Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-06-29
4 Case OF TRAINING.

hall over at the Flat, Reuben?'
Mrs. Butler observed to her son,
as he rose from the breakfast table.
II was calculating to- mother" he
answered, turning with the quick look
Of one who expects TO be found fault
with.
II don't want to. dictate at ALL" she
observed, smoothly "but merely to suy.
gcst that 1t would be an net of cour-
tesy for you to take Matilda Springer"
Matilda sprlnger!'
Eyes, Matilda Sptingera you needn't
exclalm go. She is as nice n girl MS
you could find, and she seldom gets,
an invitation. l am sure 1t would I've
quite treat to her. A young man
should pass around his attentions. not
90 too much with the same girl: 1t be-
comes too marked OF course I'm only
suggesting; you can do as you please"
Reuben did not reply; he put on his
hat and started downtown. There
was rebellious look in his. brown
eyes, and he said something under his
breath his mother would have been
checked to hear
At the foot of the hill! he half
stopped and looked back from force
Of habit. How often when lad OH
his way to school his mother had
called him back, when lie reached this
point where the road went out Of sight,
and when he rushed home again, hot
and Impatient, he would be told ito
hang up his coat, or put book on
the shelf that he had left on chair
Mrs. Butler was managing wom-
an, and her husband and son felt her
hand in every detail of their lives.
ut is'easier to let your mother have
he'd way" John Butler would say;
and the only time be dared to disobey
her was wien, without saying aught,
he lay down and died.
II wonder whit possessed mother to
get It. into her head to have me take
that old maid! Just when Id got my
new buggy. too, and wanted Clariss.l
to ride In It first. 1t will be the big
gest ball ever given in these parts, and
know Clarissa will expect to go with
me. Hang it all! What do care If 1t
, Is 'markedY I'd be tlckled to death
II folks knew was going to marry
Clarissa Brown, and I'd been thinking
that during this long ride in the moOn-
light might get the courage to ask
her to marry me. But mothers made
up her mind, and suppose I've got
to take Matilda, or the dickens will he
to pay. wonder haven't cut 1t long
ago and run away. guess it's be-
cause she's mother. after all" and
Reuben stroked his rather weak chin
perplexedly. '.l'll talk 1t over with
her tonight"
Talk Ii over lie did, with the result
that the next evening lie was going up
the steps to the rlckety photograph
gallery. behind which Matilda lived, 10
ask her to go to the party with him.
Pretty Clarlssn Brown. bending over
the sewing machine. hemming blue
dimity rufiies for her new dress, was
i wondering even then why Reuben
hadn't been around to arrange about
going to the party. She wondered
more rs the days went by, and when
the evening came and the gayly deco
rated conches and buggies began to
90 by. and she saw Miss Matilda seat.
ed by Reuben, a linen buster covering
her freshly Numbered yellow cambria
dress, a mutinous expression came into
her eyes.
Madam Mother again." she said.
under her breath.
After that CIarissa found 1t con-
venient TO see very little OF Reuben;
II he called. she was busy or out, and
che passed him on the street with the
slightest nod.
Reuben was miserable, and as the
weeks went on, with no change In
Clarissa, lie began to think she had
given him up for good A change came
over the lad; he grew reckless, and
did not heed his mothers displeas.
ure. He went out evenings, and came
back careless and uncommunicative.
To her angry approximations he replied
that he was going to choose his own
company.
I'm going to see Fannie West; she's
right lively girl, and is teaching me
card games. and tonight we had Ia.
males and beer" and Reuben took
his candle and marched OFF to bed.
Mr.. Butler felt cold all over. Fan.
ME West, that little frazzle-l,eadc,l
thing. always gigg!ing, and Reuben
turned so independent. What If lie
set out to marry her?
OF course she wanted him to haze
Clarissa, only she had meant to show
the girl that she needn't be too sure
Of him, and so she made him take
Matilda Springer to the party. Why.
Clarissa was queen compared to
Fannie West; she was SO pretty and
dainty. and her folks come from tho
East, while the Vests were nothing
but trash.
No doubt the silly girl was bound
to do all she could to get her Reu.
ben; he was the handsomest boy In
town.
Who would have thought Clarissa
would have been so resentful. but 1t
must be made up. and that right
quickly.
Reuben arose after his nights re-
bellion. expecting to find few cold
scraps for breakfast. and his mother
omplaining and cross; but Instead
here was fresh coffee, beefstcak aud
ggs, and hot wafiies. Dinner, too.
MS perfect, and his mother the soul
good nature.