The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-12
THE TAMING OF HIRAM.
BY HrBER WILSON.

Copyright, 1908, by Daily Story, Pub. Co,) eff you girls ain't kerful Hiram Perkins will carry one of ye off the fust thing ye know" and Dame Wilkins gave vent to a series of chuclkles more or less pleas ant and hobbled away from the group of fresh young girls. nursing her rheumatic legs most carefully. & ''Not me, not mel" rose a chorus of girlish voices.
 ''why not?" asked baby-faced dam sel. innocently. 'Im sure he looks likely enough. and they tell me he's got no end of money"
 Then great chattering of explanation ensued as the home girls told this stran- ger maiden with the pink chelSs and the big. round blue eyes about Hiram Per- kins, his history and his character.
 Hiram Perkins was the son of "oid Sam Perkins" and had inherited all the cussedness of the old pioneer, together, it seemed, with the meanness and smaliness of Aunt Phoebe" his wife. Hiram had assumed charge of the family at an early age (old Sam having been abruptly re- moved from further responsibility in a saloon brawl) He had completed the crushing of his mother, spoiled the lives of his sisters and drove his brothers. both older and younger, into the world, all of them being glad to get away from him at any price. Then he had proceeded to marry the likeliest and most competent girl in town and had bullied and harassed her into the green cemetery on the hill in just three years.
 In the meantime hs had managed his financial affairs with consummate skill and had become the richest man in the parts. Before his wife died he had moved from the farm into town. where he had built big house. still uncompleted when his wife died. He had gone ahead and completed this house. furnished it grimly and sparsely and had lived there alone ever since. He had gone on increasing his holdings until he owned more land than any other man in the couty. He owned plenty of mortgages, too. but his favor ran to land. ''It can't get away" was his favorits motto. He was now about 70, not i'll favored excepting for his heavy jaw and the general air of uncom- promising overbearance and grimness which hung over him.
 ''Pd as soon marry old Bluebeard him. self," remarked Ann. finishing the story.
 ''I'd as soon go to jail for lifs," put in Susie.
 "And II" And IT" chorused the rest.
 All excepting Sally Johnson, the girl whose query had started the story.
 "I don't believe he's so bad as he's painted" said she. demurely, land he's quite handsome.
 "But you wouldn't dare marry him." said Ann. scornfully. ''You'd last about thrcO weelks.''
 "oh. I don't know" replied Sally. I've a notion to do it. He don't look SO dan gerous to me-"
 And do it she did. She was an orphan recently come to town and living on the A.. AR = 4 temper. And Hiram was rich and had a big house. And. as Dame wilkins sug- gested, Hiram was looking for a wife and @ young one.
 Pinville gasped at the nuptials and then settled down to await the inevitable re- suit. like greedy vulture.
 Hiram Perkins took his young wife home in great glee. She was only 1S, as fresh as daisy and a perfect child. as anybody could see from her baby face and wide, blue eyes.
 ''I'll just train her into my way with. out any trouble" chuclSled Hiram.
 So Sally became installed in the Per- idns home. and right good start she made, and Hiram grew better pleased with his bargain every day. To be sure, she shivered a little when she first saw the great b9fn-like house, with its bare rooms; but she took hold at once, and the toothsOme breakfasts she prepared for her liege and lord and the dainty dinner 5, quite warmed his heart. Hiram was very fond of good living. The best of it was she did 1t all on the most economical plan. And she contrived that Hiram should get the tenderest parts of the meat, and divined his likes so readily that she really was jewel. Then, too she was so entirely pliable to his slightest desire that life assumed new joy to him. Of course he jawed more or less. but she took 1t as meekly as he could wish.
 This was during the first fortnight.
 Then slight cloud arose. Hiram was in the habit of arising at a very early hour. eating his breakfast. doing chores for an hour or so, then reading his paper and going to his office about the time other men did.
 Sally was expected to rise long before him to get breakfast ready by the time he was dressed. One day she suggested that he do his chores first and read his paper while she prepared breakfast. The expression on his face would have fright ened one less guileless. He gave her to understand at once for all that the do-