Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-03-08
Of
the House
A Story For Young Men About
to Be Manned.
By EDWARD B KNIGHT
Copyright by American Press Assoc
citation. 1911

Sam Martindale and Theodore Trask
had been engaged week There had
been more billing and cooling and kiss
ing in that one week than there would
be In FIVE years of the married life be
fore them. Then Sam called halt to
look practically at the future. He was
not a man to drift through life; he pre-
ferred to prearrange everything. II
seemed that there was a great ocean
ahead Of him and Theo. of comfort or
suffering. Of anxiety or discord OF con
tentment or unhappiness. and across
this ocean II became him as the bead
of the house. the pilot. to steer their
bark. Before taking a voyage does not
the mariner famiiiarize himself with
the areas o5 probable storm and sun.
shine. of navigable water and sunken
rocks? Why should not be as COM
mander lay down on a chart the exact
course the family ship should sail?
To begin al the Bottom, was he to be
the commander? The very fact Of bis
asking himself the question shows the
depth Of his understanding. II Gen
eral is to conduct a campaign II Is
necessary that his word be the law
for his army. Martindale realized at
once that If be were to pilot the family
bark he must have no interference.
Having thus settled the matter By
deliberation. Martindale concluded to
breach the subject to his iancee. mere
~ as a preliminary reconnaissance in
order to feel the enemy.
"Theo." he said gravely, '.since you
and l are to pass our lives together
II may be well for us to come to an
understanding on one important point
In every government, every business,
every family. in order that the wheels
may run smoothly. there must be one
head l would like to know how you
feel about the matter"
1T seems to me-" said Theo after
thought that we should both be
head"
Martindale was not prepared for
what be considered flying right in the
face Of the fundamental principles Of
order What was the family but a
miniature state. And the idea of
state having two governors! Absurd.
] Theo saw by the expression OF his
face that she had assumed too much.
SO she FASTENED to say: why. dearie.
don't you know that woman Just
loves to lean on man for guidance?
You're to be head. of course"
. This was a great relief to Sam. He
| took his fiancee In his arms. kissed her
and said:
Sweetheart. You have no idea how
harry you've made me by saving that.
Our future happiness depends upon it.
There must always be a head 70 a
family. And how hard it would be for
both of US If you had disposition to
usurp the husbands place"
81 would never think of such a
thing"
He gave her dozen kisses and left
her. filled with JOY that the basic prin
| ciple of married Iife-in his case-had
been settled without word Of dis
pute. Indeed. it eliminated all the rest
Of the problem. for since he was to he
undisputed captain he had no doubt
that he could guide the family bark
safely.
The couple were married. There was
big wedding-gifts galore. rice throw
ing. trip and at last settling down
in a home of their own During the
engagement Theo had never expressed
an opinion. much less made a decision.
that would have interfered with Sans
position as heir apparent to the SOW
ereignty Of the family
! Tba1 kn5 ton~ b<ov~ nth
charitable association Of which she
was the secretary. One morning a
fortnight after the couples return
from their wedding trip she woke up
with an aching Of the bones In a
feverish condition and in other ways
indicating that care must be taken to
avoid severe illness. perhaps death
But there was to be a meeting that
day of the charitable society. and the
secretary was expected to be there.
Sam was astonished to see his wife
preparing TO go out in storm. already
III and with the probability Of coming
back to face pneumonia.
What do you mean by even think
ing Of going out - he exclaimed.
"Why. dcarie they cant get on with
out me-"
They will get on without you.
forbid your going"
ooh. couldn't possibly stay at
home I'll wrap up well. wear my
rubbers and keep dry. There's not 4
bit of danger"
Martindale sat with his morning pa
per on his lap. looking fxedly Mt his
wife. while she continued to put on
her belongings with as much sang
froid as II she had not heard the COM
mand of he- lord and master. When
she was ready she took up an nm
brella. bent over her husband. kissed
him and went out.
well. BY Jove. like that" ex-
claimed Sam to himself as soon as the
door was closed behind his wife.