Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1905-03-31
The Soft Side of
a Rock.
4 4 4
BY Rowland Thomas.

IN their crimson cages to mere PIN
points of sorry light, and threw tinge
OF sadness over the smiling face of
the little hostess. And that shadow
wore q queue.
The all-powerful Lee and his young
mistress were at odds. How If ever
came about Lydia could not tell. but
Lee, always peevish, grew quite insiif-
ferable. Lydia approached the kitchen
when she must approach it-with
sinking of the heart, trembled when
she heard Lee shutting in of an even
ing to arrange his orders for next day,
and escaped from his blighting pres
ence to cry softly to herself in loneli-
ness and discouragement.
The captain almost caught her once
or twice, and remembered how far
away her father and mother were. and
what little thing she was, and be-
came clumsy in helpless alteration.
And that made Lydia feel worse than
ever To think that this great, strong
soldier should bow down to her, who
could not even control a Chinese cook!
At last it all came out one evening.
when Lydia was so miserable that she
could not keep back the tears. II
know it's hard" said Captain Robert,
"and perhaps / shouldn't have asked
you to stay here with me, but even if
they are far away"
Far away." said Lydia, comprehend
ino OrIU fvx.a xx-nt1c To-.
"Who?' demanded the captain.
Lee" said Lydia. Il know I'm fool
ish, but-but-he's so awful, Rob"
What has Lee done?"
He won't be pleased. OF course l
don't expect him to mind me-he never
minded mamma--but if 1 could please
him I'd be satisfied. I'm sure 1 try"
said Lydia, with pathetic humility.
DAY before yesterday l tried as hard
as | could. At IL O'clock he came in
and said, No gottee COAL He said it
so spitefully, as if it were my fault
and you know you forgot to order it,
Rob. And | smiled 1T him as nicely
as l could, and said You know the
Dightons and Major Borem are coming
to tiffin, Lee. Can't you burn wood
just this once| And he scowled-that
terrible scowl, Rob-and said, no
gottee coal. no makee chow-chow.' And
had to tell Juan to harness-and that
made him cross-and I drove down to
the quartermaster's and brought a sack
of coal home in the carriage. You
needn't smile, Rob. The sun made
my head ache wretchedly, and the car
rage has never looked so nice since.'
Poor little woman said the cap
tain.
Don't you dare to sympathizew
cried Mrs. Mickey. IF you 90, shall
cry. And when 1 told Lee that we
were to have all those people to dinner
tomorrow night" she went on monot-
onously with her catalog of woes, ''he
frightened me. go think l no got
plenty work. he said. You think l
make cooke, cookie, cookee, all time
Plenty people come, talkee, talkee,
talkee, no sabe nothing. You catch
mother cook l had to coax him, and
tell him he might smoke in his room
just little, Rob-before he'd talk
about the menu.
Il didn't dare to say anything more
about it till this afternoon" continued
Lydia, "and then l had to speak of one
thing. / don't mean to interfere with
Lee at all, and he's good cook, and
we're only his employers, but-you
know We've had banana and pineapple
pudding at every one eff our last three
dinners"
Mighty good, toor' broke in the cap
tain. I'D eat it every time Lee want
ed to make it."
30 Rob.' cried Lydia, tragically.
you don't want people to think we
have only one kind, DO you? And all
those people who will be here to-mor-
row have had it here at least once,
and all praised it,
sThen let 'em have it again, if they
like it." said the captain, cheerfulIy.
You don't understand" complained
his wife. "You're-you're only man,
That's ALL agreed the captain,
humbly.
$50 this afternoon said Lydia,
when Lee sounded quite pleasant and
was singing that funny little song Of
his, | went out and said to him just as
gently as / could, Please don't have
banana pudding tomorrow, Lee, and
he stopped singing at once. You say
you likee,' he said. Yes, l likee very
much, Lee said. but no likee alice
time. You catch other kind pudding to-
morrow, Lee And he was furious.
You no likee, what for say hkee? he
shouted, in that squeaky voice. But /
do likee, Lee,' / said. You no likee,'
he said. What for you makee lie to
me-? o DEAR" she sobbed, 81 know /
ought not to care-and Lee is a spIen-
did cook-but-why, Robr'
| The captain was standing very erect,
with a look on his face such as his wife
had never seen before 1t frightened
her, but maybe it pleased her, foo.
| What is it, Rob:' she cried, forget
ting her sorrows.
| IF white man had dared to speak
| that way to you,v said the captain,
slowly, I'D have hurt him. OF course
I can't do that to Lee, but he won't
speak that way again.
And the captain strobe away with
heavy martial steps TO the castle OF
his rebellious vassal. His wife lay on
the couch and listened, her eyes glow
ing with pride and excitement and
hope. To think that she had married