The Washington herald., 1912-03-24
Working Him Hard
Henry Dexter, in the New York Sun.

When Mr.. PilIey's wife met him at the
door that night and kissed him he was
so surprised 0or a momeno thatshe
what he was doing), and when she start
ed to help him OF with his coat Mr..
Pflley recovered his mental composure
and vinked his mental eye.
'Ah. ha-' he reflected. There lie some
think in the wind. Does she want to go
away visiting? Does she want some one
to come visiting US? Or is IT money
again. Well. anyhow. she isn't going
away visiting. and she ISN'T going to
have anybody here and she isn't going TO
get any money out OF me. But all the
same, I'll watch her little game"
And when he found his slippers warm
ing on the radiator Mr.. PilIey said to
himself, "I knew it, And even as he
had winked his mental eye he now began
rubbing his metaphysical hands. and he
had the wise. SNUG look of gentle
man in the audience who knows from the
very hrst that the female impersonator IL
nothing but a man after all.
Did you have a hard day in the city.
will?' asked Mrs. Pilley from the
buffers pantry In a voice that simply
vibrated with tenderness and sympathy
and the devotion OF gentle and loving
wife.
''oh. yes" said Mr.. PiIIey. with a smile
Sardinia, extremely So"
And are you tired, DEAR" she con-
tinued (from the pantry.
Tired" said Mr.. Pilley. privily rap
ping his nose. Tired is no name for
It,"
Never mind" she said. I've got some
thing here that you like"
And when she came, proudly proceed,
ing into the dining room with enough
friend chicken to raise the Siege Of the
Seven Cities. MIR. Pilley said to himself
whip for dessert, too Un bet a doIlar).
But nothing doing, little woman. nothing
doing. Take II nom me-"
Now, when you have eaten that" said
Mrs. Pilley. filing his plate so full that
IL had 10 be cleverly balanced when
she passed It over TO him, you can have
some more"
YES" he chuckled to himself. II know
right well 1 can"
day, dearest?'' she asked with a loving
infection which Is absolutely beyond my
power to describe, unless the description
makes me weep)
We'll. yes" said Peter. in a voice so
muffied with fried chicken that it was
hard to understand him, they have both
cred me some"
''You poor lear" she cried. 'I put the
hassock under the table. Peter, so you
can rest your feet on It."
And with a luxurious sigh, Peter Pilley,
esq, that chicken-fed ornament of soci-
ETY.. lifted his feet on the hassock and
thought to himself: "Yesi Yesi But you
aren't going away. Mrs. Pilley. And you
aren't going to have any Of your people
visit US! And there's nothing doing in
the money line. Mrs. Pilley-take II from
one who knowsr But aloud he only said,
This chicken is mighty good"
I'm glad you like it"' she happily
cried. but leave a little room. Peter.
I've got such a dessert for you
And as for the wise old master of the
house he hid his face behind the breast
OF a chicken 10 conceal his knowing
smile.
There" she cried. running to the re-
frigerator and returning with an enor-
nous prune whip. Look at that
All, but that was something like
cream until it looked like a heecy cloud
DER Mount Olympus. adorned with cher
ries and pistachios until IL resembled
lovers bouquet. and concealing such
wealth of delectation and delight that
when Mr.. Pilley had finished II icon
amore) 1t was all he could do to tottes
from the table and sink into his easy
chair. But through IL all the brightness
of his mind shone out undimmed and in
an memorable mode he thought to him
self. Its too bad I've got to say No
10 her. But there's nothing doing. Mrs.
me-not a centi'
Now, Peter" said Mrs. Pilley after
the things had been cleared away land
she had smoothed his hair and had
scented his handkerchief, you know
Easter will soon be here and shall need
n new dress so that we can 90 to church
together as usual"
Isn't your old dress good enoush?" he
asked. beetling sis brows at once.
She disappeared, and when she returned
she was dressed In what the novelists
call a purple polonaise. The skirt had
border OF soft-botled-egg yellow and two
large sunfiowers had been worked on the
front panel at the places where Mrs
Pilley's knees might reasonably be ex-
pected TO be found. The waist had cum
ming little tail TO Il, artistically set on
with two huge buttons. one mother-of-
pearl and the other father-of-pearl; and
the front of the waist had been operated
upon according to the latest one-sided