The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1888-05-04
EEeToR's WIFE.


yet. 1t amt the way your poor
mother used TO keep house, Hector,
Eth? Where are You going now"
Hector Bay lif had left the "N-yolc
he WIS intending, and crossed theg green
loor-yard with I, rapid step, to take
the heapcd.up clothes.haskct irom;he
hands OF IL pretty, neutrality-suspicious..
mn who had Just emerged from the
kitchen door.
The old man uttered an audible
snor, OF disgust. "We'l nrver.' he
sand. oil Hector han't lett his work
to wait on that wife o hisn! ], amt
ii mans work To carry clothes ont, no
way yon can liz ii. Ii you do il once,
you'll Tue expected % do it twice. And
lIector'.' wife is clean spoiled already.
1t amt the way managed matters
when was first marrid To lIcrtor's
mother. What yc been DOM sharply,
as he young man returned to his
work.
"The basket was too heavy ori'vn-
thia to carry" said Hector, rurtly.
81 wish could afford TO keep u slrl
for her."
"a sirl," Mr.. Baylii's voice bctray-
ed mingled astonishment and CON.
tempt. "a girl. Your mother"
"Nes, know, father" interrupted
Hector. "But things have changed
since then, and perhaps mother would
he alive now il the housework had not
worn her out before her time.'
That's a downright flying in The
face OF Providence, said MIR. Baylil,
reddenin. to he roots OF his SNUFF,
lron-sray hair. sit was the Lords
will that your mother should he took
away. and there uin't no sort otdoubt
hut that she's better oil. And Gym
thia won't never stand in her shoes,
no way you can look at ltm
Hector Btylif made no reply, bu.
took M his oX.yoke and went across
the fields with it.
"Father may say what lie pleases,"
he said to himself, 'bit mother died
of overworli and under carr, and
nothing else. The household duties
are too heavy for Cynthia, and !
must see what can be done to li.lten
them. No woman shall be drllti.c,l
20 death under this root now"
Cynthia Hough had been Il pretty
youn. factory girl when Hector Bay
lift married her. She had been l.no.
rant OF the details oil housekeeping,
but she had eXertrd herself to learn
Old Mr.. Bayl,tf, however. was an ex-
acting critic and the Bayilf farm
house wasa biz, rambling, announcement
place, where one might work hard all
day and have very little to show for it
ut the end. Aud the tired look in her
eye and he weary flush on her cheek
went TO llector's heart at times.
"My darling" said he, 81 wish |
could make things easier for YOU"
"Oh, they are easy enough" said
Cynthia, brightly. "lt's only that |
am too stupid to manage rs fought. !"
Hector shook his head. lie knew
that something was lacking, but he
did not quite comprehend what. But
she dropped so that he saw some rad
lcal change was necessary.
"Cynthia," said he, "this won't do,
you must 90 and stay with your
mother a week or two and rest"
"But what will You do, Hector?"
well keep bachelors hall, father
and l." said the young man, cheerily.
''What does it signify to us Il little in
convenience, as long as you are bene.
fitted"
So rather unwillingly, Cynthia went
Old Silas shook his head iorebodiny.
ly.
"lf this is the way you're roin' to
baby this wife o yourn, Hector" hr
said, you'll have her playin' sick the
whole time. | don't hold TO lcttin'
women think themselves TO inpnr.
tant. Now we shall he oLlee.etl to hey
Mary Jenkins here TO do the chores
am! cook, and it will cost us a dollar
and Il half week, at the very least.
faint what call economical house.
keepin'."
THAT depends upon what one calls
economy" said Hector, quietly.
When his nei.hbor, Luzon Perkins,
drove past that afternoon with hie
wife, Hector called them in. secretly
rejoicing that old Silas was down il
the swamp lot, capturing a refractory
cali.
"You're not in " hurry, I.uzon, mr.,
you? said he. "Sit down Il minute
l want to ask your wilc's advice"
"a pretty thing to do" laughed
Mrs. Perkins, "when you've got IL vii,
OF your own"
Its about her want to consul;
you" said Hector. "The work her,
is too heavy Tor her. She loeSn',
seem to get along with it. And
don't know why. Now Mrs. Perkins
look around this kitchen, and tell m.
what you would do if you lived here
Mrs. Perkins took a leisurely survey
OF the premises, letting her eyes rest
on one portion after another with
meditative slowness.
"WelI?" said Hector.
ain the first place" said Mrs Per.
kens, 81 wouldn't have this room fot
kitchen at all, if l lived here. It's
damp"
Damp" echoed Hector.
Gas blue mould" answered the ora.
Gle. "rhe cellar under it isn't proper.
ly drained, am certain. And The
windows look to the north, and
don't suppose there's an hours sun.
shine ini all day. No; make store
place or something OF this room. and
take the sitting-room for kitchen
where there's IL bright outlook to il,
south, and a good cement cellar un
derncath."
81 never thought ofthat," SAID IIec
tor. well, what else?"
where do you get your water
asked Mrs. Perkins.
From the spring under the HILL"
no you mean that your wife mas
to bring all the water you use up that
Except the washwater. That she
aips ont from the ho.shead under the
caves, explained Hector, rather dis.
comiited.
my goodness me-" exclaimed Mrs,
Perkins, wrin.ing her plump hands in
c,onlcal dismay; that's enough to
break down any woman's cons,i,u.
ton"
ITS what we've always done" sail
Hector. 81 bring u couple OF pals in
the morning before go 10 work, and
alter come home, but"
Nonsense, Il mere drop in he buck
et" said Mrs. Perkins. "What YOU
want is u sink with water pipes laid
from the spring, and u GOOD els
tern with pump in the kitchen, and
washing.machine,-"
""hat's thatT asked Hector.