Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1899-06-08
All. love Is hest
TAKING THE REINS.

j IAklNtJ If1E RElNS.
Lyford Merritt was certainly a most
exasperating man. In this. for a 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 ain right that it should be
so, Mrs. Blake declared, as Lyford
Merritt. then under discussion, shuff1ed
along the dusty road ''It's dreadful to
see man so suppressed, y she sighed.
sit ain't nature one bit.
Some men are born meek and
would rather woman'd go ahead and
boss the house and him. too and then
you don't blame EN-. but Lyford ain t
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, l s'pose?' her guest remarked
blandly. 81 always heard you had some
sort of words and then he took up with
the new schoolteaeher and married her
right away fore your face and eyes. .
Mrs. Blake beat her cake vigorously.
'tHe amt done nothing but be set on
ever since, she declared at length, 80
that he amt himself at all. And that's
what's SO exasperating No man with
any natural stand up to him ought to
give in the way he does. That's what's
the trouble He seems to think it 3 all
right
She poured the cake into tin and
showed ii into the oven and shut the
door with bang.
"We've all had spells of talking to
him, she went on 'but there, it ain t
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: :
Well, well. You don I understand. 1t
may seem kind of hard sometimes to
outsiders. Mis- Blake. but then. you
see, she's got the nerves.
"Nerves. scornfully; 'tas 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-
perating2
She gave another glance out 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 tc
the barn. There he deposited the pack
ages from the store and then went to
the woodpile. He seemed in a sort of
brown study, and his movements We're
uncertain.
'sIt 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 ''It really
amt. and am going to assert myself. I"
The thought caused a stick to drop
from his arms. He hastily picked it mp
with backward glance over his shoul-
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 good wife, and
hope make her a good husband -
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 ain t good for her to have me always
giving in to her, he continued as he
returned for second load. II 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 | 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 | could
do EN-, 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. OF 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.
81 suppose we might as well 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 paIIor or the
church vestry. It 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
moment and chatted, while few strag-
gled up, then Lfyord put his hand on
the door.
It refused to open. He made several
attempts, but it would not stir He
grew red in the face with exertion
Its unlocked llright. - he declared,
s'because | saw to that this morning.
You see we don't use it very often,
and that S the reason why. I'll go 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