Gilpin observer., 1901-02-14

as If her nerves were all racked to
pieces. and she ought to go home with
Inc for year"
THAT'S all nonsense. Her nerves are
all right-us right as mine. She's prob
ably been sloshirg around in the rain
and got her feet wet. and if SO she will
get no pity from me-"
"You are not asked nor expected to
pity her. sir, and If you want any din
ner you'd better eat 1t now. l found
the cook very lazy and impudent and
trying to run things to suit herself, and
therefore I discharged her. I've man
aged to cook little something myself,
however"
"You-you discharged the cook at an
hours notice" he exclaimed. with
flushed face.
Mr.. Bowser sat down to the table.
with his gorge in his throat. The
mother-in-law had thrown down the
gauntlet. and he had picked it up.
at is a picked up dinner" she ex-
planned as she brought 1t from the
kitchen. "This is one of my Irish
stews, and I know you'll like it."
II
eyes began to roll.
Certainly. and not much besides, but
IL it's good enough for me it's good
enough for you. I've heard about your
finding fault with your dinners, but
you can either eat this or let it alone.
When man gets the idea that house
is run for his benefit only, it's time he
was brought to book"
Mr.. Bowser meant to jump up and
pound on the table and declare that he
was master of his own house and
wouldn't eat Irish stew for dinner II he
starved to death; but, to his intense
surprise. he not only clung to his chair.
but actually found himself eating the
stew. There was something in the Icy
glare of the woman that had re-
straining influence on his impetuosity.
The coffee was weak and the potatoes
underdone. and he had opened his
mouth to declare that he wouldn't ask
hog to sit down to such n meal. when
the mother-in.law fastened her eyes on
him and said:
"You just keep quiet and be thankful
for what you've got. I've known hus-
bands to make dinner on raw tur-
nipsw
The pudding was favored with vaDil-
In. and had Mrs. Bowscr been there
Mr.. Bowser would have made her
heart ache for month, but those icy
eyes checked his outbreak and even
compelled him to eat rather generous
ly. 1t was only when dinner was fin
ished and they had returned to the sit
ting room that he determined to shake
Off the incubus and assert his inde-
pendence.
81 think IN 60 over to the club for
two or three hours this evening" he OBJ
served as he toyed with the cat.
You'll do nothing of the kind" re-
piled the tnother.in.law as she wheeled
on him. You'll sit right here and sec
II n doctor Is wanted or IL there are any
errnnds TO be done. The idea OF your
loafing around club when your wife
is almost too sick to speak: IL you had
n soft corn on your toe. the whole
house would have TO hover over you."
Mr.. Bowscr choked and strangled In
his Indignation. and the eat grinncd
aud said to herself that things would
break loose pretty soon.
"And I've heard" continued the wo
man ns her teeth clicked together
That you play poker mt the club nnf
sometimes lose ns much as $40 of NJ
evening ! wish you were my husband
for nbout an hour. You'd never play
poker more than once
"Did you come out here to insult ant
abuse me?" demanded Mr.. Bowscr
with fnsh OF independence.
81 came out here to stralghten thing,