Putnam patriot., 1908-10-30
WOrdS.tO the Wise By GERTRUDE LEWIS. Copyrighted. lSe. by Associated
 Literary Press.
By GERTRUDE LEWIS.

alaiiked her AS much as her husband dld
 They bad welcomed the change in Bens business affairs which required his removal to California. and as they boaried the train tiat WAS 10 take tletn oa ile frsi stage of tielr journey Lett brrafie1 I life sigh of relief
 .I suppose it's wicked I" she said soft. ly "bui s ish we we're going to China CT Japan.
 Whats the use?t' asked Ben. with a laugh ashe would follow Us out there The last thing she said was that If you grew honeslck 10 wire q ticket and sue would come out at once"
 Lefty sat up very straight in her seat
 Ben Melville" she warned impress lively. sif you ever dare send such a message I'll never speak to you again"
 "I won't" he promised teasingly. unless you need punishment"
 Thereafter impending qaarrels were checked when Ben irrelevantly inqnir- ed if there was telegraph blank handy. The threatened trouble always ended In q laugh.
 The first six months of California life seemed like dream, 80 different was everything from what it had been in tue east flower garden that bloom ed the year round was new 10 the little New England girl and Wah Ling, once his oriental makeup was mastered. was like 4 gift of the gods. After q quick sHeeesslon Of raw immigrants of all na- tienaitles the Chinaman was a reyela- tion
 silent footed. competent and serupu- laHsi1 neal Wah Ling WIS fl great fe- lirf n the little housekeeper, and Mel eille deehred his home te be q para disc with thirty dollar a month angel ln charge
 Then the blow feii Lefty met her husband at the door Of their little home with an expression on her face that flied him with alarm
 Whats wrong. little womanY' he asked anxieusly. "Is is bad. dear?"
 "lt couldn't be worse" she sobbed as he gnt hered her Into his arms. Mrs Mook's coming"
 "Wlre her not To-" he said sharply. T know that she's your stepmother darling. but that doesn't enfitle her to come out here and make life miser- able. 1 should not think that she would want to You don't even call her mother
 "She doesn't mind n little thing like that" sobbed Lefty She writes that the doctor sass that Ter lungs are weak and that six months in the mild California air K just what she needs Shes coming to stay with us because dad can't afford to send her out here and naY her hoard too
 Wire her not te ceme.. repeated Ben sternly But Lefty shook her head
 We cnn't she walled. "She stnrt- cd the day after she mailed this, and shell he here tomorrow
 s.fheu well have to make the best of it.@ said Ben. with the peculiar tightening Of the lips that marked his dlspleasure Perhaps we may find some way of housing her elsewhere. Let's have dinner The situation will look better after NO have had some thing to eat
 But even Wab Ling's perfect cook ing did mt 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 to the new guest before he had seen her because she had made the mistress cry
 But his dislike hechme 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 em ploy ment of Chinese boy"
 s'rhe persons ln his night clothes" she cried. ewing Wah ling's snowy garments with disfavor. My dear Ietty. your father wears those things ,e sleep In"
 ''i, Is the native costume" explain. ed Lefty Tt Is very cool and com fortnbles
 .1ts indecent" commented Mrs Mock. and Wah Ling scowled. X melancholy trio sat on the piazza that evening iu the soft dusk. heavy with the scent of flowers. Mrs. Nook found fault with everything and an nouncel that on the morrow she would readjust the household affairs Lefty sought to make reply. but warning pressure on her arm caused Der to remain silent. and not until Mrs. Nook announced herself ready .or bed was the riddle explained. Immediately after breakfast Mira Nook announced that the prceess of reform would start in the kitchen. Mrs Melville drew back You mustn't go In thersr' she cried. srell wah Ling what you want done. and he Will do it perfectly. but the supervision"
 That's all nonsense" declared Mrs Nook militantly. He can ride rough shod over you. but hell ind hc has some one else to deal with now,s With majestic mleu she stroie Into the immaculate Kitchen wah Ling looked un induiringly from the chick sa he was disiolnting with hatchet. Mrs. Nook gave cry of dlsapprosal "Noa mustn't do II that way" she commanded
 Was mala r asked wah. "tset knife" commanded Mrs. s.- =