Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-07-30
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whose meek little wife supported him.
One day came q woman's rights old
maid, Miss Stranger. In three days she
had organized a woman's club in Graf
ton and made an address that aroused
the patriotic hearts Of the members.
Within an hour most of them had
thrown off the yoke of slavery and
were prepared to take a hand in run
ming the government. 1t so happened
that little Mrs. Warner was doing
some sewing at the house where the
first meeting vas held, and it was in
sisted that she join the club. She was
scared half to death at the idea Of hav-
Ing any rights and asserting them, and
after the meeting was over Miss Stran-
ger took her in hand to make her some
thing more than a worm Of the dust.
She was talked to for an hour, and the
effects We're felt at home that same
evening. Abe wanted so cents, and
for the first time in her life the wife
refused him. She did even more. She
demanded to know why he didn't go to
work.
The husband loafed of downtown
to play checkers, but he didn't play.
His feelings had been hurt. There was
rebellion in his own house. he had
suffered loss Of dignity. He couldn't
get over these jolts, and so he returned
home to cuff his wife's ears and tell
her how ungrateful she was not to APP
preciate Il husband like him. She
took the cuffs, but not as meekly as
formerly. In fact, there was a danger
signal in her eye that set Abe to won
dering what had come over her. She
still refused him any money, and he
thought it best not to cuff too hard.
He heard through some Of his cronies
that his wife had Joined the woman's
rights club, and it made him laugh.
BE went home and guyed her about it,
but she had nothing to say. She sim
ply looked at him in a queer way, and
he wound up by saying:
IF l hear any more about this non
III make your ears ring for you.
You've got all the rights coming to
you, and you want to stop right there"
When he was ready to go down to
his loafing place that evening his hum
BILE wife voluntarily offered him half a
dollar and gave him a glad surprise.
He hadn't been drunk for ten days,
n now here was the wherewithal.
The fact that she offered the money
forced him to deduce that she had got
over her rebellious spirit and wanted
to placate him, and he went away pat
ting himself on the back as the only
husband in Grafton that knew how to
manage a wife. To make up for lost
time he got drunken than usual and at
midnight was brought into the house
n dumped on the floor. This was no
unusual occurrence, but unusual things
followed it. He awoke about 9 o'clock
the next forenoon to find himself tied
hand and foot. He started to inquire
why in Texas his breakfast wasn't
ready and why he hadn't been IN
dressed and put to bed. out as he open
ed his mouth to do so he noticed that
his humble wife was sitting with her
sewing not far away and that she had
what looked like a horsewhip across
her knees.
well, what does this mean?" he
finally asked.
ut mean that a great change is
about to take place"
WHO tied me up this way?"
II did. It's the first move in the
change"
"You unite me and hustle me up
some breakfast or I'll make things hot
for you! BY thunder. but how dare
you do such a thing"
abe" she said as she laid down her
sewing and stood up with the whip in
her hand, you have been a lazy, good
for nothing man for years past. Are
you going to work?"
"Of course not. Why should l go to
work."
"1ou are not only a lazy, shiftless
loafer, but you are a drunkard. You
have no ambition, no sense of shame.
Are you going to promise me never to
get drunk again?"
mo, l amt. 1 guess l want a little
fun once in awhile as we'll as other
folks. Seems to me you are talking
mighty strange all to once. Is this
what you call woman's rights?"
Eyes, Abe; it is"
"Then I'll lick it out of you in about
five minutes!"
mot in a thousand years, Abe. On
the contrary, I'm going to lick some
thing out Of you"
And then she began. She was a lit
tie woman, but she had a strong arm,
and she was melted by the remem-
brance that for seventeen centuries her
sex had been only worms of the dust.
She stood there and laid that whip on
until Abe beloved for mercy. Then
she stopped for five minutes rest and
began again. She dashed him, and she
larruped him, and she walloped him,
and he blubbered like a boy. While
she was giving him a drink five mem
bers Of the club came in. They had no
words, but smiled encouragement Abe
rolled over and over and cried and
howled. but the lash continued to fall.
The women went away, and the hum
Bile wife rested, but not for long. All
that day the man was left tied on the
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