Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-07-12

Ing, and Alfred home from college, and
Lewis down with his accident, 1t is
more than ! can bear, Richard If you
were any sort of man, you would
know what to dol''
well, 1 am any sort Of man, and I
don't know in the least what to DOR
piled Mr.. Richard Ward to himself, as
his wife laid her head down on the
table. regardless of several dishes
overturned, and broke into sobs as a
relief to her feelings which had been
growing In hysterical power ever since
Maggie, the hired girl, had that'morn-
ing not only given notice of her de-
parture but had actually left, after q
brief but heated discussion about the
homework in the Ward family.
Tbs two children It the table turned
frightened looks hrst at tho father snd
then At the mother. and the youngest
Of them began to cry.
stop that. Csrli" exclaimed Mr..
Ward, sharply. Then. as he pushed
back his plate with the foed on 1t UNI
touched, he muttered to himself:
"1'm losing ell my Christianity over
this miserable hired-gtrl business. It's
breaking up our home life and wreck
Ing the Joy Of our very children"
The ohild's lip ourled In piteous eff
fort at control ana the older one be-
gan eating again, looking from father
to mother anxiously.
Mr.. Ward rose, and, going over to his
wife, he sat down by her and stroked
her head gently.
There, Martha, you are all worn
out. just 60 into the sitting-room and
lie down. George and 1 will do up the
dishes, won't we, George? Well play
hired girl tonight, won't we?"
LET mo help, tool" cried Carl.
"Yes, you can help, too. Finish your
supper. and we'll have Jolly time
washing and wiping. Now. Martha,
you 60 in and lie down. Wen get
things Strengthened out aomehow."
Mrs. Ward feebly protested, but al
lowed her husband to lead her into the
sitting-room, whers nh. ....l- !. 49,
I've got splitting headache, Rich
ard; leave the dishes until morning.
You're tired with your business"
mo, don't like to see them living
around. Besides. dirty dishes have q
way ofgrowing with miraculous ra pid-
ity when the girls gone and things 20
to pieces like this" he said, with q
lapse into irritation again.
TITS not my fault" exclaimed Mrs.
Ward, sharply. Carl. stop that noise, /"
she added as Carl began to gather up
some OF the dishes. piling the biggest
plates on the little ones and letting
several knives and forks clatter to the
moor in his eagerness to help.
Don't be always nagginR the chill
dren, Martial" said Mr.. Ward. angrily,
losing his temper for the tenth time
that evening. The other times he had
lost 1t silently.
"It's always: Stop that noiss!' from
mother when her head aches" said
George as he tried to pick up the
knives and forks quietly. and let them
drop twice before he had them back on
the table.
See me help! See me help!" sung
Carl as he started towards the kitchen
door with his arms full of dishes. The
pile was too heavy for his strength:
and, as he neared the door the column
began to topple, it balanced for a mo-
ment on the edge of safety, and then
! fell with crash. The child looked at
the ruin moment In terrified silence,
then sat down on the floor and began
to cry.
Mrs. Ward sat up on the lounge and
looked at her husband almost saw
agely.
"Richard Ward, if you don't do some
thing to change all this"
She did not finish her sentence. but
lay down and turned her face to the
wall in despair. And Richard Ward, of
the firm of Mead, Ward and Company,
known in business circles as a good,
agreeable, and fairly successful mer-
chant, and in church circles as a con-
sistent member and active Christian
man, turned from his wife and went
out into the dining-room with look
on his face that his minister had never
seen. and feeling in his heart that
was good way from being what
might be expected in man who was
"in good and regular standing" in the
Marble Square church.
ut would be very funny, If it were
not SO near tragedy" he said to him
self as he picked up the broken dishes
while the two boys looked on. at
would be comical, If 1t were not so
miserably serious in its effects on our
home life. Here am doing the dirty,
common work OF the kitchen, 1, Rich
ard Ward, the dignifed, well-to-do
member of the firm of Mead, Ward and
Company, all because of this girl,
| who"
He did not finish the sentence even
TO himself, but went on with tho work
Of clearing the table, making the two
boys sit down in corner Of the din
ing-room while he didthe work. When
he had carried everything out, he let
the children go out into the kitchen
with him, while he carefully shut the
door into the dining-room and then
proceeded to do up" the dishes. let
ting George help, and finally, IN an
swer te tho younger boys plea, allow.
49, .~,>-s- = -r.,..
Ss~@tz- s.,.-..-. s.e s:ls