The evening Republican., 1902-09-19
A DRIP
COFFEE POT.

tHat his eyes CWinkleI.
What ails you, Lyman'" he
querried, undaunted. More goln's
on in the Woman's club?"
Don't go talkin' of woman's clubs
to NE, not this mornin, Si,' growl-
ed Baxter.
"pve had troubles enough with the
live stock and the weather 'ithout
bein' reminded that my wife's set
her mind on maxim fool of herself
with a lot of other women
Whats Mis- Baxter been doin'
lately anyhow" chuckled Silas, un-
daunted. He knew that his old
friend would talk on the subject,
whatever other trouble beset him.
1t amused Allen to hear of the ex-
ceeding folly OF IL once conservative
and we'll balanced woman. 1t was
the town talk what the Woman's
Club had been doing, and Mrs. Bax-
ter was bright and shining light
therein.
Baxter caught at the bait with
readiness, but 80 far from being ir-
ritated his face broke into smiles.
He put his foot on the step of the
wag on and took an easy converse
tional attitude.
"No, sir; we amt had no trouble
for two weeks l had to give In
about the setLin' roUms after we'd
had good many words, but l put
my foot down bout anv more secl
foolishuess. Yes, sir; she turned tn t
sellin' room upside down. took. o. t
the wax flowers and the hair wreath
that's been there since my grand.
mothers time. l says to her, says:
'Marthy, you may go step to fur.
If you try any more Of these tricks
seme.hin' II happen. You give me
food | never expected to insult my
stomach with and you make me set
in aJ1om all fixed up with what you
call art and sech tooIishness, but not
a step further. Marthy, says |. 50
since then we done pretty well.'
TIE unappreciative husband Of
progressive woman walked into the
house with an amount OF seifsatis.
faction rather remarkable, consider
ing the troubles that the morning
had brought hun.
Breakfast time was passed. His
vile hustled about TO set warm food
on the table while he washed his
hands. Her merry eyes aud firm
mouth indicated sweetness tempered
with an appreciation of auth ority.
She aud her husband. a chidless
couple had lived together IS years.
"All right. old lady," announced
Baxter. bring on the coffee" H.
ate his cereal and the other foolish
ylctles" which had followed the ad.
vent Ct the Woman's Club. and, de-
pressed by these, he meditated on
the lame horse, the dead COW wand the
drenched hay.
"Marthy'', he began. and sat up
very straight, "wlat's that?' lie
demanded.
That's a new coffee pot" vouch-
safcd his wife calmly. "lt's called u
drip coffee pot. There was paper at
the club told all 'bont them.
The word which slipped from the
lips of Lyman Baxter, church me M
ber, astonished his wife into lie tting
herspectacles fall.
"Lyman BaXter!' she gasped.
"Murthy, either me or that coffee
pot leaves this house. Understand
that. My grandmother's wreath
l forguv you. My miserable. God
forsaken food. hygienic food he
snecred. Il forguv you. But Il mans
got IL right to decent coffee in his
own house. Don't tell me that coffee
pots any good. | know it amt. Mar
thy, you got to stop, right there"
"Lymau.' cried his wife.
"I mean it, Marlhy," he shouted.
"lf you treat me this way. I'm go.
ing for good and all, Lyma
Baxter" She was in tears now,
but they had 10 effect on her hus-
band.
go and be wclcome!' lie shout
ed. "l can hire someone 10 wait on
me that'Il give me pc accful li(e!'
Mrs. Baxter went. She was
astCunded beyond measure when
she found herself in her sisters
house. but she went. and once
gone she would sooner die, she de.
cllred, than return TO tyrant.
But Tree lie palled or her after
the first day. Lyman's faults were
carefully magnilied, butthe effect
was never satisfactory. Sometimes
in her own room she cried and call.
ed herself names.
In this way three months passed..
Mrs. Baxtcr's anxiety to know wheth-
er or not the hired girl looked after
Mr.. Baxter's linen grew daily more
unbearable.
IL was q chilly night Of late Sep.
tember. The Baxter place, quite
outside the town limits looked DESC
late. 1t seemed especially so to one
WON an who climbed the hill with
short gasps and stopped frequently
to look about her. Il amt g0in'
back" she murmured. her careful
speech deserting her. "I'il just
look inside and see as how he's CON.
Portable.
Within Mr.. Baxter sat before the
kitchen stove and smoked a pipe in Il
mournfully meditative fashion. He
sat that way and smoked every even.
ing.
~ guess she's bout right" he
muImured. II am an old fogy. Oh,
yes; l guess she IS right Who's there?
Marthy!"- lie pushed back his
chair and gaz ed as ata ghost.
"Lyman!'' sobbed Marthv. "Ly
man, l did'nt mean 10 come 10. but
yon looked 50 lonesome, too, Lynn an
and 1t you forgive me-
LYMAN put q shaking arm around