Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1880-09-15
TRYING THE EXPERIMENT.

I
Peter Carver pushed his chair alb
ruptly back from the table, and survey
ed the faded little face on the opposite
side of the tea tray with gaze of in
nocent astonishment.
Faded enough now, though she was
barely twenty-seven, you would hard
ly have believed how fresh and pretty
Garry Carver had been on her wedding
day, with cheeks like newly opened
ounce blossoms, and lips like the first
strawberry on the upland meadow.
Seven years of matrimony had dimmed
the pink and scarlet, and stolen the
light elasticity of the step; her husband
saw the change, but somehow he sup
posed all women faded just so. They
were frail things at best, but not much
better than a piece of washed out cali
CO." 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 at
tention,' pleaded the meek wife, wink
ing back two bright drops that began
to sparkle ominously under the eye
lids.
4 tell you what, Mrs. Carver, if /
were manager in this household, things
would happen very differently
Il have no doubt of it, said Garry,
quietly.
There's 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, cultivating your
mind or something, at eleven o'clock
every morning that you live. Wash
ing up few dishes-sweeping room
or two-brushing the children's lair
what does it all amount to? Why,
my dear, don't you see the folly of ask
ing for servant to help you do moth
ing at alp
Carry rose to her feet, as near being
in passion as her gentle nature ever
came-a state that reminded you of a
white dove with its feathers indignant
ly ruffled up.
Peter you have no right to speak so
when you have no practical knowledge
of the subject
ANY man knows what housekeeping
amounts to- returned Peter, drawing
up the strings of his purse with 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
. hn ha oil no hrao r.
fast dishes nor bite her lips, nor clench
her teeth, as some women would have
done under similar circumstances, she
merely sat down and bowed he. head
on the table, crushed and weary and
sick at heart, feeling as some poor East
ern devotee may be supposed to feel
after the wheel of Juggernaut has roll
ed over it, whelming sense and reason,
and volition itself under the iron
weight. Poor Carry, how many wives
have fallen under Juggernaut besides
you!
This will never do she said at
length, rising slowly. Slow death
slavery worse than that bound with
chains-I must find some escape from
this bondage, before it undermines life
and health, and leaves my little ones
motberless y
The morning sunshine crept down
the pale green wall paper, sprinkling
drops of gold on the few little geranium
plants that Peter called waste of
time and lay in noon splendor on the
carpet and still Garry Carver stood
there thinking-thinking.
Garry! Wife? Aren't you going to
get up this morning.? 1t is half past
seven and the
Il cannot, Peter groaned Garry,
turning her face away from the light,
Il am suffering such dreadful pains in
the foot / sprained last night. | wish
you would reach me the camphor bot
tie and some fresh bandages.
Il am sorry, Carry-I hope it isn't
very painful said Peter, making a
dive at the pomatum pot instead of
camphor. But what the deuce is a
fellow to do for his breakfast-and
Tommy and Pet are sailing their shoes
in the wash basin, and the fires are all
out? Suppose ! send over for Widow
Simmons to come and help round
bitY
Mrs. Simmons has gone to visit her
daughter answered Carry, family.
We'll, what shall doY'
you must take charge of the house
keeping yourself Peter said Carry,
hiding smile in the folds of her pill
low, It's only day or two, and
don't know of any help you can obtain.
1t won't be much, you know, with your
ideas of system
That's true,' said Peter, somewhat
encouraged. Anybody could get a
breakfast couldn't he p
oh, certainly. But, Peter
Yes, my dear
please darken the room, and keep
the children away, and don't speak to
me if you can help it. / have such a
racking headache, and the least excite
mens almost drives me Wild
Peter shut the door with distracting
caution and went down stairs on creak-
ing tiptoe. AS he passed the nursery
a duet Of voices came shrilly on his
ears:
Papa! Papa we are not dressed
Dress yourselves then, can't you 2
said Mr.. Carver, pausing.
Pet is to little to dress herself, said
Tommy loftily, and mamma always
dresses me-
Where are your shoes p
Il don't know said Tommy, with
his finger in his mouth.
Il know said Pet, aptly revenging
herself for the hit at her diminutive
proportions-Tommy dropped them
out of the window
Tommy is bad boy said the vex-