Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-08-24

busy men who have had but short ex-
perience with housekeeping matters, he
forgets, and doesn't realize how much
Inconvenience it causes thee.''
"No, and he doesn't care!" broke in
Mary.
go, yes, he does, my DEAR" said her
aunt, soothingly, ''only he can not real
ize what an annoyance it is. Now, don't
thee be impatient, and will tell thee q
way to cure him thee must manage him
little. Instead. of trying to get up a
substitute when he fails to provide the
dinner in season, let him see the conse-
quences of his neglect by coming home
and not finding any"
"Why, 1 couldn't do that, auntie,"
exclaimed Mary, her feelings suddenly
changing to pity. 81 couldn't let
Howard come home tired and hungry,
and find no dinner ready for him; it
would be cruel.''
"No, it wouldn't hurt him a particle,
child; and can't thee see that it would
be better for him to realize something
of thy disappointment than for thee to
have all thy happiness spoiled?"
"But Howard would be offended, and
perhaps he would not love me so well if
l did that
"No, dear; I understand Howard
quite as well as thee does, for have
known him ever since he was a baby;
and thee may trust me, the experiment
will work well and when he finds that
he can not have a good dinner ready for
him unless he provides it, thee will
have no more trouble about the matter"
"But, Auntie, couldn't let him 90
back to the office without anything to
eat!'
"Well, thee can give him cold
lunch afterward, if thee feels inclined
be sorry for it,
After some hesitation Mary decided
to follow her aunt's advice, though not
without some misSivings about the eff
feet. ssShall | set the table?' she
asked.
"Why, to be sure; set it just as nicely
as thee can, and put on thy covered
dishes as though everything thee ex-
pected to have was ready, and thee was
keeping it warm for him."
Mary complied, and presently Howard
appeared in unusually good spirits, for
matters had gone well with him that day.
He had won an important suit in which
he was counsel, and the anticipation of
the morrow's pleasure made him very
happy.
$50 your dinner is all ready" said
he, looking into the dining-room at the
inviting table; ''let's sit down at once,
for I'm fearfully hungry"
Mary's heart smote her as she thought
of the cruel disappointment awaiting
her husband; but she could not retract
then, and they sat down. In Difference
to the custom of the Friends, which
Aunt Hepsey always observed, they
waited a moment in silence; and then,
unrolling his napkin, Howard lifted the
cover before him, and at the same time
took up the carving knife. The puzzled
look that overspread his face was COM
ical to behold. He glanced first at Macy
and then at his aunt.
"What is thee waiting for?" asked
Aunt Hepsey.
ssMary, what does this joke"
But he did not finish the sentence.
He was too quick-witted a lawyer to
need an explanation, and of course, to
use professional phrase, it devolved
on him to open the case.
SWELL" he began, ''you have served
me right, Mary. will explain just how
it was. 1 meant to 60 right to the mar
ket, but just as I turned the corner,
Mr.. Wallace met me and said he want
ed to consult with me at once, so was
obliged to 60 straight to the office. 1t
was an hour before was done with him,
and his case was such an important one
that it put everything else out of my
head; and, to tell you the truth, did
not think of that order again until l
lifted this cover. But you have done
right, Mary, and I would not care, if
you and Aunt Hepsey only had some
thing good to eat.''
"But we are not going hungry, or
you either, darling" she answered. |
There's cold lunch in the pantry for
I-I-wanted you to see how |
It seemed to forget the dinner''
sWell, I'll take all the blame, my
iear," said Howard, sand make a |
piece of pie answer for dinner; but 1
Won't forget that order this afternoon,
you may be sure of that"
So the three satisfied their appetites
Is best they could, and Howard went
AWAY, declaring that he never would be
70 careless again. But it was quite
measure lost upon him, and that it had
not occurred to him, even for a mo-
nent, that his wife experienced any
'eal inconvenience on account of his
and negligence. He looked
1t the whole affair as game that two
could play at, and now that Mary had
lad her revenge on him, he was dis
posed to call it quits.
Aunt Hepsey saw all this, although
Ter confiding niece did not, and when
was gone she said to Mary:
Now thee must carry thy discipline
title further. If the dinner is sent home
his afternoon, it must be cooked to-
thee knows, so that thee will
nave the best of reasons for declining to
20 to ride when Howard comes"
"But, Aunt Hepsey, want to go just
Is much as he does, and it would be
light down cruel to disappoint Howard
when he has worked so hard to get the
incl"
eyes, as cruel as for him to disap-
point thee about the dinner. Idare say
t will be hard for thee to take the
snYrrso ho Int |