Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-11-06

SMOOR WILLIAM always used to
wipe his feet on the mat before
he came into the house." OBJ
served Mrs. Ganderson, with sigh.
"He was always considerable in that
way"
Il wiped my feet" protested Gander-
son. Il never fail to wipe my feet.
I've done it all my life, and it isn't
likely that I'd forget to do it now"
''Then what is that mud?" demand
ed his wife, pointing to some spots
on the oilcloth. Nobody else has been
In here this afternoon. l don't see
why you should say you have wiped
your feet If you haven't. You've got
a perfect right to track up the whole
house If you want to. It's your house.
1t may make a little more work for
me, but then | haven't anything special
to do except to clean up after you,
and if l had 1t wouldn't matter, would
it? Not enough to make you deny it.
That was one thing about poor VIII
liam. If he did anything he'd always
own up to it,
"Of course" sneered Ganderson,
STOPPING to unlace his shoes.
Indeed he did" assented Mrs. Gan
derson. Poor william"
Darn poor Wllliam!" muttered the
man. How long before supper's
ready?"
James Broderick Gandersonr ex-
claimed his wife.
"Weu!"
"Wel! I'm surprised at you. To
l wonder there isn't a judgment on
you. But you always did seem to have
a grudge against poor William"
Not me-" said Ganderson, surlily.
s.Tm sorry he died. l wish he was
alive and we'll again this minute. I've
no grudge against him, further'n that
Mrs. GandersOn set the teakettle
that she was holding with her apron
down on the stove and applied cor
ner Of the garment to her eyes.
We'll, there, now, l didn't mean TO
hurt your feelings" said her husband,
half repentantly. only you always
told me that you and he didn't get
along together any too well, and now
vou're always throwing him up to me-
He didn't do this and he didn't do
that and he always used to do this and
that and the other. I'm sick of him.
But what's the use of making a fuss?
IVorUet IL "
The woman gave her eyes another
wipe and sighed How would you
like me to forget your she asked.
poor William had his faults, as we
all have, but"
GanderSon threw the shoes he was
holding at a corner of the kitchen,
missed IL and knocked n pot of ferns
Off the window SILL Then he kicked
the kitten TO one side and strobe out
of the room. Mrs. Ganderson sunk
into the Boston rocker and burst into
sobS. A thamp or two overhead and
the slam of a door indicated that
Gandersou had sought the secluSion OF
the spare bedroom.
The fat In the frying pan on the
stove began TO burn and emit unpleas-
ant odors, but Mrs. Ganderson re-
NAMED oblivious until ring at the
doorbell sounded sharply through the
cottage. Then she jerked the pan
quickly Off the stove and set it in the
sink and stood listening.
The bel rang again. stin more
sharply. and as there was no sign OF
response from above Mrs. Ganderson
united her apron and opened the door
A sour-featured. thin and elderly WON,
an dressed In black stood before her.
She uttered cry that was almost
one Of dismay. why, Mother Wa
tersr' she exclaimed. and, heSitating
an Instant, bent forward and pecked
o. the old woman's cheek.
~ amt got but an hour 60 stay
said the visitor depositing a small tel
escope in the hall I'm on my way L
I.ucy's folks an I had TO change cars
here so / thought I'd stop in an Sc,
YOU. No. / won't go into the settin
room: I'll 20 into the kitchen. You've
got somethin' burnin' there. What ar,
Won dom? Gettin' support Is YOU
husban' to henle?"
She looked around the kitchen witt
a dlsparaging air and seated herseli
In the rocker and loosened her bonnie