The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-07-24

Leg" but how serious the effects
would really be to him she only knew
late that night, after the broken
bones were set, and the doctors gone.
"The worst of it is, Chick" he
said, dolefully, between groans, 81
was to start tomorrow on that two
weeks trip up north, and it's the
most important one of the season.
1t takes in Great Bow, Hinesville,
Robinson, and several other smaller
towns, all comparatively new to our
house, and | had timed my dates
just ahead of the man from the Oc-
cidental Grocery Go. He'll get every
one of them, for the house wouldn't
have time to send supply in my
place, and it may be the means of
putting me on poorer route, since
l lost last month for them, because of
that la grippe"
In spite of his wife's efforts to
quiet or cheer him, the man worried
himself through a restless and fever
ish night. The next morning, when
he opened his eyes, Mrs. Wilson
stood beside him, in her out-of-door
costume.
I've found your supply, Asbury,"
said she. 81 sent over for mother
last night, you know, and she will
stay here while I go up north in
your place"
"You go in my place? Great
Heavensl Mary Wilson, you do not
mean such thing"
Indeed do, Asbury," said she,
undaunted by the horror in his face
and voice. 81 can go over the ground,
and if don't do as we'll as you
would, will save the route for the
house, and for you anyway. 1t is
two hours yet until train time, and l
can sit here for an hour and half,
with your lists and books, and find
out where to go. and how to handle
each man, and about the prices
though I have helped you so often
with your writing that 1 could find
out about the prices myself l think"
"But, Chick" interposed Mr.. Will
son, "you don't know what you are
Offering. You'll have to travel on
crowded trains, and put up at strange
hotels, and talk to the grocers them
selves. You've led such a sheltered
life that you don't realize anything
that would be expected of you"
give travelled On crowded railway
trains more than once, Asbury, when
l had three babies to take care of,
and had to drag them around while 1
bought tickets and re-checked bag
gage, and I've put up at strange no.
tells with them, too; and as for talk
ing to grocers-if l haven't learned
how to do that, after fourteen years
of marketing, | need this experience
to teach me- Oh, it's no use, AS
bury, am going, and you needn't
waste any more of our hour and a
half in arguing the question. Mother
is better nurse than | am, and the
children love her SO that they will be
as good as gold, so none of my duties
will be neglected. Here are your
books and papers; hurry and tell me
what | must do about things"
Mr.. Wilson spent lonely and wor-
ried two weeks, though, in the bot
tom OF his heart, he did not doubt
that his wife would be successful
he had seen her meet too many per-
plexities to lack confidence in her
ability. In his heart, also, he knew
that all his assumption of her de-
pendence upon his superior judg-
ment was but pretty play of his
own, whereby his value to her seemed
enhanced.
Promptly to the day Mrs. Wilson
returned, bright and fresh from what
had been to her a vacation from the
indoor life she had been leading,
Joyous at seeing the family, and
elated at her success. For it had
been a success, as the we'll filled
pages of the order-book testified.
"OnIy two of your customers re-
fused to buy of me, Asbury," she an
nounced, as she quite breathlessly
relieved herself of the details of her
venture, "and they were old Mr..
Green, of Hinesyille. who 'reckoned |
he'd wait for the Occidental Co.'s |
man." and a man up at Great Bow, |
who talked through his nose, and
who said he didn't consider no wo-