Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1901-12-26

Fudge! Nonsense! Where there
is a will, there is a way"
Not always"
Mr.. Hamilton resumed his restless
pacing of the room. "Pd find time to
know something about my own coun-
try, guess!" he declared.
Mrs. Hamilton left the room quietly.
| There was still an hours work to be
done downstairs, she said.
Fudge! Nonsense!" retorted her
| husband.
A few evenings later Mr.. Hamilton
came home to his supper at the usual
| hour. He opened the door with his
latchkey and found himself in an un-
lighted hall.
"Clara!" he called
Eyes. What is it?"
"The gas isn't lighted, and the halls
| as dark as pocket"
No response came from the sewing
room al the end of the hall, from which
| a faint stream of light issued. Stun
bling toward it Mr.. Hamilton uttered
an exclamation of surprise as he
pushed the door open. In the one large
easy chair sat his wife. Upon the ta
BILE beside her was a shaded lamp. In
her hand was large book, and upon
its pages her eyes were fixed. She did
| not look up when he entered the room
and walked up to the table.
After a moments stealthy scrutiny
of her face he turned away. He went
back into the hall and struck match
noisily, and lighted the gas. Then,
feelirg his way, he went downstairs.
Instead of the bright cheerful dining
room, with the table attractively
spread for the evening meal, he found
darkness.
Uttering a purposely loud eXclama-
ton of disgust, he went into the kitch-
en-. Here, too, was darkness. Strik-
ing several matches, he at last succeed
ed in reaching the gas. He rubbed his
eyes when the strong light filled the
room. In the sink were the breakfast
dishes, unwashed; on the tables were
plates of broken food; on the stove
were the unwashed kettles and pans.
Mr.. Hamilton strode through the
cold room and called to his wife.
Clara! What has happened down
here? Has the range given out? Where
is supper?"
No reply came. He hurried upstairs,
breathing heavily.
"Clara, what's the matter?"
Mrs. Hamilton turned a page and
read with absorbed attention.
"Clara!" shouted her husband from
the doorway.
She looked at him for a moment.
"Not so loud, pleased" she said, re-
turning to her book.
whats the matter? Clara, say,
what has happened to the range?"
Mrs. Hamilton turned another page.
A sudden fear seized upon her hus-
band. Insanity! She had lost her
| senses!
He stole softly across the carpet
and grasped the book she held.
"Don't!" she said. pray go away.
You are interrupting me-"
"Clara! Are you sick, or are you
crazy?"
"sick? No. Go away. do. I am so
interested"
Her tone was natural. Mr.. Hamilton
discarded his momentary theory of in
sanity. His voice became more impera
tive.
at is supper time Where are the
| children? Where is the supper? Clara"
loudly, "where is the supper?"
Mrs. Hamilton partially closed her
book and looked at him.
"The supper? You said the supper?"
81 did!"
"Well," yawning, 81 suppose it is
getting late, but | must finish this
book. | don't care about food, but do
want to know who succeeded to the
throne after"
"The throne be hanged" interrupt
ed Mr.. Hamilton. "Where are the chill
dren?"
"The children? Let me see. Oh,
remember! You'll find them at your
sisters. I"
AT Helen's? Why in time did you
send them there?'
Mrs. Hamilton resumed her reading.
"Four days for housekeeping, two for
my reading" she said, quietly.
Mr.. Hamilton stared at her for a
y
laugh.
81 see! understand" he said.
He left the room still laughing. He
whistled as he went down to the
kitchen.
In few moments his wife Joined
him.
"Ill see to things down here, while
you go for the children" she said;
"but, William, before you go, tell me
this: Is it possible for a woman to
keep up her education while she is do
ing housework, mending, sewing, re-
ceiving callers and making calls,
etc. 2"
81 was a brute that night, Clara.
You know more than most women
do"