The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1912-01-18

TO come TO that idea" But while
the words came smoothly to his lips
be wondered how careless Goldie
could ever manage. even with the
help of Mrs. Ford, 10 get up that
dinner at such short notice.
Five dollars for dry eleaning?"
said Mr.. Ford, explosively. as bill
vas presented 10 him some weeks
later. This is a mistake. Mrs
Ford never has any dry cleaning
| done"
But when he inquired into the
/ matter she said. carelessly: Why.
! yes, the bill is all right You reEem-
/ Der those white waists your mother
! gave me last Christmas? Well. |
couldn't seem to wash and iron them
! to look right, so I had them dry
cleaned. They are beautiful now"
And here is a bill for three dol
| lars for the services OF Jones, the
caterer. What about that?"
20, had him in that evening you
brought Mr.. France to dinner. 1t
certainly is a reasonable charge, If
| he only wants three dollars. I ex-
| pected him to ask five"
Mr. Ford looked anxiously at his
economical wife, but she was placidly
sewing, and gave no sign. Have
you had the account from Terry and
! Ridge?" she asked. 81 am anxious
! to see what they charge. Other sea-
sons Goldie and / worried along with
those parlor curtains you brought
me from New York, and they never
looked right; but this year I sent
them to the new laundry. Mrs. Hart
ford says they do beautiful work, and
I believe it since the curtains were
sent home. They look like new"
mo, it hasn't been sent in" Mr..
Ford managed to say.
well, the curtains were sent home
| late this afternoon. Now that they
look so we'll I'm going to have the
walls and ceiling of the parlor done
over did intend to clean them with
that new preparation Mr.. Everett
| was telling about, but l haven't the
time. I shall send for Forbes to-
morrow and select the paper"
Just about the time he was about
Mrs. Ford was losing her mind, Mr..
Ford heard a sentence or two evil
IDENTIFY not intended for his ears, and
he sat boldly down to eavesdrop be-
hind the parlor curtains.
my dear" Mrs. Ford was saying to
caller, there was time when l
worried along just as you are doing,
and had just such results. Mr.. Ford
| was always telling me that this is an
age of specialists. but I never took
| his advice. Many a time I worried
| the poor man with a recital of my
| domestic woes, but finally I picked
up enough courage to take the
plunge, and regret that didn't do
| it long ago. Instead of worrying
along with incompetent maids and
washerwomen, I just send the gar
ments to professional cleaners, and
call in expert helpers when occasion
demands. You know Mr.. Ford and
my relatives were always buying ne
pretty, fragile things I colldn't trust
| to ordinary servants, but now I feel
! perfectly safe when send them out"
'But-isn't it expensive?" faltered
the caller.
81 suppose so, but the satisfaction
more than makes up for the increased
cost Mr. Ford always said when he
had anything to be done he called in
professional workman, and found
| that course cheapest in the end, so
find his advice sound. 1 have much
more leisure now, and just send the
bills to him."
When the caller departed a very
humble, thoroughly repenant man
confessed to the sin of listening, and
his wife freely forgave him. at oc
CURED to me, Helen he said, peni-
tently, while you were explaining
my advice, that If had economical
a little with you in the way of hir-
ing helpers there might have been
more in the housekeeping allowance
to meet the increased cost of living.
and the added household expenses.
And, another thing, after this I'm
going to let you select your own
things, though you are kind enough
to say have good taste. IL you could
buy things that were not too delicate
for the ordinary worker, perhaps you
would have more leisure and more
satisfaction. Mind! I'm not giving
you any more advice. I've done
enough Of that. After this we'll eco
nomize and sympathize together. and
know things will be much better"
$50 do l." said Mrs. Ford, with a
hearty kiss. ''It just broke my heart
to spend all that money, but I saw
that it had to be done. Your advice
was getting on my nerves, and I
couldn't stand II. Yes, I know 1t
was wicked not to tell you my in
tentions, but you'll forgive me- And,
Fred, / knew you were behind that