The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-10-05

in upon a boy with his first pair Of
trousers that he is henceforth 1T. as
compared to everything in petticoats.
got home ahead of time-Saturday
night-when Jack had expected me
Monday morning. The house was beau
tifully spick and span, but he had let
the servants go away, meaning himself,
l dareSay to have a last roll at gOr-
geous bachelor freedom. But he rose
to the occasion manfully-and. I must
say did the rejoicing husband act to
perfection. All would have gone beau
tifully If only it had not rained-a sort
of Noahs flood, that put our plan of
spending the day at the Country Club
all out of joint. Luckily, as 1 thought,
there were things to eat in the store
room, so we should have managed eX-
cellently but for my husbands over
Whelming devotion. He was bound to
help me with everything l set my hand
to; S a result the doing took twice as
long and three times as much out of
me as it would have done had I been
let alone. 1 had not merely to do the
things, but explain either beforehand
or. as l went along, how and why 1
meant to do them just as I did Then,
in his eagerness to be in place, he was
right in my way, turn where l might.
The steps | took to get round him
would, | am sure, have carried me
through two days of work That was
not, however, half so bad as having to
stop in the middle of beginnings and
Justify my way against his idea of the
right way. Jack is a fine fellow enough
still some ways he is also a misfit old
maid. His horror of disorder rises to
absolute mania: besides. he has exag-
gerated ideas as to the force of exam
pie. After dinner l was for rinsing off
things and setting them up to await
the cooks leisure. That almost gave
him a fit-of course, need not set
things to rights no doubt 1 was tired
after resting a whole fortnight But
he could and would do 1.-THE would
never expect another really palatable
dinner if Bridget came back and found
her kitchen at skies and sevens. had
better go and lie down-he would man
age somehoW-then he made feint Of
looking for an apron-and, of course, I
succumbed, and meel1ly washed up
everything, including even a saucepan
or so of Bridget's leaving over.
1T would not have been so bad if I
had done it in leisured liberty Jack
was at my elbow, unbending as Meme
sis. Kitchen ordinance he appeared TO
think as Interchangeable as the laws q
the Modes and Persians. He insisted
upon putting the things away-and set
up one mixing bowl seven times, even
then getting it in the wrong place.
Perhaps l ought not to have told him
it was wrong-but ones nerves fray
after while. Perhaps, also, my voice
was full of aggravating triumph-any-
way, the telling brought matters fairly
to climax. First Jack was deeply
hurt over my observation-disclosures knew
he only wanted to save me trou0le-he
did think l might understand. Then,
when l laughed, he grew furious, Snd
stubbornly insisted the trumpery bowl
belonged where he had set it-would
not fit in any other place. I was un-
wise enough to point out that it sat
very insecurely-so much so it was in
danger of topping to a fall at the open
founding me Jack slung the door wide
the howl careened. slid bit, then
came down with a crash"
What lid Jack do them" MIS-.
Smithers asked as the narrator paused
tentatively. Mrs. Blarcom laughed. I
was sure he would swear" she said,
but there 1 was out of my reckoning.
He put on the martyr look of man
who has for hours been simmering in
the consciousness of his own virtues,
and shut his mouth tight. He Kept
frightened-I knew if he took ten whole
minutes to feel how badly I and the
bowl had used him he would go into
tearing passion. He was near the edge
of it, when, luckily. a stray dog upset
the garbage barrel out in the back
yard. You know what relief it is 10
an angry man to find an excuse 10
whoop and throw things. While JACK
was doing that for all he was worth l
whipped the bowl fragments out OF
sight, and seemingly forgot that there
were such things. Still he did not quite
get over it. although he came back OUT
of breath and laughing like boy: III
the end I did penance all right
How" Mrs. Smithers asked. MIS-,
Blarcom smiled roguishlyi and sald
over her shoulder: "Oh, by letting MIN
help me unpack-but I shall have 10
tell you about that another time.
Mr.. Penn-"I see that Mr.. Bryan de-
clares the doctrine of free coinage OF
silver at the ratio of 16 to / is sun
sound" MIR. Pitt-"Then it is dlnereiI,
from Mr.. Bryan, who is neither sun