Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1884-01-03
C0NOU ERING 4 HUSBAND.
Good Cheer.l


agaiup exclaimed Mrs. Marian Dykes, as
her husband came home to tea one even
ing. y cannot. and I will not stand it any
longer" and the young wife dropped into
o chair as though the last remaining por-
ton of her strength had left her.
What was the subject of his lecture,
INV aear?" inquired Mr. Dykes, with a
cheerful smile as though he did not regard
the situation as at all desperate.
''YOu know very well that Uncle Phil
has bat one subject
And that is extravaganza, or the reverse,
economy" added Mr.. Dykes.
'Of course that was the subject of the
lecture; and you always take his side OF
the question Uncle Phil has ten times as
much influence with you as / have. What
ever he says is right, and whatever / say
is wrong" retOEted Mrs Dykes rather
warmly.
III supper is ready, think we had bet
ter attend TO that next and we shall have
the whole evening to discuss Uncle Phils
lecture. The subject will keep fos a
while"
but Uncle Phil will be here to take
part in the discussion, and that is jast
what don't want He oyershadows me
entirely when he says anything, and ]
might as well held my tongue as SPEAK"
pOuted the wife.
"Uncle Phil will not be here, Marian. u
is halfpast six, and he hos 70 go TO a
church meeting at seven"
"Very well, but am going TO have some
thing done this time. | won't have Uncle
Phil here any longer. If he is 10 stay IN
this house i shall not"
Mrs. Dykes was very young, and her
angry pout, as she sailed out of the room,
made her look decidedly pretty, at least so
thought her husband. But before she was
fairly out the door opened and Uncle Phil
came in. The door was ajar, and he must
have been in the hall daring some portion
of the lady's severe remarks about hlm.
But he looked as placid as though earth
had NO sorrow for him. lie was man oil
fifty, though his hair and beard were white
enough for seventy.
Charles Dykes had opened stor. IN
Tripleton the year before, and everybody
thought he was doing well. Mrs. Dykes
thought so, though Charles himself insist
ed that he was not making money very
RAPIDLY; he could not tell how much until
he balanced his books and took account of
stock. In the main he was prudent, care
full young man, or at least was disposed 10
be so.
"Do you suppose he heard what said,
Charles ?" asked Mrs Dykes, after Uncle
Phil had gone
Il think not; but you ought not to say
ANYTHING behind mis- back that you would
not say to his face" replied the husband.
Uncle Phil is a good man, one OF the salt
of the earth"
He is altogether too salty for me. II
should put too much salt in the dOughnuts,
you would not like them. Uncle Phil is
salter than Lots wife"
Il am sorry you don't like him, Marian"
81 can't like man who is continually
tripping me up and lecturing me upon
economy. You ought TO know better than
he does what you can afford"
II am sure nothing but his interest in MS
prompts him to say anything. II one
means well almost anything can he ex-
cused"
"When | said that | wished you would
keep horse so that | could ride out every
day or two, he read me lecture half an
hour in length Whether he heard me or
not, said Just what l meant. You must
get him out of the house in some way,
Charles Take your clerk to board, and
tell your uncle we must have the room"
'If tell him to go, ! shall tell the reason
why did So"
Il am willing to bear all the blame. l
don't want any one in the house to come
between me and my husband" said the
lady with deal of spirit.
Uncle Phil does not come between you
and me, Marian. That is absurd"
II have asked you, and even begged you
dozen times to keep horse. Uncle Phil
takes sides with you against me-"
'But he never said horse to me In his
life. | can't afford to keep horse"
'Yes. you can, Charles. They say yon
are doing more business than Tinkham,
and he keeps two horses; and his wife
looks patronizingly down on me from her
carryall when she meets me on the street,
added Mrs. Dykes with considerable bitter
ness in her tone.
II know nothing about Tinkham's busi-
ness, and / do know something about my
own" replied Mr.. Dykes.
Before the supper things were removed
Charles Dykes mad promised to buy a
horse and buggy. 1t appeared to be the
only way in which he could induce his
WIFE 10 dllOW onClC LII w ASAhAAA - 49,
house Doubtless he was weak to yield
the point against his own Judgment.
In the evening Squire Graves made
friendly call. Mrs. Dykes was very glad
to see him, for he had lady's horse to
sell. 1t was Just the animal she wanted,
and as she had conquered her husband
once that day, she intended to have the
horse trade settled that evening.
Glad to see you, squire; anything
new" the young merchant began, dong
the usual commOnplaces.
There is news, but | suppose you have
heard it, replied the visitor.
Il haven't heard anything; what is 1t 2
Haven't you heard that Tinkham has
been attached"
.'Tinkham! Is it possible" ?" asked Mr.
Dykes, glancing at his wife.
ITS a fact keeper was put In his
store this afternoon, and an attachment put
on his horses and carriages"
THAT was all because he kept two
horses when one was enough for MN, In
terposed Mrs Dykes -o
With her the moral was between two
horses and one.
Before the squire left he had sold his
lady's horse. Mrs. Dykes was perfectly
happy. and her heart began to warm even
toward poor Uncle Phil. When the retired
sbipmaster came in from the meeting there
was dozen things she wanted to DO Tor
his comfort. The lady had beaten hei
husband and his uncle and she was satis-
fed. -. ;ro
Before breakfast the next morning
Sonire Graves man led the horse over ana
mt him in the little stable.
After breakfast the lady thought she
vonld drive over to her fathers IN the