Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1909-01-07
Words to
the Wise
By GERTRUDE LEWIS.
copyrighted. 1908. by Associated
Literary Press.
By GERTRUDE LEWIS.

They had welcomed the chdHse ~
Ben's business affairs which required
his removal to California, and as they
boarded the train shat was to take
them on The first stage of their journey
Lefty brcathed a little sigh of RELIEF.
II suppose it's wicked, she said soft
IL. but l wish we were going to China
or Japan
"What's the use?" asked Ben, with a
laugh she would follow US out there.
The last thing she said was that If you
grew homesick 10 wire ticket ana
she would come out at once
Lefty sat up very straight in her
seat
Ben Melville" she warned Impress
ivcly. If You ever dare send such a
message III never speak to you again
Il won't, he promised teasingly,
unless you need punishment
Thereafter impending quarrels were
checked when Ben irrcleyantly inquir-
ed If there was telegraph blank
handy. The threatened trouble always
ended in a laugh.
The first six months of California life
seemed like dream. So different was
everything from what it had been in
the east y flower garden that bloom
ed the year round was new to the little
New England girl. and Wah Ling, once
his oriental makeup was mastered, was
like gift of the gods After quick
succession of raw Immigrants of all ma
tionalities the Chinaman was a revela-
ton.
Silent footed. competent and scrupu-
lousy neat. Wah Ling was great re-
lief to the little houSekeeper, and Mel
vile declared his home to he a para
disc with thirty dollar a month angel
in charge.
Then the blow fell Lefty met her
husband ut the door of their little
home with an expression on her face
that filed him with alarm.
WHATS wrong, little woman| he
asked anXi Gsly. as is bad, DEAR"
ut coUlG' he worse she sobbed as
he gatherc, her into his arms Mrs
Nook S coming"
Wire h,r not IT," he said sharply,
Il know thai shc's your slrpmother,
darling, but that doesn't onlitle her
to come out here and make life miSer-
able. ! should not think that she
would want 10 You don't even call
her mother"
'She doesn't mind a little thing like
that sobbed LEFTY. she writes that
the doctor says that her lungs are
weak and thar six mcuths in The mild
California eir is Just what she nce,,s.
She's coming to stay with ms because
dad can't afford to send her out here
and pay her board too"
"Wire her not to come" repeated
Ben sternly But Lefty shook her
head.
eve can't" She walled, "She start
ed the day after she mailed this, ana
she'll be here tomorrow"
"Then Wen have to make the best
VI IT. H''lu btu' VIII luc peculiar
tightening Of the lips that marked his
displeasure. Perhaps we may find
some way Of housing her elsewhere.
Let's have dinner The situation will
look better after we have had some
thing to eat"
But even Wah LiugS perfect cook
ing did not bring the customary grasp
of contentment though he had done
his best, because he HAD ecnn that his
mistress was worried.
He moved about the dining room i'm
his spotless white costume like some
accomplished ghost and took a dislike
TO the new guest before he had seen
her because she had made the mis- tress
cry
But his dislike became personal
when he entered The dining room the
following afternoon. Mr. N1ol, Ind
arrived only half hour before and
she had not been appraised Of the EN-.
lployment Of q Chinese "log"
THE persons IN his might closnpsw
she cried. eyiug Wah Iiu.s snow.
garments with dnraron NV daar
Lefty, your father wears those things
10 sleep in,
at is the native costume" cyplu-
ed Lefty. III is very cool ana com
Portable"
IT'S indecent" commented Mrs
Nook. and Wuh Ling srovlcf.
4 melancholy trio ..f ru tE,. ......