The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1884-11-08
and in such good shape, too !" He

IL
gazed at in establishment.
TWAS in good shape. Row after row
OF well-seasoned, neatly sawed and
split wood piled 10 the rafters, with
heap of pine and hemlock in kindGng
lengths in one corner
L had it put there" said Susan,
quietly.
Some more questions he asked, but,
with little way she sometimes had of
asserting herself, she gave him to I'M
derstand she had nothing more to tell,
and he was ashamed to ask any one
else.
The winter brought its usual round
OF simple gayeties in the country neigh
borhood, in which John and his wife
took their full share.
1T seems to me, Susan" he said one
evening on their return from a church
sociable, you don't fix up quite enough
when you go out"
Don't look nice 2"
Yes, of course you do; but that's a
dress you had when we were married,
and that's nigh on two years ago.
hadn't seen anything of that silk l gave
you last fall"
Are you sure?" she seid, with a
smile which he could not understand.
Yes, L am. 'Taint been made up
yet, is it?"
Eyes, it is. And you've seen it
worn"
John was puzzled, and felt sure he
had not, but Susan would give him no
further satisfaction on the subject of
the silk dress.
As spring approached che made few
suggestions as to the ACCESSIBILITY of fire
wood being set to season in due time
But John, prompt and diligent in prep
aration for seed time and harvest, full
of the best intentions regarding his
wlfe's comfort, still thought the wood
was one of the things which could be
looked to at any time, and Susan soon
gave over reminding him of it.
One day in September he came home
to dinner and found cold lunch wait
ing him. The house was clean, quiet
and cherries; and no wife there, but
written line which ran:
DEAR JONI am going to spend
the day over at Mrs. Carter's. Will be
home in time to give you late supper"
He was glad to have her go, for she
had had busy summer and needed
little change. But there was day out
the next week and the next and the
next, until he began to wonder at
Susan's growing taste for gadding about.
In early October he came home to find
his wood yard, which had still remained
empty, occupied by half dozen or SO
cords of first class wood, with Sol.
Carter and his two big boys busy at it,
and they worked until it was stored up
as before in the shed. And John felt
cross, but asked no questions.
Where's Mrs. Barker?" said small
Garter boy to John, as he put up the
bars one evening.
She is over to neighbor Grants.
You will find her there if you want
her"
st amt no matter. You can tell her
here's the SEWN she's to do for mother,
and mother wants to know if she can
come and wash to our house tomorrow.
"The-old scratch she does?" ex-
claimed John, turning Oh the boy in
blank amazement, which rapidly grew
into anger. "Mrs. Barker hire out to do
washin' and sewin'? What dye mean
by comm to me by such message, you
young rascal?"
The astonished youngster dropped
his sewing and applied his knuckles to
his eyes as John advanced toward him,
then ran with all his might as the bun
die came whizzing after him. And Su-
sans lord and master strobe in dignified
wrath down the road to meet her.
Susan don't understand this,
there's been a young chap talkin' about
SEWN and washin' for Mrs Carter What
In ali creation does it mean, I'd like to
know"
"I'ts all right" said Susan, composedly.
what was the message?"
"Thunderatiop You don't mean to
say you sew and wash for other folks,
do your"
eyes, I do"
"And for what? Is there anything
you want, Susan, that don't give you?"
"Yes, John, there is. / want wood.
sew and do anything else woman
ought to do, and there's no blame to me
for changing work l can do for work l
can't. I'm never" Susan spoke very
firmly, but without grain of irritation,
going to put up with poor, badly cut,
green wood again as long as I can turn
my woman's work into mans work. I'd
rather wash for somebody every week,
it's half the comfort of woman's life.
| You've never had to wait for your din
ner with the wood sizzling in the stove
and the fire not burning since I've been
providing the wood"
John was dumbfounded
and you've been working for Sol
Carter's wife these two years" he said,
in intense disgust.
mo; my silk dress paid for last years
wood. l hated to let it go, John, be-
cause you gave it to me, but Tilda
Garter took fancy to it. It was she
you saw wearing it, and Susan laughed
at his grunt of dissatisfaction with the
whole business.
you to go letting me down this way
before the Cartersl" he growled. And
if Mrs. Johns eyes flashed little who
can blame her, as she answered:
IF there's any letting down to do it's
your own doing, not mine"
They finished their walk home in 81
lence, and then John said:
Susan, will you leave the wood
business to me after this?"
I'll try you, john" she said. : Phil
adelphia Call.