Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-07-07
TAKING THE RBINS.

exasperating man. In this, for won
der. the whole village concurred, with
the exception of his wife. She main
tanned silence on the subject which was
best, perhaps inasmuch as she was the
cause of it all
"He's-he's the most downtrodden
and meek sort of man you ever set eyes
on, and it amt right that it should be
so" Mrs. Blake declared, as Lyford
Merritt, then under discussion, shuffled
along the dusty road. "It's dreadful to
see man so suppressed" she sighed
at ain t nature one bit
"Some men are born meek and
would rather a woman'd go ahead and
boss the house and bin, too, and then
you don't blame EN-, but Lyford amt
that kind Fore his wife got hold of
him he used to be as up and coming as
any one"
a slight flush spread over her thin
cheeks as she felt critical glance upon
her.
"That was the time he came a-court-
In you. 1 poser" her guest remarked
blandly. ~ always heard you had som,
sort of words and then he took up with
the new schoolteacher and married her
right away fore your face and eyes.
Mrs. Blake beat her cake vigorously
"He amt done nothing but be set on
ever since, she declared at length, $50
that he ain himself at all And that's
whats SC xasperating. No man with
any natural stand up to him ought {,
give in the way he does. That's what's
the trouble. He seems to think it's all
right
She poured the cake into a tin and
showed it into the oven and shut the
door with bang.
"We've all had spells of talking TO
him, she went on, "but there, it amt
no earthly good. He always sits so good
natured and kind of mods his head as if
agreeing, and when you come TO stop he
looks up with his blue eyes and says
We'll. well you don't understand. 1t
may seem kind of hard sometimes to
outsiders. Mis- Blake, but then, you
see she's got the nerves.
NERVES, " scornfully; ''as if any Of
us couldn't get up that kind of nerves
if we wanted to. But Lyford he just
stands it always, and it's terrible exas-
perating
She gave another glance ont of the
window. Lyford Merritt was not in
sight. Unconscious of his neighbor's
scrutiny and comment. he slowly cross
ed the stubby field and made his way to
the barn. There he deposited the rack
ages from the store and then went L.
the woodpile. He seemed in "a sort Of
brown study. and his movements Were
uncertain.
lit amt right for a man not to be
master in his own house, he rumi-
mated as if the sentiment had just been
impressed upon his mind lit really
amt, and | am going to assert myself. "
The thought caused a stick to drop
from his arms. He hastily picked it up
with backward glance over his shout
der.
81 wouldn't do anything to hurt
Caroline for anything in the world OF
course | wouldn't. She's a good wife
a very good wife to me, and I'm thank
full I've got such a good wife, and 1
hope I make her a good husband. A"
He paused and slowly laid two more
sticks on to his burden and walked to-
ward the woodhouse.
"And I've been thinking that perhaps
it amt good for her to have me always
| giving in to her, ," he continued as he
returned for a second load. 81 read
somewhere the other day that women
was like horses-they like to have their
own way longs they can, but when
you make 'em mind they go all the bet
ter. Not that l should ever try and
make Caroline mind"-he paused
aghast-''but.perhaps if / kinder took
things for granted that she wouldn' t
mind my doing more things 1 could
do 'em, and she'd like it I'm.a-going
to try anyway"
1t was undeniable that Lyford Mer-
ritt's heart beat somewhat faster than
usual as it neared o'clock on the fol-
lowing afternoon. The town committee
had ordained to have an extra meeting.
1t was usually held at the Perkins
but Mrs. Perkins was sick, and SO Ly-
ford had generously asked them to
come there.
A few had already gathered and were
sitting in the shade of the big elm. 9th
ers could be seen coming down the road.
II suppose we might as wen go in.
seeing there are so many of us already, >"
Lyford remarked
1t was an unwritten law that the
meetings of the committee should al
ways be held in some parlor or the
church vestry. 1t was not compatible
with the dignity of the committee TO
meet in barns or shops. as did other or
CARNATIONS
The men sprang up and Lyford led
the way to the front of the house, where
they greeted the others. They stood a
moment and chatted, while few stray
gled up, then Lfyord put his hand on
the door.
1t refused to open. He made several
attempts, but it would not stir. he
grew red in the face with exertion.
"It's unlocked all right, +" he declared
"because l saw to that this morning
You see, we don't use it very often.
and that's the reason why. I'll 90 in
side and see if can start it.
He left the men and skirted the house
avoiding the kitchen windows and steal
ing in the back way. where he removed
mis- shoes and quietly passed through
the upper rooms and down the front