Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1895-03-28
she thought Of her hush
n0r3mpnf that yuaa ia

In SO many trying situations. His wife,
true to the arrangement, had presented
herself at breakfast arrayed In her
walking dress, and offered to make
suggestions about curling Mabels hair,
tying on her pinafore and mending q
mitten brought to her just as the one
maid rang the bell for breakfast. Han
nah was in the secret, for she had al
ready been to ask his advice about the
mullins with a giggle, and Tom and
Harry had been told by mamma that
their father would lay out their clean
clothes and give them any help they
needed in the toilet lire. BY the time
he sat down at the table he was a des-
perate man. His own toilet had been
sketchy in the extreme, and he had
literally had not a minute to think.
Mary in the gayest of spirits took his
bundle of bills and went of, reminding
him not to forget to sort the washing
just brought upstairs, and that this was
the day for sweeping the parlor. "And
hope" said she, cruelty, ut parting,
that you will find time to give at least
fifty strokes Of the brush to your back
hair, James, DEAR"
The pen refuses to record what James
replied under his breath to this heart
less ~taunt-curses not loud, but deep
for when a nan has said farewell to his
back hair 1t Is hard to be reminded Of
1t. The day wore on. He hardly knew
why he did not fling off the yoke and 60
downtown as usual, but some logged
perversity In his nature kept him at
his post. and, to his own grim amusc-
ment. Hannah's delight, and the chill
dren's establishment, he did his best to
take up all his wife's forsaken duties.
SHE had not exaggerated when she said
that her house was full, and that she
had not time to think of herself. A
thousand and one little tasks sprung
up on every side. Housework seemed
to him a many-headed hydra, and n
being knocked of, another instantly
appeared in it's place to distract and be-
wilder. Late in the afternoon, as he
sat down for a moment to rest, seeing
a square quarter of an hour before it
was time to lay the table for p p a
loud cutlery arose below stairs, and the
twins appeared, bearing poor little
label between them, q damp, doleful
object, covered from head to foot with
mud. The children talked all together,
and at the top of their lungs, trying to
explain how Harry had playfully poked
his sister. and how she had lost her
balance and had fallen headforemost
into the gutter. ''in the very gutterest
place, papa" and the poor man tore his
few remaining locks rs he bore his
daughter of to tie bathroom for a
complete change OF clothes, involving
the i~ntricacies 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 unwont-
eddy bright, as she tripped upstairs
lightly, in spite Of her 40 years; burst
Ing into the nursery in such q hustle
and stir OF good spirits that it grated
upon the nerves of her husband, pros
trate upon the sofa after the exhaust
ing program Of his housekeeping.
The fun died out Of her voice, though
not from her glance, as she bent over
him, saying softly: "Poor, dear James!
Still in your morning dress? What
does this mean? l am afraid you are
getting into untidy ways"
Mr.. Fenton groaned by way Of reply.
"Mary," he murmured, feebly, after
a moment "Will you accept an hum.
bled mans apology7 I never dreamed
before what a n~ever-ending round Of
work a woman's fife could be-. I'm a
perfect wreck-but I speak for myself.
You will hear another word OF
criticism from me IL you look like q a
bag"
Mary dropped . kiss OF his fevered
brow. It was the seal Of her forgive
ness. A quick look about the room
showed her its disorder, but she kept
her amusement to herself.
II have had a busy day, too" she pur-
sued, brightly, taking of her bonnet.
First, your bills. The people who
owed them were 80 ~astonished when a
woman walked In to collect that they
handed over the money without a word,
and before IL o'clock my pocketbook
was full. That was the end Of my
duty. Business is rather amusing,
James, I think, and not too exciting,
for 1t left me q good many hours, you
see, before 1t was time to come home,
80 I went to Cousin Lizxie's."
James gave a start Cousin Lizzie
vas a butterfly Of fashion, for whom
Mary's tongue was usually a lash Of
cor
Eyes, Cousin Lizzie. And I said, liz
xie, I am not well dressed That's no
news says Lizzie. No, but l want TO
be- says I. That's good news says
Lizzie. Put on your things says !,
: and take me to your tailor So she
did, and I've ordered a very smart
gown, my dear, which Is quite equal to
anything OF any neighbours. a new bon
net and q cape, gloves and boots and 50
on. And I have had some corsets sent
home from Mrs. Van Dusen's own wom-
an. You shall never have occasion to
complain Of me again, James. Well
groomed.' I thank thee, Jim, for teach.
ing me the word"
As she went into the closet to put
away her wraps, she stole q glance at
her husband. It found him in q state
Of collapse, and In the remote depths
Of that closet she broke into q little
Aa.~~~, - f>n-Ak>-&-N 49, $500 -.