Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1909-03-13

ready. II you want to spend an hour
In your room cursing your cuffs and
your collar button, get up earlier or
else eat cold breakfast.
You're welcome here, Ben, because
you're Elias brother and because she's
but you've just got to understand that
you can't cuss and dominecr my wife
into a sick bed the way you've done
your own"
Harrington swallowed retort; then
he swallowed the bacon and eggs.
Sam stood over the chair. and Ben
knew that he meant what he said.
When the meal was done Sam left
the room. and Ben followed him out
to the yard to stammer an apology.
Then he sat on the horse block while
he smoked cigar, and Sans words
came back to him.
Ills brother-in-law was right. lie
had cursed and domineercd his wife.
There had been lots OF mornings when
he had acted worse than this and with
FAR less cause.
When the nervous breakdown had
come he had cursed 1t because 1t had
interfered with his vacation plans. and
not until he had left home did he
realize how much Fannie's quiet min
istrations had meant.
Once or twice he half rose to go into
the house and ask Elias pardon. but
40 .t,o,,~h. 80 ao,.nthlne, ofea NJ bo,t.a
and sank back into his seat again. He
did not even realize that the horse
block was an uncomfortable seat, and
Sam came in from the fields at noon to
find him still sitting there with a
half smoked cigar. making an odorous
offense to heaven.
Thought worth penny he asked
pleasantly ms he made pretense Of feel
ing In his pocket for the coin.
"You can buy my whole miserable
carcass for a penny" retorted Ben
dolefully. 1--WE been sitting here
thinking over what you said"
II didn't mean to get so hopping
mad" said Sam shamefacedly.
"It was right" went on Harrington.
II have rowed Fannie into her bed,
just as you said. She made things so
comfortable that when anything dio
go wrong scolded her about that In
stead Of giving her credit for all that
she had DONE"
"If you know It. that helps some"
reminded Sam. ~ tell you what the
trouble is, Ben. Just because you earn
the money that pays the bills you don't
realize that your wife Is working too.
You wouldn't dare talk to servant
the way you talk to her. You know
your wife won't get mad and quit"
II never should have come away
and left her." lamented Harrington.
"They sent you on vacation TO give
Fannie rest" explained Sam. but II
you really mean to be n good boy II
would be good idea to send for her
The trouble with her has been that she
cared so much for you that she wor-
rfed when you were not pleased. and
you never were pleased, so she wor-
rled all the time. 1t will do her good
to come up here and have you wait on
her"
Ell go after her." offered Ben hastl.
~. He was thinking OF the cool of the
morning on the boat when they two
should have the deck alone. II was
there that be wanted to tell her how
sorry he was. He could not know that
Sam had wired. II was well that he
could not read the message, for II ran:
Better come up. Ben's found out wha,
the matter was. and I'll see that he re.
members. SAM.
But Sans share Of the task was
light, for Harrington remembered of
his own accord as he coaxed the roses
back to where the lilies had been in
his wife's pale cheeks. When his irri-
tation rose there rose before him a
vision of cold bacon and threatening
face. 1t was not romantic, but 1t was
effective.