Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-01-23
The Tanning of Hiram <
By HEBER WILSON
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 Copyright. 1908. by Daily Story Pub Col pa F you girls ain't keerfNl Hiram
 Perkins will carry one of ye off fust thing ye know." and Dame Will kins gave vent to series of chuckles more or less pleasant and hobbled away from the group of fresh young girls, nursing her rheumatic legs most carefully.
 'tNot me, not mel" rose a chorus of girlish voices.
 "Why not?" asked a baby-faced damsel, innocently. '.I'm sure he looks likely enough, and they te1 me he's got no end of money"
 Then a great chattering of explana- tion ensued as the home girls told this stranger maiden with the pink cheeks and the big, round blue eyes about Hiram Perkins, his history and his character.
 Hiram Perkins was the son of "old Sam Perkins," and had inherited all the cussedness of the old pioneer, to- gether, it seemed, with the meanness
 
 wife. Hiram had assumed charge of the family at an early age told Sam having been abruptly removed from further responsibility in a saloon brawl). He had completed the crush ing of his mother, spoiled the lives of les 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 pro- ceeded to marry the likeliest and most competent girl in town and had bullied and harassed her into the green ceme- tery on the hill in just three years. Tn the meantime he 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 a big house, still uncom- pleted when his wife died. He had gone ahead and completed this house, l 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 county. He owned plenty of mortgages too, but his favor ran to land. Tt can't get away" was l his favorite motto. He was now about 40. not ill favored excepting for his heavy jaw and the general air of un- compromising overbearance and grim ness which hung over him. i '.I'd as soon marry old Bluebeard himself,'' remarked Ann, finishing the story.
 "I'd as soon go to jail for life,'' put in Susie.
 And T." "And T." chorused the rest
 All excepting Sally Johnson, the girl whose query had started the story.
 s'I don't believe he's so bad as he's painted said she, demurely, land he's l quite handsome"
 But you wouldn't dare marry hir1, ? said Ann, scornfully. You'd last ! about three weeks"
 "Oh, don't know,'' replied Sally. i've a notion to do it. He don't look so dangerous to me-
 And do 1t she did. She was an or l plan recently come to town and living on the bounty of maiden aunt of un- certain temper. And Hiram was rich and had big house. And, as Dame Wilkins suggested, Hiram was looking for a wife-and a young one. I Pinville gasped at the nuptials and I then settled down to await the inevi- table result. like a greedy vulture.
 Hiram Perkins took his young wife home in great glee. She was only IS 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 ways without any trouble chuckled Hiram l So Sally became installed in the Perkins home, and right good start she made, and Hiram grew better q pleased with his bargain every day. IT. be sure, she shivered little when she first saw the great barn-like house with it's bare rooms; but she took hol6 at once, and the toothsOme breakfasts she prepared for her liege lord and the dainty dinners, quite warmed his heart Hiram was very fond of good living The best of it was she did it all on the most economical plan. And she con triyed that Hiram should get the ten. derest parts of the meat, and divinec his likes so readily that she really was 8 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 i as meekly as he could wish.
 This was during the first fortnight.
 Then a slight cloud arose Hiram was in the habit of arising at very early hour, eating his breakfast, doing chores for an hour or so. then readins his paper and going to his office abou the time other men did.
 Sally was expected to rise lons before him to get breakfast ready b, the time he was dressed. One day sh, suggested that he do his chores frs and read his paper while she prepared breakfast The expression on his fac, would have frightened one less guile less. He gave her to understand ono, for all that the domestic arrangement would be continued on his schedule al hitherto and that more suggestjon