Middletown transcript., 1897-02-20

e
u was doing this now.
' What Emmeline said was true. A
IL her married life she had waited on he
y husband hand and foot, until he hs
become SO wonted to it as hardly to |
able to get along without her hell
2 and il had been wonder to her, in tt
= infrrquent trips which he made to tn
city, how he managed to dress himse
unaided. She had found his belong
ings for him and put them away afte
> him for years, and be expected it. Di
he call size dropped everything and ra
to him; it had been so much easier t
run than to tell him what to do. Sh
|, realized now that it was This that KEEP
her always in hurry. 1.-THE Tucker
always did take sight of attention.
she thought, with no sense of grieV-
ance, swell, he is as he is / suppo sc.
Nevertheless, when Mr.. Tucker
stopped on his way out to harness the
horse next Sunday, to remark ;hat he
hoped she wasn't going to keep him
waiting a whole half hour again, she
made stand for herself.
"I'll be ready soon enough if you
won't call me away from my work.
"It amt that" said Mr.. Tucker, in
a tone of conscious superiority; "It's
something else. don't know how
tits, but a woman never can get ready
to go anywhere without fussin'."
"Well you look after your oEn
things to-day, and I'll tend to mine
then We'll see."
Mr.. Tucker came in and went up
stairs. Presently his voice called.
'Is the water hotP"
"Yes," said Mrs. Tucker, rubbing
the spoons with cheerful energy.
There was silence for two or three
minutes, then the voice called again, a
little impatiently: 81 asked you if the
water was hot?"
"Hot enough for Shawn; better
come an get it right off,"
81 can't-I amt fixed to-"
"You can fix yourself well enough
to come down; there's nobody passin'."
Mr.. Tucker did not look exactly
''fxed" as he limped Grossly downstairs
in heelless slippers, with his suspen-
ders dangling and his old shirt bulging
out the back in az extraordinary man
ner. 81 didn't know you was SO put to
it you couldn't hand up dipper Of
water" he observed with sarcasm.
swell, I amt goin' to have you tell
me Pm late this time," said his wife.
Soon be called again: "Where'd you
put those socks Of mine, Almiryp"
"Just where told you-righthand
corner of your drawer"
~ can't find 'em."
"Well, you look again an I guess
you wili." Il
Strange sounds arose overhead; shov-
ing sounds; squeakiDg, rattling sounds;
tramping back and forth. Over Mrs.
fuckers face stole an irrepressible
smile of pure enjoyment. Great doin's
goin' on" she said, deftly turning
over the dishpan and hanging the
towels up to dry. ~ declare, Pm
about througbl"
She entered her room. The bureau
drawer that held Mr.. fuckers linen
had been taken out bodily and dumped
upon the bed; it looked as if cyclone
had whirled through it. Hanging
over the edge were various nondescript
bundles, partly unrolled; some even
strewed the floor. Mrs. Tucker paid
no outward attention, though her or
derly mind was dismayed. She dis
ported herself leisurely before the glass,
smoothing her hair and pinning her
collar with the utmost nicely. Behind
her stood her husband, dodging his head
from side to side.
"What is the matter?"
81 can't see anything while you take
up the whole lookin' glass;
"You can see over my head just as
well as can over yours. Want any
thing?'
He would not answer until she
looked up. Then he pointed to his tie.
'As soon as I've put on my bonnet.
Why, what makes you fidget SOP Get
your coat an vest on if you want to be |
doing something"
Five minutes afterward Mrs. Tucker |
might have been seen in the ample sit
ting room door with her striped Sum-
day shawl on her arm, occasionally |
glancing over her shoulder, for her hus-
band was behind time.. As he finally |
appeared, warm and tired, she remarked |
pleasantly: "You see was all ready"
Mr.. Tucker apparently did not hear.
He got stfay into the buggy. 1t was
not until the end Of the day that his
wife discovered that he had worn socks |
that were notsmates.
Now it-happened that their nearest |
neighbor besought Mrs. Tucker to pay |
her visit that week. "YoI're al
most stranger, Almiry," said she;|
''can't you and Mr.. Tucker come to |
tea towards the end Of the weekp,
\ 'tI'd be pleased answered Mrs.
Tucker. "Mr. fuckers busier'n COM
mon just now with the hayin' ), but per-
haps he could come along late in the
afternoon and 90 home with me-"
Mr.. Tucker, however, would make
no promise. ..I'll see ab,ut it," was
what be said. Tie day was 50 warm |
that Mrs. Tucker went to the store
room to gs. out a scerta in black and
white sprigged lawn, which she kept |
for the hottest weather, and v Iiich had |