The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-05-01

week, one morning to do the washing
and the other to do the cleaning, and
some cooking as we'll. such as a piece
of corned beef, or roast of beef, or
a pair of chickens, which is a great
help to Winnie, and makes possible
little soups and make-dishes, which
she has learned to make so tasty and
toothsome.
Last night Winnie had telegram
from her mother. who was to come
from Buffalo to take the steamer to-
day, at twelve o'clock, for Europe
(she had expected to come earlier
and spend the night with us); and
"could she not come down in the
morning and visit with her on board,
until the steamer sailed?" OF course
she must go, and we were up bright
and early this morning, and by seven
o'clock we had had our breakfast,
and Winnie had cleared the table,
made the beds, dressed herself and
Philip, and was off. Yet there was a
weary look in her face when she
kissed me goodby that irritated me.
"Good-by, dear boy" she said gaily.
when you go, just draw down the
shades, and see that the water and
the fire are all right, and after moth
er's gone, I'll be back and have
everything as nice as pin before you
get home"
Before she could have got down
the three flights of stairs to the front
door 1--WE have no elevator), some
good Tor was it an evilD spirit shot
a thought into my soul. "It is just
seven o'clock" said 1, as I stood in
the lonely and not very orderly
apartment. "What fine chance to
give Winnie an object-lesson! 1 have
talked good deal, now l will DEM
onstrate. l will prove to her that
she consumes too much time and
nervous force in doing her simple
household duties. To be sure, have
greater physical strength than she
has, but | will make all due allow
ance for that in my application. l
can get away at nine o'clock, and
by taking the 9th Avenue express
train, | can get to the office on time,
and in two hours what transforma-
ton there will be!'
Winnie had left the breakfast
dishes piled up in the kitchen, on
top of the tubs near the sink. |
would make short work with them.
| had often, when the shades were
pulled down and 1 thought nobody
could see me, wiped the dishes for
her, and it wouldn't be much work to
wash them. But l would begin in
the dining-room, for l meant to be
thorough. So | swept the crumbs
from under the table, and rearranged
the things on the beaufet; but dear
me! how the time did fly, till I was
obliged to finish off with a feather
buster. l don't approve of feather
busters, they only flip the dust up in
the air to come back again just where
it was before. have often said this
to Winnie.
Then | looked into the bedrooms.
How dusty the rugs were! l con-
cluded to give them good shaking.
Just then, the front door bell rang.
and rushed into the kitchen to press
the door-opener, then back again to
the rugs. 81 ought to get them done
before my visitor mounts the long
stairs" said l, so l flung open the
blinds and shook the rugs vigorously
out into the air shaft, the wind blow
ing the dust directly back again into
the room. At this juncture my oppo-
site neighbor put her head out of her
window, and called me to account for
Haunting my dust in upon her. Our
eyes met. | should never have known
her to be the lady in silks and velvets
l had seen on the street winnie al
ways looks the lady, even at her
work., and she seemed taken aback
at seeing me with dishevelled hair
and my necktie under my left ear.
We did not continue the conversation.
l hastily shut down the window, and
hurriedly brushed the dust from my
clothes, so that l could decently open
the door for the somebody who was
ringing and ringing, 80 necessarily
that thought the elevated train had
run off the track, and that Winnie
and Philip we're both killed.
1t was boy with bundle.
"Does Mrs. Cunning live here?"
"No, you little rascal, and don't you
ever ring my bell like that againl" l
am afraid that | slammed the door
and said things. But couldn't stop
to get mad, for the time was running
along as if it had thousand legs
seven forty five, and things looked
worse than when | commenced,- so
Io.,., L. -,,-.s onI 4