Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1908-11-21
Words to
the Wise
BY GERTRUDE LEWIS.
Copyrighted. 1905. BY Associated
Literary Press.
BY GERTRUDE LEWIS.

disllked her as much as her husband
did.
They had welcomed the change In
Ben's business affairs which required
boarded the train that was to take
them Oh the first stage of theSr journey
Lefty breathed IA little sigh of relief
~ suppose it's wicked" she said soft.
". but wish we were going to China
or Japan.
whats the use?' asked Ben. with II
laugh she would follow us out there.
The last thing she said was that II you
grew homcsick to wire a ticket and
she would come out ut once"
Lefty sat up very straight In her
seat.
ben Melville she warned Impress
lively. III you ever dare send such u
message I'll never speak to you again. :"
II won't" he promised teaslngly.
unless you need punishment"
Thereafter impending quarrels were
checked when Ben irrelevantly inquir.
ed II there was a telegraph blank
handy. The threatened trouble always
ended In n laugh
The first six months Of California life
seemed like Il dream, so different was
everything from what It had been in
. l., a., nr,la
cd the year round was new 10 the little
New England girl. and Wah Ling. once
his oriental makeup was mastered. was
like Il gift Of the gods. After a quick
succession OF raw immigrants of all ma.
tionallties the Chinaman was revcla.
ton
Silent footed. competent and scrupu-
lousy neat Wah Ling was great re-
lief to the little housekeeper. and Mel
vile declared his home 10 be n para
disc with thirty dollar a month angel
In charge
Then the blow fell Lefty met her
husband az the door OF their little
home with an expression on her face
that filed him with alarm
What's wrong. little woman" he
asked anxiously. "ls is bad. dear"
at couldn't he worse" she sobbed ms
he gathered her into his arms Mrs
Mook's coming"
"Wlre her not to-" he said sharply.
Il know that she's your stepmother.
darling. hut that doesn't entitle her
10 come out here and make life miser-
able. should not think that she
would want TO. You don't even call
her mother"
She doesn't mind little thing like
that" sobbcd Lefty. She writes that
the doctor says that her lungs are
weak and that six months In the mild
California air is Just what she needs
She's coming TO stay with us because
dad can't afford 10 send her out here
and pay her board too
Wire her not TO come" repeated
Ben sternly. But Lefty shook her
head
We can't" she walled. ''She start
ed the day after she mailed this. and
she'll be here tomorrow.
Then we'll have 10 make the best
OF IT," said Ben. with the peculiar
tightening Of the lips that marked his
displeasure. Perhaps we may find
some way Of housing her elsewhere.
Let's have dinner. The situation will
look better after we have had some.
thing TO eat"
But even Wah Ling's perfect cook
ing did not bring the customary sense
of contentment. though he had done
his best because he had seen that his
mistress was worried.
He moved about the dining room In
his spotless white costume like some
accomplished ghost and took dislike
10 the new guest before he had seen
her because she had made the mistress
cry.
But his dislike became personal
when he entered the dining room the
following afternoon. Mrs. Nook had
arrived only half hour before. and
she had not been appraised of the EN-.
ployment of Chinese boy"
THE persons In his night clothes"
she cried cylng Wah Ling's snowy
garments with disfavor "My dear
Lefty. your father wears those things
TO sleep In
1T is the native costume" explain
ell Lefty. 1T is very cool and com
Portable"
Its indecent" commented Mrs
Nook. and Wah Ling scowled.
A melancholy trio sat ON the piazza
that evening In the soft dusk. heavy
with the scent OF flowers. Mrs. Nook
found fault with everything and an
nounced that on the morrow she
would readjust the household affairs,
Lefty sought 10 make reply but a
warning pressure on her arm caused
her 10 remain silent and not until
Mrs. Nook announced herself ready
FOR bed was the riddle explained.
Immediately after breakfast Mrs.
Nook announced that the process of
reform would start IN the kitchen.
Mrs. Melville drew back.