Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1895-03-28
"A WELL-GROOMED N

y
pertinent, and may we'll devote a little
time each day to q cultivation Of ex-
quisite personal detail at the expense
of some of your frivolous amusements.
First, do not rise too early. Breakfast
in bed on a cup of coffee, a roll, per-
haps a little fruit, and plan your toilets
for the day."
Up went Mary's eyebrows and a a r
castle smile played about her mouth.
Three children to send to school at 8
o'clock, and breakfast to get before
that! CHANGING up. Mr.. Fenton caught
the smile.
Naturally" he interrupted himself,
"every woman cannot follow this plan
exactly, but the general outline is good.
You'll see."
So he travelled down the columns Of
directions. for the bath with bran bags,
almond meal and orris root, the pedi-
curing, the ~manicuring, the elaborate
brushing of hair and teeth, the gym
nastics for the development Of the fig
ure, the careful examination of each
article of clothing to see II a single
stitch be wanting. the hundreds of
little details which it takes so few min
utes to write down, SO many to carry
out. As he went on, Mary'S natural
sense of fun came to her rescue, and,
beginning to appreciate the absurdity
of the situation, she held her peace.
adding up as they We're mentioned in
turn the twenty minutes for this, the
thirty minutes for that, and her nus
band drew a long breath Mt the end
of the evolution of a lovely creature
immaculate from top to toe.
sit seems to me-" observed she,
demurely, las If cleanliness were get
ting ahead of godliness nowadays.
Well, il must be delightful to go through
such a thorough process, and yet four
hours seems a long time to devote to
dressing every morning"
''Four hours!' cried Mr.. Tenton,
taken by surprise. "My dear, you
must be mistaken. Why, the half hour
for the bath is the longest item in the
lot"
MANY a mickle makes q muchle,
papa, DEAR" rejoined Mary, earnestly.
do you think there is ever a morning
in the whole years round when I could
take four hours for the adjoining of my
own person? Where would your break
fast be, and the children, and the or
ders to the butcher and the grocer?
James, what are you going to do to-
morrow she suddenly asked, and q
dimple appeared in her cheek, which
made her look quite young again.
Tomorrow" he repeated, mechan-
ically.
"Yes! at the Office. you know. Any
thing special"
why, 10. I have q dozen bills to
collect for Mr.. Snow; that's all. Why?"
Because I want to try a little ex-
pertinent. It's not at all original. In
fact, it's as old as the hills. Promise
me you will do it."
III it is within reason" stipulated
Mr.. Fenton. His wife had not changed
so much after all. If she had outgrown
her neatness, the old vivacity was still
alive In her.
"Oh, yes. This Is what I want you
to do. Change places with me for one
day. Let me so and collect the bills
for Mr.. Snow. I warrant you that I
will get every cent that is due him, and
you stay at home as housekeeper, cook,
nurse, and general factotum."
"What perfect nonsensew growled
the gentleman, taking up his paper
again. II should think you were q
schoolgirl of 16. You know that's i'm
possible"
But 1t was not impossible, and Mrs.
Fenton proved 1t, II not to her spouse's
satisfaction, at least to his conviction.
She had recourse to all her forsaken
arts of coaxing and wheedling, and at
last, quite worn out with arguing and
shutting, he had to give in, and agreed
to make a fool of himself on the NOR
row. The victor went up to bed tri-
umphant, pausing in the nursery to
leave the big mending basket and to
lean lovingly for a moment over the
bed where her twin boys lay sleeping
sturdy lads of 8. In the next room she
drew aside little Mabel's tumbled curls
and left a kiss on the rosy cheek, and
at length, with q deep sigh, she found
herself standing before her dressing
table, taking down the coils Of her
hair. Many a silver thread had stolen
into the bright brown ripples, but they
still fell to her waist as abundant as
ever, and against the girlish back
ground her face seemed to lose some OF
Its lines Of care. Was 1t true that she
had been growing careless Of her own
appearance? Like a fash there ran
across her mind words about Mrs. Van
Dusen, and, staring earnestly at the
glass, she felt o thrill Of simple pride
in It's assurance that, with such clothes
as adorned that lady, they would be
more on a par In good looks than d
casual observer would imagine. Then