The Holbrook news., 1912-02-23
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.
 ''Till I'm laid in my cofin," she con tinued, T shall never get over the shock of this surprise trip. He was simply inveigled into marrying that grill Happy Yes, of course he act ed happy before me, but he was bull lied into thatl" Mrs. Skidmore sniffed
 "Oh, and after the careful manner in which we raised our poor childi"
 You see" panted Mrs. Skidmore, as she followed her husband up the sta tion steps, T was the last person in the world they expected to have drop 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 I 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, I did not ring the bell when I found that the janitor had left the yes tibule door open. I merely went up.
 Fortunately, or I never would have known of our poor dear boys misery that wife of his had her front door unlocked. Sol turned the knob and stood in the long narrow hall which has made the Bronx apartments so eel ebrated!" Mrs. Shdmore's delicate cheeks were flushed.
 'John, I never want to suffer what l went through that minutel They had not heard me enter, and, glancing along the hall to the kitchen at the end saw-oh, it's too terrible!" Mrs. Skidmore composed herself.
 There was our poor dear son, on his hands and kneesl One hand held a soapy sponge that he had been wiping over a very dirty foorl 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 itl Our poor, poor sonl
 Jack could afford to hire a woman just once a week, that wife of his ex- plained 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 itI Our poor boy, who had never chopped a bit of wood at home in his life or wiped dish for the maidsI
 "AIl that night tossed and worriedI At six the next morning, though had strict injunctions not to get up till was called, went into their two by two living room. Presently who should come in but Jack, hat and coat on and in his arms a paper bag and a bottle of cream! My dear, think of our poor Jack going out for bot tie of cream!
 The delicatessen store was only four blocks of, and Charlotte did so love fresh sugar rolls for her breakfastl My coming had necessitated the extra cream, it seems. He had also a nt- tie dab of clipped corn beef With a broad grin he left me and made for the kitchen, where be percolated cof fee-for Charlottel He set the table and arranged It. Then he called her and she appeared with her hair in a braid and wearing a rose pink dress ing gownl
 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 fastidiousi After the years of breakfasts of golden brown toast which he absolutely demandedi"
 Mrs. Skidmore bit her lips.
 John" she said, weakly, when breakfast was ended, our poor boy washed the dishes. he swept the floors. he made the bedl" Mrs. Skidmore's voice was weak with horror And that wife of his had been playing the piano in the meanwhilel