The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1909-03-05
COWards All



the patient eyes climbed the stairs OF
the tenement as the clock struck G. His
work for the day was ended, but he
showed no sign Of pleasure mt his home
coming. On the contrary, he seemed a
little terrified.
He knocked timidily at the door 1t
was flung open by very slatternly
woman with small red eyes, and an ag-
gressiyely pointed chin.
well, I'm sure" she began angrily,
$50 you're late again. Don't know what
you mean by 1t. I've had the kettle on
the hob since s. And this Is all the
thanks as | get"
"I'm sorry said Huxtable slowly,
"but 1t couldn't be helped, my dear.
The foreman put me on special job,
and 1t meant stoppln' bit later than
usual or spolin the whole thing"
"Yes, your work is all you think
about" said his wife, spitefully, mot
a thought for your home and two chill
dren, not to mention me-"
~ don't think that quite true,' he
said meekly.
1t certainly was not. He was good
and devoted, but Mrs. Huxtable would
never admit anything In his favor. She
was one of those women who seem to
regard their husbands as schoolmasters
OF the old regime would regard their
unhappy pupllS-as something to be
bullied, maltreated and altogether sub
dued. Huxtable had put up with the
treatment for fifteen years. Sometimes,
when he looked back on the past, he
wondered how he had been able to en-
dure his torments with such patience.
Where's Jack and ArchieY he
asked. as he went to the sink to wash
his hands.
"Ah, you may well ask. Where, In
deed Playin In the court, expec'
and gettn' into bad company. But that
comesbecause their father don't trouble
hlsself about em. They'll go to rack
and ruin, you mark my words, II you
don't keep tight and on EN-"
II should have thought that was your
job, 30 to speak" suggested Huxtahle
"No, It's n fathers place to look after
lseboys, Besides, you know as how
they don't think nothn' of me when
you're about. It's dad this and dad
that, till I'm fairly sick of hearln'
them say it."
"Yes, think they're fond of me-"
said poor lIuxtable, with a little break
In his voice
mot that they've got much reason to
be- snapped the woman. "But, then,
children alters takes to them as does
the least for 'em. That's what's so
unfair"
She poured out the tea, and gave the
unhappy iluxtable his meal In silence.
He looked round the room and sighed.
The weeks laundry was suspended
from string overhead, and the room was
filled with warm dampness Not
vestige of comfort was In sight A
bleak, wretched home was this-he re-
fected-cursed by an ill-tempered wife
who had not even the virtues of her
vices. For the average nagglng woman
was generally tidy and clean, but Mrs.
Huxtable was neither one nor the 9th,
er. Equally, tyrannical women fire.
quently made good mothers and brought
up their offspring In the way they
should go, but Mrs. Huxtables complete
equipment for the training of Archie
and Jack consisted of broken broom !
handle, She taught them nothing
which could help them to grow up into
good and useful men, She had, indeed,
spoken the truth when she said that |
unless the father looked after them
their futures would be In peril
After tea lluNtable took out his pine.
This action was always the signal for
unkind comment on the woman's part.
She did not really dislike the smell of
tobacco but she dlslked the idea of her
husband enjoying himself. So she
shifted, groaned and criticised until at
length he knocked out the ashes and
replaced the pipe In his pocket
II wish you was bit more even
he said gently 1T 'ud make
thrgs pleasanter"
When the children came home Mrs.
HuNtable delivered short lecture to
them on the brutality of their father,
rbs Youngsters, however, did not take