The Republican journal., 1900-03-29
In the Reign OF Sarah.


If you can't come down l wish you'd say
SO. Jo"'
''Yes,' came far away voice from
upstairs.
What are you doing?" roared the
husband land why don't you come
downstairs"
A pause, during which he shifted his
lame leg into an easier position and
groaned.
30 that woman But his grumbling
ceased and his face lighted with an I'M
willing smile as that woman appeared in
the doorway. She was a very little person,
with sweet, thin face, and she moved
with singularly light, quick grace.
There, Davie," she said, throwing her
head back and little to one side as she
smiled at him, ''here's nice bandage for
the poor leg"
fought to be NICE" growled the object
OF her care; ''took long enough to get it"'
But as she kneeled by his side he let his
hand fall with apparent carelessness upon
her soft gray halr, ard his deep set eyes
watched her tendelly from under the
heavy, browning brows.
He was not used to being an invalid,
and the past fortnight had proved trying
one to them both. During that time David
had ordered their days and nights with
y.
man had tr0tted patiently up and down;
had sat wakefu by his side through long
night hours, OF had taken maps at intervals
prescribed by her law9ver. David had
accepted all her services without remark
However, their acquaintance was not such
as to make gemarks Indispensable for the
1etter delStandlng of each Others feel
lngs He knew that the world held nobody
like his Jr, and she knew that lie knew it
by the way he laid his hand on her hair.
During the last few days there had been
an addition / disturbance i'll the domestic
arrangements, There was new Sarah in
the kitchen who was a good cook and
bad - supe1latively bad - housekeeper.
The three days of trial were nearly over,
and with their approaching end the reign
of Sarah was drawing to close Little
Mrs. Raed suffered long and was kind,
but there were occasions when she made
up her mind and she was on the verge
of doing ii row.
When she had carefully put the last pin
IN the bandage she rocked back upon the
floor with her hands casped around her
knees and began
''Davie, I've made up my mind about
one thing
Now it was strange that Mrs. Raed,
having known her husband in sickness
and health for twenty three years should
have opened the subject in this way; for
Mr.. Raed the invalid was a very different
person from MI. Raed in health, and
things could be said TO the one man which
We're not fol the others ears. When Mr..
Raed was i'll the world in which lie moved
refrained from making up its mind, or, at
least from announcing its decision. But
Mrs. Raed was so intent that she forgot
policy.
''Um,' said her husband noncommit-
tally.
~ es,n nodded the little woman with
assurance. Il shall dismiss Sarah to- day.
She's not neat
MI Baed yawned II liked that beef
stew that Sarah made yesterday he said.
Tell her to have one every week.
All, smiled his wife, rocking back
ana forth on the floor absentmindedly,
~ no afraid that's the last beef stew
Sarah will ever make for YOU"
Wharf said MI Raed, in a tone that
showed his wife her mistake.
"Why, yes, Davie, she replied sooth-
lngly. II can make it, you know. and
Saran is going this afternoon"
''No such thing" loared Mr. Baed.
''Sarah's good cook and good girl
She's neat ana -'
David, " interrupted little Mrs. Raed,
firmly, "she's not Leaf. To-day found
the stove cloth in the dish pam"
"Where it ought to be shouted her
husband: If She wants to wash the stove
cloth shes neat he ended, triumphantly.
David" said his wife despailiugly,
you don't understand, dear. Bat we
won worry over il now"
'l es we viii, too, - asserted the invalid,
stontly. sarah been here three DAYS
81 eo | OF
sort OF looking girl IS She? Show her ia "
shes out hanging clothes now" said
MIS-. Raed, rising; "put, ''-she hesitatei
David, She burst out des-
perately, # can t have her in TIE house
She really not clea,4 l hate to have you
eat what she cooks
Nonsense asseverated her husband,
valiantly. "rll eat all she cooks and
Welcomes
But we told her she can 90.
''Well," said David, go tell her she
can't'
''Oh, David, Mrs Raed lost patience
at last, -''why can't you let me manage
my own affairs I'm tried to death Il
amt haven't -" She choked lit
tie, then threw back her small head def
antly.
'Sarah's SO untidy, and you re so un-
reasonable and she ran from the room
Amusement held Mr.. Raed speeches.
for moment. Then, from force of habit,
he drew in deep breath to call ''Jo"' but
the amazement got into his voice and shut
it off. He stared OUT of the window and
drummed on the arm of his chair. His
glance wandered to the bandaged leg. to
the pile of books by his chair, to the plate
of peeled oranges on the table-eyery-
where some mark of the little wife's uu-
ceasng care for him. He knit his brows.
He had never thought before that 10 might
be tired out. He recalled the one other
time that she had ''hared up;' she had
fallen i'll afterwards, and the doctor had
said it was because she was run down. 1t
became plain to him on the instant that a
flare up" was but the precursor of a
run down" SO 10 was going to be ill.,
The possibility of her not being able to
wait ON him started new train of thought
What right had she TO be i'll, anyway?
Why didn't she take care of herself, and
not get all worn out with useless worry?
If he only had his strength SO that he
could lock after things for her. 10
had no more idea of managing than
kitten. Mr.. Raed worked himself up