The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-29
THE CONVERSION OF
CAROLINE MERRITT
IN Harriet Caryl co.

T,vford Merritt was certainly most ex-
asperating man. In this for a wonder
the whole village concurred, with the ex-
cention of his wife. She maintained 81
1epce on the subject. which was best, per-
hans. inasmuch as she was the cause of 1t
all.
"He. - he's the most down-trodden and
meek sort o. man you ever set eyes on,
and il amt right that it should be SO"
Mrs. Blake declared, as Lyford Merritt,
then under discussion, shufTled along the
dusty road ITS dreadful to see a man
so suppressed" she sighed 1T amt ma
ture one bit.
Some men are born meek and would
rather a woman'd so ahead and boss che
house and him too, and then you don't
blame EN-. but Lyford amt that kind
Fore his wife got hold of him he used TO
inc as up and coming as any one"
A slight flush spread over her thin
checks as she felt critical glance upon
her
THAT was the time he came a-court-
ing YOU / s'pose?" her guest remarked
bIandIy. Il always heard you had some
Sc irt of words, and then he took up with
the new school teacher and married her
rit,ht 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, 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. TTe seems to think it's all right"
She poured the cake into tin and SHOW
ed Il into the over and shut the door with
a bang.
We've ;.lI had spells of talking 20 him, .
she went on, but there, IL amt no earth
ly good He always sits so good natured
and kind o. mods his head as If agreeing,
and when you come 10 stop, he looks up
with his blue eyes and says, We'll weil
you dnn't understand 1t may seem kind
O. hard sometimes to outsiders, Mis-
Blake, but then you see, she's got the
nerves.
Nerves" scornfulIy. "As II any of Us
couldn't get up that kind o. nerves IL we
wanted to. It's mighty nice way to
rule tlae house. When her husband wants
to do anything or not do anything, lis
always nerves. She can't stand This and
she can't stand that, and she won't even
let him sit down at the table in his shirt
sleeves cause that makes her nervous
too ] was there once when he most for
got, alld the look she gave him was some
thing awful. Ben said he'd get divorced
right away if he had such a wife.
But Lyford, he just stands 1t always
and It. s terrible eXasperating."
She gave another glance out of the win
dow. Lyford Merritt was not IN sight
Uncom scious Of his neighbours scrutiny and
CONNIE Mt. he slowly crossed the stubby
field aiad made his way to the barn. There
he der osited the packages from the store
and til en- went to the woodpfe. He seem
ed ia "a sort Of brown study and his move
ments were uncertain.
1T amt right for a man not to be mas.
ter in his own house" He ruminated as
if the. sentiment bad just been impressed
upon his mind. 1T really amt and
am going 10 assert myself"
TIE thought caused a stick 10 dror
from his arms He hastily picked It ur
with a backward glance over his Shout.
der.
Il wouldn't do anything to hurt Caroline
Cor anything in this world. OF course, !