Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1909-09-16

let himself into his little dat. and the
smiles Of his wife as she raised her
rosebud lips 10 receive his kiss OF
greeting failed TO dispel his gloom.
"You seem out OF sorts tonight.
dear" she said solicitously. ANY
thing wrong at the Officer"
Nothing in particular. I'm tired
and hungry after Shaving all day in
this awful heat. that's all
Never mind. supper's all ready. so
sit down and tuck in"
"What did You get?"
CHOPS and potatoes.
Joe turned up his nose but took his
seat M table and began to eat. He
answered his wife's questions in mono
syilables His thoughts. it was plain.
were not on his meal or Emma's con-
versation. and. seeing that he was pre-
occupied and troubled, she ceased to
try to engage his attention
Il paid the gas bin today" he vouch-
safed at length Ninety cents more
than last month"
Ninety cents more," she commented
with concern. I'm sure we didn't
use half as MUCH And we owe the
butcher four-sixty."
"Every month it costs more to live
don't know what we are going to do
I'm sure"
I'm sorry Joe. Goodness knows 1
try to be as economical as l cam"
Il know. but it's an wrong It's all
wrong that you should be spelling
your hands with those beastly greasy
pans. They weren't meant for such
work. ! wish we could afford a hired
girl
$50 do /, but we can't, so what's the
use Of wishing? Didn't you get the
raise you asked Captain Williams
forG' she inquired
mo"
He hung his head and lapsed into
gloomy silence. She dropped the NOR
sci she was raising to her mouth and
rose from the table. filed with dis
may. her appetite completely gone.
Tears Of disappointment followed the
realization of what the failure of their
plans meant. for neither had doubted
that his request would be complied
with. and she had built many castles
i'm the air on the strength Of 1t. A few
dollars more a week added to their
disressihgly small income would have
meant much to them. But, gazing at
her husband sitting there utterly de-
jected and crushed, her heart went out
to him in pity and love. and she moved
over to his chair and put her arm con-
solingly round his neck
"Never mind. Joe, boy,p she urged;
don't look so solemn. We're no worse
off than we were before. end you'll
win out some day"
She placed her hand under his chin
and raised his head to kiss him. He
saw that she was smiling at him en-
couragingly through her tears, but re-
fused to be comforted.
II made out the payroll today" he
said. Three other men IN the office
who also asked for raise last month
got IL; so did Smith,"
what. Jimsy 2" she asked
Il said Smith There's only one
Smith in the Office" he replied some
what surlily.
We'll. I'm glad for Jimsy's sake he
got what he wanted"
Il think he told Williams to come
across with more money or he'd quit"
How much did he ask forf"
Eighteen hundred"
Eighteen hundred? My gracious,
isn't that finer
1T means that he'll be getting near
~ $1,000 a year now Great for him,
isn't it2'
Eyes. indeed 1t is"
Il saw Jimsy today. Asked him to
come to supper He said he would if
he could"
Il wonder why he didnts"
Her husband did not answer immedi-
ately When he did he burst out saw
agely:
suppose he thought we couldn't af-
ford it. Two don't eat as much as
three"
why. Joe. how absurdr she laugh
ed. beginning to gather up the supper
plates. "Jimsy knows it's pot luck"
That's the trouble Jimsy knows
your mother lSnows-W Williams knows
everybody knows. ana they're always
talking about how you've got to work
and slave because you married me and
all that sort of stuff"
"Jimsy doesn't"
oven, he thinks it. and your moth
er's always rubbing it in, harping on
the same old string -that ! amt wor-
thy of you, that it's a shame the way
you have TO work and slave that
don't seem to get along at all and that
you
"Oh. don't mind mother; you know
her"
"She never did want us to marry"
"But dear old dad did. and he was
the one l wanted to please after you,
Joe. of course. Mother is just bit
peculiar. I'm sure she doesn't under
stand me much. aud I'm equally sure
that l don't understand her, so we
won't bother about her. Just sweep
up a bit, will you. while / wash the