Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1901-03-21

I'm Twin in it and doin' the work.
If / had supposed that you w ',lc
have arranged it in this way, I would
have kept the old one. 1 want the
window in the south for plants"
Its goin' to be where I decide"
were the last words I heard as I lett
the place and returned to my work.
Later, I heard his step in the dinin'-
DON and turned my back to the door,
pretendin' to be busy, but it was real
ly to hide my tear-stained eyes
That's all the thanks I get for try
in to please you and spendin' my
hard-earned money to make you hap
ply" he began
1 said nothin'.
at seems as though you grew
harder to please each day"
The angry blood rushed to my
cheeks as l replied:
"You asked my opinion about the
pantry, though why you did I can't
tell, since you won't allow me to plan
or help in any way
81 nave no time for complaints" he
muttered and walked away.
For days the hammerin' kept up,
ana the NiSeZN SOu1d vi tLC a pen
ter's saw broke the stiffness of the
place, but I did not nee look into the
new part.
Usher would direct the men in COM
mandin' tones to excite my curiosity,
but though 1 longed to know what
was goin' on in there, l stayed in the
main buildin'.
Once he asked me which I liked
best for finishin' kitchen-ceilin' or
plaster? But 1 only said:
'What does it matter which I like?
Suit yourself. as you are buildin' this
house. When l thought it was for
me. I took an interest in it, but since
I am only to live in it like a'servant
might, I'll do my best to work with
out pay"
"a penny saved is a penny earned"
he quoted kinder like he wanted 20 be
generous.
That's all right" a Y I, still 1
hain't never heard of any mans esti-
matin' his wife's salary at the end
of the year by this means; whatever
it is. it goes into his pocket, without
creditin' her with a cent of it."
BY cat! Marthy Maria, how you
talk! It's awful hard on a man when
he's done it all for you"
"All for me?" I sneered. "Why,
Usher Whitby, you don't know what
you're sayin'. In the beginnin', I'll
allow, you were thinkin' of my COM
fort in plannin' this addition; but
since then you haven't let an idee ex-
cept your own creep into it. If I
submit and say it's all right, you'll
never know how unjust and selfish
you've been. There's just one thing
L didn't promise at the altar, and
that is, not to have an opinion. 1
won't give it up even for you. l am
willin' to hear your arguments and be
persuaded, when they are better than
mine, but if I am to be a partner in
this home I've got to have my say"
Then 1 left him to ponder upon the
subject.
I was just wretched. If I must
submit, I would try to endure defeat
and be patient. Meanwhile, that
kitchen was nearly finished.
On all subjects except this n Lish-
er and me was perfectly docile and
natural, but it was actually danger
Gus to our peace to even mention
buildin'.
Next week but one Mandy was com
in and 1 made up my mind to get rid
of this bitterness of heart and take
possession of the new part. I could
squeeze between the stove and the
table if necessary, and 1 would not let
the cupboard be a constant reminder
of my mental or 'no account" posi-
ton in my own home.
IF I had been frmer in maintainin'
my smaller rights, in our early mar
ried life, it would have been easier for
Usher to give up now; but, somehow,
I've always hated fuses.
Some folks say that God never
made a useless thing. Perhaps when
I see Him "face to face" He'll tell
me why He gave me such a great
mother heart and left me with empty
arms through life, with nothin' to
pet and spoil but Usher.
Even in my darkest, lonesomest
hour, no one could have made me be-
lieve that my husband was indiffer-
ent to me. True, men are apt to call
a woman's objectin' frettin' Ga word
which is like a nettle to a nervous
temperament).
It's a riddle as old as the sun, and
one that hain't never been answered,
why we are the most impatient with
those we love best?
So 1 cheered up and sang about my
work, and I could tell by Lisher's voice
that he was tryin' to seem kind and
thoughtful.
He even wanted me to have hired
help for a spell to give me a chance to
rest after settlin'.
you're as likely a lookin' woman
for your age as there is in these
parts" he said to me at the supper
table, land I don't want Mandy to
think that I'm not careful of you"
We was to move in the next mornin',
and he hadn't asked me to look at
the new part. I had lost. but not
without a desperate struggle. Once
convinced that my will, my opinions
and preferences were never to be con-
sidered, I could give up hopin' and
train my shoulders (even if they was
weak and tremblin') to carry the load.
My proud spirit must bend to Lish-
er's, for 1 could not live without him.
After the chores We're done he went
to town, sayin' that he'd be back in
an hour or two. He waved his hand
to me as he drove through the bic
gate and I closed it after him.
The house seemed cherries and the