The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1912-07-18
Why She Lost
Patience

John" said Mrs. Skidmore as she
alighted from the train, IF you could
Just see what our dear son has to put
up With" There was a suggestion Of
grief in her voice.
It'll I'm laid in my cof1n," she CON
tinued, Il shall never get over the
shock of this surprise trip. He was
simply inveigled into marrying that
girl! Happy! Yes. of course he act
ed happy before me. but he was bull
lied into that" Mrs. Skidmors
smiled.
"Oh. and after the careful manner IN
which we raised our poor child"
You see," painted Mrs. Skidmore, a.
she followed her husband up the sta
ton steps, Il was the last person in
the world they expected to have droE
down on them in New York. But that
and the fact that reached their apart.
ment In the Bronx at 20 minutes to 10.
at night, gave me an insight
When reached New York I did
not call them up from the station, but
got cab and went right up to the
house. To increase their surprise still
more, did not ring the bell when ]
found that the tanitor had left the yes.
Thule door open. / merely went Up.
Fortunately, or l never would have
known of our poor dear boys misery
that wife of his had her front door
unlocked. So turned the knob and
stood in the long narrow hall which
has made the Bronx apartments so cel
ebrnted!" Mrs. Skidmore's delicate
cheeks were flushed.
John, never want to suffer what
had not heard me enter, and, glancfng
along the hall to the kitchen at the
end saw-oh, it's too terrible!" MIS-
Skidmore composed herself.
There was our poor dear son, on his
hands and knees! One hand held
soapy sponge that he had been wipfns
over a very dirty floor! The other"
Mrs. Skidmore shuddered-well, that
wife of his was airily perched on the
sink, smiling down on him, and he had
grabbed her ridiculously little hand
and he was kissing it! Our poor, poor
son!
Jack could afford to hire a womaH'
just once a week, that wife Of his ex.
planned when our greetings were over,
and she laughed. She had never scrub
bed floor in her life, and Jack was
a man, and stronger, so he did 1t for
her. Anyway, Jack loved to do tts
Our poor boy, who had never chopped
bit of wood at home in his life OF
wiped dish for the maids!
IAN that night l tossed and worriedr
At six the next morning, though
had strict injunctions not to get up
till l was called, l went into their two
by two living ROOM Presently wins
should come in but Jack, hat and coat
on and in his arms a paper bag and
bottle of cream! My dear, think
of our poor Jack going out for bot
tie of cream!
The delicatessen store was only four
blocks off, and Charlotte did so love
My coming had necessitated the extra
cream, it seems. He had also a lit
tie dab of Clipped corn beef. With a
broad grin he left me and made for
the kitchen, where he percolated cot
fee-for Charlotte! He set the table
and arranged 1t! Then he called her
and she appeared with her hair In a
braid and wearing rose pink dress
ing gown!
Think, John, to come to that after
the way we always dressed for break.
fast, after my making the girls prepare
bacon for Jack each morning. because
he was so fastidious! After the years
of breakfasts Of golden brown toast
which he absolutely demanded"
Mrs Skidmore bit her lips.
John" she said, weakly, when
breakfast was ended, our poor boy
washed the dishes, he swept the floorB.
he made the bed!" Mrs. SkidmorenH
voice was weak with horror And
that wife of his had been playing tlls
piano in the meanwhile!
by that time 1t was necessary fer
llul u IGdVS III WOlh' AAC hlbSCN LhNE
cheek In pecky fashion and, talk
Ing that creature in the hall, said good
by to her for eight minutes by tbs
clock! She takes her lunch In q
grill near by. They get dinner IN q
Bronx cafe. And our poor boy"
Mrs. Skidmore reached for her hue
bands hand. John, our poor boy lev
blissfully, madly happy with that girl.
like slave for her, denying
himself everything for her!" There
was silence for moment Then MRS
Skidmore smiled through her tears
Yes, John" she said, that's the
way We were, as you say. But what
gets me out of patience is the way wa
Jack for % years when he'd
nave been Just as happy without IT,"