Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-09-08
myself clear, Mrs. Perkins? ?"

he ulu. lie made himself SO clear
that she went over to the other side
Of the room and sat down with her
back to him, and for nearly an hour
| they sat, silent and solemn, waiting for
breakfast And it is very trying to
quarrel on an empty stomach-very
trying indeed.
But he got the clock. He brought
it home in triumph that night, and
served notice on his wife that he, and
he alone, was to be the manipulation of
it. No one else was to touch it, and it
was to be the sole authority on the
time to get UP. Then he set it, and
barring the fact that by 4 slip he set
it for 6:30 when he intended to make
it for 10 minutes of Z it worked to a
charm
But that's all right" he told his
wife. I'm not quite used to it yet,
but I'll have it just right tomorrow.
You had better put it UP on the
mantel where it will be out of the
way" she suggested, but he told her
that he was running that clock, and to
prove it he left it on q little table By
the bed where it was within easy reach
of the children.
That's why he was awakened about
1 o'clock the following night He had
set it in the morning and simply wound
it UP at night, and he had not noticed
that the children had been playing
with the hand on the alarm dial. He
had his doubts about its being the
children's work, anyway. and his man
ner did not show that confidence in his
wife that a man ought tOhave Still,
he could not prove anything, so he put
it upon the mantel and for three days
it worked to a charm. Then one morn
ing there was 4 slip somewhere again.
The alarm sounded, the clock indicated
that tdaqaateatonshrdlcm
that it was $50 and he got up and be
gan dressing himself hastily. He was
nearly ready for breakfast when he
noticed his wife lazily watching him
from the bed.
Aren't you going to get up?" he
asked
Not yet, DEAR" she replied sweetly.
Then that horrible fear seized him.
is that clock Wrong?" he asked.
Il think not" she replied, yawning;
but you know this is Sunday and we
don't have breakfast until $50"
He sat down on the edge Of the bed
and looked at her fiXedly.
And you let me dress myself with
out saying a word" he exclaimed
The clock is the autocrat-" she be-
gan.
Hang the clock" he cried
las you please" she said softly.
But what could I do?"
1t wasn't as pleasant as some Sun
days they had passed together; he
seemed to feel injured. A man viii
act that way when his wife has got the
better of him on his own proposition
But the day passed and also the night,
and the next morning he felt her Shak
ing him, calling him.
Don't be angry, Henry she said
deprecatingiy, but aren't you going to
the office today"
Office he cried, startling up
What time is it?''
Twenty minutes past seven
'Did-did 1 sleep through all the
noise that clock males:" he asked.
making Il dive for his clothes
No. she replied. Il guess YOU for
got to wind the clock
And you let me Sleep"
What could ! do? You said the
clock Was to be the autocrat--'
THE devil take the clock" he rodred,
dashing it to the floor, and then in his
excitement kicking it with his. bare
foot. "Oo-ouch. Hang it. Mrs. Perk-
ms, You're attending to the breakfast
arrangements of this house. The clock
isn't"
You're quite sure, Henry?'' she
asked.
'Surer' he cried. ''WeIl, if Pm not
propose to be. I5propose to hold you
responsible in these matters and you
might as well make up your mind to
it. There's no use of you trying to
shirk it any longer. I've put up with
this business just as long as | intend
to-
She didn't say anything, but there
was a smile, of victory on her face as
she took the clock downstairs and
threw it out in the alley. She was
avenged. He had been obliged to sur
render, although, manlike, he had tried
to disguise the fact that it was a sur
render.