Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1890-08-07
A DOMESTIC CHRONICLE.

sent that Slrl OF yours ABOUT her Dust
ness"
Mrs Cavendsh looked up with n
start. She was buttoning Bob's apron,
patiently following him about the room
as he friskcd after the cat.
"WhatP" said she. in dismayed
voice.
Il spoke distinctly enough, didn't IP
-have-discharged-Lucy"
What for, James?H
"lnsolcncc; that's all"
But Lucy never could have been Ia
solent,' pleaded Mrs. Cavendish,
twiching off the last button from Bob's
apron in her perturbation.
"Oh, couldn't she, thought I just
wish you had been there, that's ALL"
What did she say James?"
II told her she was half an hour he.
hind with the breakfast and asked what
she meant by it, and she told me she
was doing the best she could and
couldn't do better if all the world de-
pended upon it,
But, James, the poor girl is nearly
frantic with the toothache this morn
ing"
i can't help that; she has no bust
ness to answer me impudently. 1t
wasn't the words so muCh-it was the
manner
Poor Lucy' And you have dis.
charged her"
That's you all over, said Mr.. Caveu.
dish, angrily. Il believe you'd take
any body elSe's part against me. Yes,
Of course discharged her | told her
to have her things outside of the house
III two hours or Id fling them out of
the window"
But, James what am to do?" said
Mrs, Cavendish, who had by this time
captured Ethel, the second child, and
was buttoning her boots with nervous
rapidty. With one of my sick head
aches coming on, aud Willie and Pen
down with the measles, and not soul
TO lift hand for me!''
That's pretty question 10 ask"
said Mr.. CavCndish. standing with his
hands in his pockets. One would
think YOU women were made of sugar
or salt nowadays. Ny mother had ten
Childrcn-ten- and did every stroke Of
work for 'em herself year in and year
out; and here You make such rumpus
because you happen to be left without
4 servant for twenty-four hours-b
cause. of course, | shall expect to stop
at Virgins and send you up Swede or
a Norwegian this afternoon"
Poor Mrs. Caveudish burst into tears.
james. said she, Lucy was the
best girl have ever bad. You should
not have sent her out of the house in
this way. How would you like It II !
went down to your wholesale boot and
shoe place and discharged your clerks2"
Il should say you did perfectly
answered you impertinently. Now don't
SWIVEL! II there is anything hate it
is a scene. I'll 60 downstairs and boil
the coffee myself--any one can make
coffee and YOU hurry down with the
children rs soon as you can. There's
plenty of bread and butter and cold.
ham, anyhow. Nobody ever starved
on that
Mr.. Cavcndish had "camped out" a
good deal during his bachelor days.
and succeeded in preparing a remark
ably good pot of coffee. The bread AL
butter aud cold ham were not bad Of
their kind, but the children cried aloud
for milk. The Caveudishes kept a COW,
and the milk had not yet been brought
in.
And that is what kept Lucy" in.
voluntarily cried Mrs. Cavendish.
CONDENSED milk is good enough for
anybody" asserted Mr.. Caveudish.
But Bob aud Ethel declined to drink
it on any terms.
"Starve EN- to it," said the father,
drinking his hot coffee in prodigious
gulps. Healthy children have no
business to be dainty"
And he caught up his hat and ulster
and made Decline for the train.
Mrs. Caveudsh looked pitcously
around at the disordered table, the ash.
choked fire general desolation of the
room. Her headache was gradually
working itself up to the supreme mo-
ment of desperation. The children
above stairs were crying for breakfast
Bob was sailing his shoe in the cedar
pail of water; Ethel was feeding the
kitten from the can of condensed milk.
Ma. piped up Bob, there's tramp
at me kitchen winder"
But 1t was no tramp. 1t was Miles,
| the stableman.
"Oh, Miles, l am so glad" said Mrs.
Carendish. You have brought us the
milk"
Il haven't that, num-" said Miles
The cows lost, an it ant meself is
| going to track her through the swalnps
an bogs. II the master wants his COW
look care of he's got to pay me dollar
tweek more wages"
Got to, Miles7"
"Yis'm!' boldly retorted the man.
~ ant to be put upon no longer, DR..
| Miller's mall"
Very we'll" said Mrs. Cavendish;
you may go!'
Mann" echoed the astouuded SER
want.
You are discharged" said Mrs.
Cavendish, tirmly-''at oncer'
Miles SUNK away aud disappeared.
Mrs Cavendish went up to her room.
and after ministering as well as she
could to the wants of the poor little
victim of measles she threw herself on
the bed with wet towel bound around
her head aud despair in her heart.
There's one comfort" said Mrs.
Cavendish, gloomily smiling, If he
discharged Lucy, / have sent away
Miles,!
Mr.. Cavendish had an unusually busy
day in the city. As he was hurrying
toward the depot in the afternoon he
remembered that his mission to MIR.
Virgins famous intelligence bureau
was yet unfulflled.
'Confound it," said Mr.. Cavcndish
to himself. However,, tomorrow will
do just as well. My mother did with.
out any help at all. !"
At the station no buggy was in wait
ing.
II wonder what that lazy villain
Miles is about?" said Mr.. Cavendish, .
dark frown gathering upon his brow.
HE may think he's got "a snug place Oh
1t, but Ill teach him Fun not to be trified
1 kxiih ~