Evening star., 1901-05-18
TOO GooB1 TO BE TRUE

The little West End matron sat down In
an armchair In the dining room and gazed
about her disconsolateIy.
tomorrow we move" she sighed "and
how dread h!r;
She put finger to her lip and began to
think it all over.
And how Jack hates moving, toor' she
unused. He'll be as cross as bear until
were all settled in the other house. He
always Is when we move. And he's so per-
fectly helpless. and, such a nuisance around
during move! I wish could induce him
to run out of town for a couple of days-I
snail have enough to contend with with
out having him scowling at everything and
saving snappy.s things about his 'ragtime
home and all that But suppose shall
have to endure it. II he would only"
And she went right on musing in that
strain The strain was broken, however,
Dy the unexpected arrival home OF Jack"
It was only IL O clock in the morning, and
sne couldn't imagine what had brought
MIN nome so early. But she heard him
open the door and walk in whistling.
hug; surprised to see me home, hey?
Well, you'll be more surprised when I tell
you that I've got the day off, and come
nome to help you get ready for the moving
lunch. and then iii pitch in and tear things
up around here in way that'H astonish
you. All you have to do is to just
"atch me|hats ALL And I've got good
neip you to get things to rights in the other
house."
Why, Jack. how good you are, and how
changed! l really believe-weh. in fact,
knoW-that I've been doing you frightful
injustice was all the little West End ma
iron could murmur, as she gave him an
affectionate smack.
She hustled about and fixed him some
lunch, while he went upstairs to put on a
suit of old clothes He was downstairs
again in 5iffy, looking all over business
IN his working togs, and he bolted his
lunch In order to get to work at the earliest
by the shoulders and gently planted her
IN a rocking chair in the front room, say
ing: Now, that's where you sit for the
rest Of the afternoon-this is my day to
toll and moil,' and then he proceeded to
take down the parlor pictures.
She was amazed to note the dispatch and
the deftness with which he accomplished
this task. He took down the pictures all
over the house, and laid them in neat
piles. with Turkish towels and wraps and
comforters between them, so as not to
scratch the frames.
''Well, who'd ever have thought it!' she
murmured ecstatical1y
'sWell, you never could have thought it,
little one. of COURSE he said, giving her a
chuck under the chin, "the way I've al
ways loafed on you during moving times
made up my mind that I'd show you a
thing or two, and IL there's so much as
the ear off china dog broken during this
move it won't be my fault
Then he began at the carpets, and In
an almost incredible space of time he had
them all rolled up in a neat pile in the SIT
ting room He didn't tug at them and rip
at them as the married male person ordf-
nar1ly does in such cases made and pro-
vided, but he got them up gently. yet swift
ly, moving the furniture about almost
noiselessly as the occasion demanded.
''Well. did you ever in this wide. wide
world!' almost sebbed his little wife, her
pleasure was so great.
Nope, never did before, but Tn going
to right along. in the future" he replied,
beaming upon her, and then he went up to
the attic. got out the furniture covers and
covered over the pieces with all the skill Of
a man born to the business.
Then he proceeded to take down the cur
tafns and portieres. The way he did 1t
made the task look awfully easy to his
wife. who had always had lot OF trouble
at that sort of work.
Then he took her upstairs and planted
her in a chair in their bed room, dragged
out the trunks and proceeded to pack them.
MY dear you'd peter let aste6 me PACK ta nim my
well. guess not" said he, firmly. but
suilingly "Tltis is your day off. Don't
think I can pack dresses, hey? Wait till 1
show you. that's all
He got down her dresses and laid them
out neatly and folded them IN just exactly
the folds she had always used In packing
them, and then he proceeded to lay them
away in the big costume trunk in man.
ner that left not the possibility Of wrin-
kle appearing on any Of the frocks when
they should be unpacked.
'If that don't beat all.'' she murmured,
'Why wouldn't have believed It II I'd
been told thousand times Overt"
"Oh. fellow can do any old thing that
he sets his hand to. if he's a mind to-"
was her husbands d. pleased reply. 49, ,o,o
house had been dismantled, unaided. by the
man who had never deigned to put a hand
to such work before and all Of the house,
hold goods were stacked up in neat piles in
the middle Of the rooms.
Now, my dear" said he, well just fix
up and go down town and have dinner
don't want to put you or the girl to the
trouble of preparing meals when the place
is in such disorder
He skipped lightly out in the direction
Of the stationary washstand to perform his
ablutions. The little West End matron
was gazing about her with newborn ap-
probation Of her husband. when she heard
what seemed like a loud Grassland she
woke up in her armchair in the dining
room Her husband, looking pretty cross
''Snoozing. eh?" he said 'I just dropped
up on the car from the Office to tell you
that those loafers with the moving vans
will be up at Z in the morning. and so
there'H have to be a heap Of a hustle
around here to get the gear ready to be
put on the wagons. Darn the luck! I'd
whole lot rather board any time than to
be jammed around In a house full Of up
side-down chairs, and the smell of soap
suds and varnish, and nothing fit for
man to eat on the table while the fool bust
ness is going on" etc, after the same old
pattern.
''Oh, Let Me Dream Again." mournfuliy
hummed the little West End matron as she
IN nd oto hnr
MaafinH N Pnrnuni.o