The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1906-05-24
BY MARGAREr 3. sANGsrER.

When Jean and Tom were married
they had a remarkably fine setting
out for housekeeping. Jeanies father
built the house and presented 1t TO
her. and her mother superintended the
furnishing. Everything was on a
scale of the utmost comfort and every
thing bespoke refinement, and cul-
tured artistic taste. There were hard
wood floors. high ceilings. walls COW
cred with paper that would make a
charming background for pictures.
there we're mirrors set in doors. wide
stairways, and bits OF wood carving
that were worthy Of such young peo-
pie as the two who were to live in
the house, and that was saying much.
The rugs. tapestries. fine china. cut
glass and bric-a-brac left nothing to
desire. and the curtains at the win
dows were a dream Of beauty. Jeanie's
Aunt Caroline who came on for the
wedding. from a bare little home in
Montana. a cheque being sent her by
Jeanie's father for the purpose. stood
transhxed with admiration. Dear
child" she said, twenty years ago
| thought myself used to luxury, but
have lived in a mining town as a
missionary's wife so long. that have
forgotten its very alphabet felt
like the old Massachusetts, deacon
who, when he first saw a carpet laid
on floor, said to its owner, DO you
expect to enjoy all this and have
heaven too?' DO you really thiEk
JeanidBs that you can be good and
simple with SO many lovely things
around you"
Il shall have Tom. Auntie," replied
Jeanie, blushing
"Ah. well. Tom may turn out dis
cipline. One never can be sure be-
forehapd about. husbands"
Jeanie protested Indignantly.
my dear Aunt Caroline, Tom HazeI-f
teen is perfect angel, and much too
good for me. Come and let me show
you the wedding presents"
AS is the custom with fortunate
brides. Jeanie had chests of silver,
pearls, rubies and diamonds, pictures,
statuary and books. The home would
be so thoroughly appointed from the |
beginning that 1t was difficult to
imagine a lack anywhere, and 1t was
probable that Tom and Jeanie would
altogether miss one Of the chief de-
lights of poorer couples namely, see
ing home grow daily in beauty and |
sweetness before their eyes, while
they worked and saved and denied
themselves to procure this or the
other coveted treasure.
They went away on their wedding
journey and we're gone four weeks.
AT the end Of that time they sat down
to their first dinner in their own home.
Jeanie at one end of the table, Tom
opposite her. Jeanies mother had
sent her own cook and waitress to
prepare that meal and serve 1t prop
ierly. From the little cold oysters to
the final sweet. through the several
courses, it was dinner to satisfy an
lepicure.
The trained servants left in the
evening and Jeanie's new maid-of-aIl-
work arrived at ten o'clock. From
that moment trouble began. Pan
dora's box was opened with the en-
trance Of Swedish Julia on the scene.
She proved wasteful, ilI-tempered, and
She was followed speed
lily by colored Harriet. who could
cook very well. but could do nothing
else. AS Toms salary did not per
NIT their having a parlor maid, wait
ress. and laundress, and college bred
Jeanie did not care to spend all her
time in the details of housekeeping.
Harriet was soon dismissed, and a
French woman named Hortense was
installed in the vacant niche. Things
went better for little while, until
Hortense disappeared one dark night
and with her part of Jeanie's jewelry
and contribution from the table
silver. Through the coming and go
ing of arriving and departing domes-
tics, Jeanie tried to be cheerful and
Tom looked resigned, but his temper
gave signs Of thin places where dan
ger signals were in order, and hers
was frayed at the edges. 1t is pro-
voking to have ones dainty table
linen scorched, ones teaspoons bent,
and ones finest china chipped, and
then to intercept pitying or amused
slances from the relations-in-law.
Jeanie being a plucky American
girl, eventually found solution for !
her problems and worked out her own
salvation, bringing to bear on her {
kitchen the faculties Of reasoning and {
he sense Of proportion for which she 9
had been noted at Smith. Tom Z
learned patience and, like the good