The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929, 1907-08-16
MRS. ACKER,S !
EXPERIMENT
BY MABEL CLIFFORD.
By MABEL CLIFFORD.
Copyright, by Joseph B. Bowles.)

In No& uS6tSS VI o"SSI
ness and sadness. Of BROWNIES and
whfteness her husband demands. She
has always done her best, and spiced
1t all with her bright smile.
Last night at supper Mr.. Ackers
had remarked: Il like pork and beans
much better than beef. The beef has
not that good taste, that relish"
This is what Mrs. Ackers was think
ing about:
Doesn't have that good taste" she
repeated, shutting her white teeth over
her lip to cut in halves a too hearty
smile. ooh, these men; these foolish
men! Frank is just as notional as the
rest of them, l am afraid. | uSed to
think him one of the most reasonable;
he seemed to agree with me in every
thing. Now, well, it seems as if he
liked everything a little different, no
matter what it is, politics, parties, re-
ligion, dress, Orleans"
Mrs. Ackers had ordered pork for
to-day, and she tucked it we'll under
the beans with a queer little smile.
Somehow the sweet, patient face
OF Mrs. Ackers was unusually present
in Mr.. Ackers' mind that day. Though
there was no reproach in it, yet it re-
preached him. He need not have been
SO short with her at supper last night;
he knew it hurt her, though she would
not allow him to see it. She was a
dear, little woman, and must have
her failings like other women-he did
not say, "and men,"
He feared she was narrow-minded,
too domestic, not intellectual. But
she had redeeming points; she was pa
tient, cheerful, an excellent house
keeper, and tried hard to please him.
He prided himself on his refined and
intellectual taste, and truth to tell,
looked down a little on his dear little
housekeeper.
AT night as he was leaving the
store, n Of the clerks held out a
note and asked him if it would be too
much trouble to leave it at his door.
Mrs. Wells would insist on his COM
ing in.
do come in, just for a little chat.
l want to ask about Mrs. Ackers. l
haven't seen her for the longest
time!"
All! this is Mr.. Acker's ideal of a
wife and a home. This woman is not
only CHEEKY, but polite. Her gracious,
respectful manner is charming. Her
house besides being in perfect order is
delightful to the eye, and satisfying to
the mind. There is a combination of
the useful and the refined intelligence
that Mr.. Ackers loves.
How delightfully."- Mrs. Wells con-
versed! How well informed she must
be. He did not take note hat he
did most of the conversing; that she
only introduced topics, asked ques-
tons, and listened with interest.
e He passed a most enjoyable half
hour; here was all he missed in his
W home. Here was a woman who
knew how to use both her hands and
her brains. Happy Mr.. Wells!
But you have not told me about
your wife yet; where have you kept
her all this time? l haven't seen her
for an age"
Mr.. Ackers began to feel disagree
able as his thoughts reverted to his
wife. If Lizzie wasn't quite so do
nestle, so-old-fashioned, so common
place!
"Oh, she is busy most of the time.
Does not have a chance to run out
much!"
"The idea! go out every day;
unless it is decidedly stormy. Frank
says it makes people dull to be shut
up in the house all the time. l take
time. There are only two of you:
there can't be such a mountain of
work.
II don't know how it is; some wom-
en- do not seem to have the faculty of
turning off work. Lizzie is always
grubb1ng."
A girl appeared at the door. please,
ma'am, shall l put the supper on the
tablet"
ooh! excuse me. l forgot to tell
you Mr.. Wells will not be home until
seven. You need not wait, l am sorry
l kept you"
Mr.. Ackers stared. He was in
the habit of being late when he
pleased, and did not expect it to be
remarked by his wife. Here was Mr..
Wells sending a note to his wife be-
cause he should arrive an hour late.
and here was Mrs. Wells a%pologizing
to the help for the delay.
$50 you keep a hired girl?"
I'VE don't keep her exactly. She
comes in whenever | need her. Bak-
ing, washing, ironing and sweeping
days, every week, and other times
when l want help. We pay her two
dollars a week, and Frank says that
is the cheapest investment he ever
made. l used to do all of the work,
and did not have time to do anything
else, or was too tired if l had time.
Now l read, and go out every day. l
make calls, and have some company;
Frank says sociability improves peo-
pie. We have Joined a Lend-a-hand
club One reason l called you in to.
night was to tell YOU about the club,
and beg you and Mrs. Ackers to join.
Our aim is to improve ourselves and