The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1895-03-23

--N- 49, o~-- $500
well to his back hair it is hard to be
reminded of it. The day wore on. He
hardly knew why he did not fling of
the yoke and go downtown as usual,
but some logged ~perversity in his ma
ture kept him at his post, and, to his
OWE grim amusement, Hannah's de-
light and the children's establishment,
he did his best to take up all his wife's
forsaken duties. She had not exag.
gerated when she said that her house
was full, and that she had not time to
think of herself. 4 thousand and one
little tasks sprang up on every side
Homework seemed to him a many
headed hydra. and one being knocked
off, another instantly appeared in its
place to distrust and bewilder. Late
in the afternoon, as he sat down for q
moment to rest, seeing a spare quarter
OF an hour before it was time to lay
the table for supper, a loud outcry
arose below stairs, and the twins APP
peared, bearing poor little Mabel be-
tween them, a damp, doleful object,
covered from head to foot with mud.
The children talked all together, and at
the top of their lungs, trying to ex-
plain how Harry had playfully poked
his sister, and how she had lost her
balance and had fallen he~adforemost
into the gutter, in the very gutterest
place, papa" and the poor man tore
his few remaining locks as he bore his
off to the bathroom for a
complete change of clothes, involving
the intricacies of buttons, strings and
pins all over again.
At $50 Mrs Fenton returned. A day
spent principally in the open air had
proved a veritable tonic, and she was a
pleasant sight to see, with a becoming
color in her cheeks, and eyes unwonted-
ly bright, as she tripped upstairs lightly,
in spite of her forty years; bursting
the nursery in such a hustle and
stir of good spirits that it grated upon
the nerves of her husband, PROSTATE
upon the sofa after the exhausting pro-
gramme of his housekeeping.
The fun died out of her voice, though
not from her glance, as she bent V
him. saying, softly: Poor, dear James!
Still in your morning dress? What does
mean? l am afraid you are get
ting into untidy ways"
Mr.. Fenton groaned by way of reply.
Mary" he murmured. feebly, after
a moment, will you accept an hum
bled mans apology? never dreamed
what a never-ending round of
work a woman's life could be. I'm a
wreck-but l speak for myself.
You will never hear another word of
criticism from me if you look like a
rag bag"
Mary dropped a kiss on his fevered
1t was the seal of her forgive
ness. A quick look about the
showed her its disorder, but she kept
her amusement to herself.
u have had a busy day too" she pur-
sued brightly. taking off her bonnet.
First your bills. The people who
owed them were so astonished when a
walked in to collect that they
handed over the money without a
word. and before eleven o'clock my
oocketbook was full. That was the end
If my duty. Business is rather anus
.ng, James, l think, and not too excit-
.ng. for it left me a good many hours,
you see, before it came time to come
nome, so l went to Cousin Lizzie's."
James gave a start. Cousin Lizzie
vas a butterfly of fashion, for whom
tongue was usually 2 lash of
,corn-
Yes, Cousin Lizzie. And 1 said: Liz
lie. 1 am not well dressed That's
10 news says Lizzie. No. but l want
be, saysI. That's good news says
Lizzie. Put on your things says l,
and take me to your tailor So she
lid, and I've ordered a very smart
my dear, which is quite equal to
Lnything of any ueighbor's, anew bon
let and a cape, gloves and boots and so
n. And have had some corsets sen
from Mrs. Van Dusen's own wom-
N. You shall never have occasion to
,omplain of me again, James. Well
-roomed.' l thank thee, Jim, for teach
ng me that word"
As she went into the closet to put
way her wraps, she stole a glance at
Ter husband. 1t found him in a state
# collapse. and in he remote depths
+ that closet she broke into a little
larry of laughter only to be heard by
he moth balls among the furs-
Just then the supper bell tinkled-
Come" called Mrs. Fenton, gayly.
her husband up from the sofa.
They went and by tacit consent the
doings dropped out of the onver
James Fenton slept the sleep of a
sinner that night. and the
morrow restored the old regime. But
he seed sown had dropped into good
and the next Sunday morning
he head of the housekeeping depart
lent was mysterious;y long over her
oilet. When she emerged al length
he was a vision of gored skirt, huge
smart cape. wide bowed
new boots and gloves Her
lair shone like satin and as for her
it was as trim and trig as a
plate. Mr. Fenton opened his
mouth and shut it again. He was
.umb. But the children shrieked
With delight, and pirouetted around
he dazzling apparition and curiosity.
Il say. isn't mamma a daisy?" cried
tossing his hat into the air.
Mable crept up timidly, fingered the
old of a fiaring skirt and. looking up
nto her mothers vivid face, said, hes
tatinCly-