The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1889-04-18

"Claxton?" SAID farmer, of whom
they paused to inquire the way; "Clax-
ton? Ant he the fellow as has a wo-
mans right woman for wife, and is
hen-pecked awful?"
"Oh, dear, nor interposed Mrs.
Pocklehurst. Quite another sort of
person"
There ant but one Claxton livin'
anywheres round here" said the son
of the soil. Tall man with blue
spectacles, and kind O. squints with
one eye?"
Exactly" said Mrs. Pocklehurst,
eagerly.
Just over there" said the man, in
dicating a dreary-looking red brick
house on the skirts of Swampsey vii
lage. ''Guess yoa'll find him to hum.
He don't often go out" with a grim
chuckle.
The door of the red brick forlornity
was opened by short, stout woman,
in a plain brown dress, hair strained
back by the roots, and staring, light
brown eyes.
Joseph Claxton?" said she Yes,
he's at home, but / don't allow him to
fritter away his time with company.
I'm preparing report just at present
"a report on woman's suffrage; per-
haps you're interested in it-aud it's
all he can do to take care of the chill
drenn
1--WE are very old friends" said Mr..
Pocklehurst, land have come some dis
tance to see him."
''Then you'll have to come in, | sup
pose," said the advocate of free and
equal rights. ''Sit down; I'll call him
directly. Or perhaps you'd rather go
go out where he is. It'll save time"
Following this particular parsonage.
Mr.. and Mrs. Pocklehurst soon found
themselves in dismal back yard,
where, on an upturned pail sat Joseph
Claxton, peeling potatoes, rocking a
cradle with one foot, while two OF
three dirty, disorderly children played
around. As he caught sight of his
visitors he colored deeply and quickly
started to his feet, upsetting the pail Of
potatoes as he did so.
There you 60" said Mrs. Claxton,
shrilly. 81 never did see any one half
so clumsy as you are!'
My love, II couldn't help it,"
apologized her husband. 1T was such
start, YOU see! Pocklehurst," with
feeble attempt at the debonair, 81 hope
| see you well. Allow me to introduce
my wife"
Your wifen' echoed both the visitors.
Il dare say you've heard of me be-
FORE" said Mrs. Claxton, complacent-
ly. Il devote my life to the enfran-
chisement of my sex. Look out for
the baby there, Joe! I'm not trivial
woman, and | don't care who knows
it. l suppose your friends will stay for
dinner Joe. Put on your hat right off,
and go to the butchers for two pounds
and a half of beefsteak, and don't stay
gossiping half the morning, do you
hear?"
Both Mr.. and Mrs. Pocklehurst made
haste to decline the grudgingly given
invitation, evidently to the relief of Mr..
Claxton and his spouse, and after
few matter-of-course remarks got into
their carriage and droye away, heartily
glad to be clear of the 'woman's
right" freighted atmosphere.
Peter" cried Mrs. Pocklehurst, Il
could hardly believe my own eyes and
ears. Poor Mr.. ClaXton!"
Yes" said her husband thought
fully, she is to be pitied. But one
would hardly have thought it, to hear
his side of the question last fall"
"Ah, "said Penelope shrewdly. "But,
after all, one need not wonder at the
man. He can't be master at home. and
it's only natural he should pretend to
be away from home. But he had al
most made us quarrel, Peter!"
Nobody shall ever have the op-
portunity of doing so again, my DEAR"
said Mr.. Parkhurst, stoutly.