Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-08-23
1 MRS. ACKER'S 1 EXPERIMENT
By MABEL CLIFFORD.
1Copyright, by Joseph B. Howlsa.)


 Mrs. Ackers was very cheerful, very willing, but 1t is rather bewildering to remember the exact degree of sweet. ness and saltness, of brownness and wilderness her husband demands. She has always done her best, and spiced 1t all with her bright smile. Last night at supper MT. Ackers had remarked: T 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 too hearty smile. "Oh. these men; these foolish men! Frank is just as notional as the rest of them, I 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 little different. no matter what it is, politics, parties. re- l ligion, dress, or-beans."
 Mrs. Ackers had ordered pork for to-day, and she tucked it well under the beans with queer little smile.
 Somehow the sweet, patient face of Mrs. Ackers was unusually present in MT. Ackers' mind that day, Though there was no reproach in 1t, 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, one of the clerks held out a note and asked him if it would be too much trouble to leave 1t at his door.
 Mrs. Wells would insist on his com ing in.
 Do come In, just for a little chat. I want to ask about Mrs. Ackers. I haven't seen her for the longest time!"
 An! this is Mir Acker's ideal of a wife and home. This woman is not 1 only cheery, but polite. Her gracious, l respectful manner is charming. Her house besides being in perfect order is delightful to the eye, and satisfying to the mind. There is combination of the useful and the refined intelligence that MT. Ackers loves.
 | How delightfully."- Mrs. Wells con. versed! How we'll informed she must be. He did not take note that he did most of the conversing; that she only introduced topics, asked ques tions, and listened with interest. l He passed a most enjoyable hali hour; here was all he missed in his own home. Here was woman who knew how to use both her hands and her brains. Happy MT Wells!
 But you have not told me about your wife yet; where have you kept her all this time? I haven't seen her for an age"
 Mir Ackers began to feel disagree. able as his thoughts reverted to his wife. If Lizzie wasn't quite so do mestic, so-oldfashioned, so common place!
 "Oh, she is busy most of the time Does not have chance to run out muchl"
 "The idea! go out every day; unless 1t is decidedly stormy. Frank says it makes people dull to be shut up in the house all the time. take time. There are only two of you; there can't be such a mountain oi work"
 T don't know how it is: some wom en do not seem to have the faculty ol turning of work. Lizzie is always grubbing"
 A girl appeared at the door. Please ma'am, shall put the supper on tht table?"
 "0h! excuse me. I forgot to tel you Mir. Wells will not be home unti seven. You need not wait, am sorry kept you"
 Mir. Ackers stared He was 1T ] the habit of being late when he pleased, and did not expect it to bt remarked by his wife. Here was Mir Wells sending note to his wife be ! cause he should arrive an hour late , and here was Mrs. Wells apologizinl to the help. for the delay. . So you keep a hired girl?" We don't keep her exactly. Sh, comes in whenever I need her. Bak ing. washing, ironing and sweeping days. every week, and other timel when I want help. We pay her tw, dollars a week. and Frank says tha is the cheapest investment he eve made. I used to do al of the work and did not have time to do anything else, or was too tired If had time Now I read. and go out every day.
 make calls, and have some company Frank says sociability improves peo ple. We have joined a Iend-a-hant club One reason called you in to night was to tell yor about the club and beg you and Mrs. Ackers to join Our aim Is to improve ourselves anI everyone re can reach.