Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-02-09
CONVINCED.


little face on the opposite side of the tea
tray.
Faded enough now, though she was
barely 81. You would hardly have be-
lieved how fresh and pretty Carry Car
yer had been on her wedding day. Her
husband saw the change, but somehow
he supposed all women faded just so.
'sThere is so much to do, Peter, and
the children demand SO much of time"
pleaded the meek wife.
eff were manager in this household.
things would happen very differently
81 have no doubt Of it," said Carry
quietly.
"There is no earthly reason" went on
Mr.. Carver, ignoring the sarcastic mean
ing of her tone, 'why the work shouldn't
be done and you dressed and enjoying
yourself, cultivating your mind or some
thing, at II o'clock every morning that
you live. Washing up a few dishes,
sweeping a room or two-what does it
lall amount to? Why, my dear, don't
you see the folly Of asking for servant
to help you do nothing at all?'
The morning sunshine crept down the
pale green wall paper, sprinkling drops
of gold on the few little geranil1n plants
that Peter called s'waste of time" and
LAY in noon splendors on the carpet. and
still Carry Carver stood there, thinking
thinking.
Garry! Aren't you going to get up
this morning? 1t is half past 7, and''-
81 cannot, Peter groaned Garry, turn
ing her face away from the light. liam
suffering such dreadful pains in that foot
I sprained last night"
well, what shall I do?"
"You must take charge of the house
keeping yourself, Peter" said Carry.
hiding smile in the folds of her pillow.
if''It's only for a day or two, and 1 don't
know Of any help you can obtain. It
won't be much, you know"
"Thats true" said Peter, somewhat
encouraged.
"Please darken the room. and keep the
children away, and don't speak to me il
you can help it. have such racking
headache. and the least excitement
drives me wild"
i Peter shut the door with distracting
caution and went down stairs on creak-
ing tiptoe. AS he passed the nursery
door duet of voices chimed on his ears
''Papa, papa, we are not dressed"
''Dress yourselves, then, can't your
said Mr.. Carver pausing.
''Pet is too little to dress herself" said
Tommy loftily, ''and mamma always
dressed me!'
"Where are your shoes"'
81 don't know" said Tommy, with his
finger in his mouth
81 know" said Pet, aptly revenging
herself for the hit at her diminutive pro-
portions; Tommy dropped them out of
the window"
/ Crash! went a fancy bottle of cologne
off the table as Tommy CROPPED for his
carriers. Bangi fell Mrs. Carver's rose
wood writing desk to the floor, bursting
off the frail hinges and scattering pens,
envelopes and postage stamps far and
wide.
Mr.. Peter Carver was an affectionate
father in a general way, but human Ma
ture could not have endured this.
And he bundled the two little crea-
lures miscellaneously into whatever arti-
Icles came uppermost, rending off strings
and fracturing buttonholes in frantic
desperation.
The fire obstinately declined to burn
although Mr.. Carver opened the oven
doors alternately and drew out all the
hampers he could spy.
'sConfound the firer' said Mr.. Carver,
mopping his wet forehead with the stove
cloth. SIT won't go. I'll have blaze
of kindling and try the breakfast on
that"
He seized the ham and carved several
thick slices, which he transferred deity
ito gridiron, and then, elated with his
success, broke several eggs over the ham,
''Bless me, how they rum" he ejacu-
lated, rather puzzled. ''But know I'm
right. I wonder why this coffee doesn't
boil. I'll stick in few more kindlings
that's the idea. There are the children
crying-hungry, I suppose. I do believe
they do nothing but eat and cry" Mr.
Carver rushed to attend the peremptory
summons Of the milkman.
And then he sat down, tired and spir-
Eitless, to repast of half cooked meat
and liquid mud, by courtesy termed cof-
fee.
He looked despairingly around at the
chaos that reigned in the kitchen.
'Nine o'clock, as hve-and nothing
done. We'll, I see very plainly there's
no Office for me today. Now, then,
whats wanting:"
1.-THE clothes for the wash, please. sir, !"
Said little girl, courtseying humbly at
the door,,
Cup stairs and down stairs went Pc
ter Carver, laying hands on whatever he
considered proper prey for the washtub,
|rummaging i'll bureau drawers, upheav-
ing the contents of trunks and turning
wardrobes inside out for mortal hour
before he had completed the requisite
search.
The kitchen was empty when he re-
turned.
"Where are the children" was his first
alarmed thought, expressing itself I'M
consciously in words.
Il saw 'ena go out Of the door, please,
sir. said the washerwolnan' S little girl
The July sun was beginning to glow
intensely i'll the heavens. The pavements
reflected the ardent shine with tenfold
heat, and poor Peter Carver was nearly
melted ere he espied his hopeful son and
heir, with Pet following.
Neither OF them would walk-in fact,
the little wanderers were far too weary
so Mr.. Carver mounted one on each
arm and carried them, limp and unre-
sisting, through the streets.
''fll have a nurse for you, my young
friends, before the world is day older"
he said, grinding his teeth with impotent
wrath as be deposited Pet and Tommy
on the floor and went YEARLY to his
household duties.
'How are you now, CarTy" he said
about an hour afterward, throwing him
self into chair by her bedside and fan
ming himself with the newspaper he had
laid there that morning.
''About the same, dear. How does the
housekeeping get along:'
at don't get along at ALL
els dinner ready?"
ssDinner?" echoed Peter in sort of
dismayed tone. "Why, I haven't got