The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1900-08-17
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q opened and young Mrs. Hapless |
came in. We call her young Mrs. Hap
less. because her husbands mother
lives in the village also. If had not
been accustomed to her appearance |
should have supposed some dreadful
thing was the matter. She had on an
old calico wrapper which never was
pretty, but by frequent washing had
become faded and streaked; half the
buttons were gone, the sleeves and
waist in rags and the skirt torn. Her
hair was done up" in a hairpin screw;
she wore no collar, and over her head
she had pinned faded plaid shawl
which had seen more than once doing
duty as an apron while she washed
dishes.
She nodded to me without a smile
and. sinking down on chair, look
dlsmally round my pretty room. ".
used to her ways, SO only said Good
evening"
After Il few moments she began in a
fretful voice to speak.
"Oh, Mrs. Sunny, how comfortable
YOU do lookl You never have any trou-
bles, do youf"
A shiver ran through me as thought
what my troubles had been, but l
knew the little woman had come to
speak of herself, so just said, quietly;
doesn't every one? Don't your
81? Oh, l am full of trouble. But
where is your husband this evening
lie is always at home"
"Oh, no, not always" l answered
This evening he has gone to a politica!
meeting, and there are other evenings
when he goes to two different lodges he
belongs to-"
but surely, Mrs. Sunny, you dom
like him to go to lodges Why, think
they are horrid! Nobody knows wha
they do"
l laughed, she looked so tragic.
well" l said, Il don't want to
know, for suppose l should not under
stand. / urged him to go to this politi
cal meeting because he wanted to.
urged him to GO Well, call tina
queer! Why, l coaxed JOhn"-John
her husband-"to stay with me, and W
mad a quarrel l think man ought t
find pleasure In his home sometimes
but John goes out every evening; h
goes to his mothers often
"You never accompany him.
asked
"Oh dear. no. I'm too tired. Why,
haven't been to see Mother Hapless fc
whole month. She's dreadfully SINAI
and has everything just so; its jus
spoiled John. He seems to think ever
one ought to be like his mother; b
doesn't say much, but he just looE
around so, and then goes clearing Off
chair to sit down. He hardly says an,
thing but to ask II supper Is ready. an
then, soon as it is over he puts on h
hat and l never see him till bedtim
and not then often, for 90 to b'
cause I'm lonesome"
could not but pity the fOrlorn lit
wife, left alone all the day and eve
ing; but l knew that she made no hon
for her husband while at his mother
he found everything bright, the hou
orderly, and the still pretty moth
prettily dressed and only too glad
have her boy with her. l had Oft
pitied his wife. even while | blam
her However, now that she hers'
had preached the subject, l felt that
might offer some advice and assistant
so l said:
would you like me to help you
keep your husband at home|
She opened her big brown eyes as
answered:
"Of course, l would. often wonc
why Mr.. Sunny seems to really eng
his home so much"
l proposed going over TO her hou
and with a blush she consented sayl
YEARLY:
1T doesn't look like yours.
No, it did not, l acknowledged to n
self as we entered the sitting roo
passing through the dining room on
way, where the supper dishes WI
spread on the table, just as she !
dumped-I can think Of no more ntt
term-them after they were WASH
There was no table in the mldule
the sitting room, but on small one
corner an oil lamp burned VIII
One-sided flame, which partly smoi
the chimney. Every chair In the 70
had something on it, for Mrs. Hapl
said she had been looking over
dresses and things" There was
ter of scraps, spools, pincushions
other paraphernalla for sewing on
table, two fashion magazines, an'
paper pattern unfolded; the nre
low and the room chilly. supp
the contrast to my own made 1t app
more uninvitlng to me, and couiu
but wonder where John could u
sat.
cleared part Of an old dress o.