faa
I" Mind?'' he said. 81 will only minC
because you are worn out now with
loving care of me. [ can't make speech
es, Edie; but I appreciate. the loving
unselfshness that has h1l1nored my alb
surd whim SO long, and be sure that ]
| only love my nJtle vile the more that
she has submitted to our injustice III
supposing her to be a mere doll sc
long, when she was really such house.
hold fairy" gaTTTI{lU ef rf#t
"That's a good Conrad Now baby
shall stay here with Maggie, while I gel
you some luncheon, and, Conrad, if you
feel very bad, I will tip over just one
chair! p
"That's darling! I feel as if every
thing was glued to the floors. Just give
the table-cloth twitch to one side, and
stir up that work basket, and I shall
feel quite comfortable while you arc
gone . nd.
az Hnccn- GacooI