The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-07-12
THE N STORY
MAuvE D1MITY.

er liked it since the day Hiram mar
ried her and brought her there. But
her first protest had brought no re-
ply; her second had drawn a storm
of wrath.
She had cried for a while secretly.
Then Hiram's more powerful person.
atty had crushed hers into acquies-
cence, and her life had swung. into a
drab routine of helping to make
money that she never could spend.
When the supper was ready she
called Hiram. He waited to straight
en- another counter and lock up. Then
he came upstairs. whistling. The
cheerful, boasting whistle was the n
spark needle to fire q revolt that had
smoldered for twenty years. II
wouldn't mind" she whispered to her.
But there's no reason, none at ALL"
Fair day." Hiram admitted. as he
plunged his heavy. satisfied face into
a basin Of water and rubbed 1t vigor.
ously with a towel. THAT store is
awful dusty. though; guess tomorrow
night We'll scrub it good"
Matilda Harris bought three
dresses" said Hetty duly. as she
poured out the coffee. School teach
ers make pretty good wages" Wist-
fully.
If she buys thirty, she won't get
married." said Hiram, with a laugh.
Gee! but she's go a sharp tongue"
But he did not tell that Matilda had
paused and told him irritably that his
wife was all tuckered out. II used to
beau her around a hit" he added.
you. I'm glad I didn't get her. Shed
wear the whole store on her back"
OH" said Hetty queerly. She had
a clear vision of Matilda in her place.
But the vision did not show Matilda
asking Hiram If she could have a
dress Of mauve dimity. For a moment
she wished that 1t had been Matilda
instead or herself whom Hiram had
chosen. But there were things to re-
member that Offset his closeness. She
knew that in his own way Hiram loved
her. Once when she had gone on a
visit the only visit in twenty years
he had come after her because the
rooms owe the store We're too lone
some without her.
1t was the next morning that old
Mrs. Hasty. coming in to exchange the
velvet remnants that she had bought
the day before, told her that Matilda
Harris was going to clerk in Jones
Emporium as 10 o as school let out
the end of May. Amt she h one
to make money. thought" cackled
Mrs. Hasty. You'd think she'd be
tired gu teaching all year. but she
says she can't idle. and he's offered
her $40 a week. Matilda will make a
good saleswoman. Most with an adj
miring look. "as good as You, Mrs. AL
bers. Guess Hiram would shut up the
store if you'd quit"
oh" said Mrs. Alhers. breathless-
ly. She had lain awake half the night
thinking what a foolish. helpless
woman she a Now, there was an
Illuminating flash of her real value.
Ten dollars a week-and Matilda had
no experience.
At noon Hetty Albers went upstairs
fuls. then went down and Hiram came
up and ate his. And then she went
up again. got a book from the dingy
old bookcase and sat in a rocking
chair.
Hiram was busy %unpacking a case
Of calicoes and there happened to be
no customers in. But presently. when
two Women entered and. while they
were waiting. another, he looked
around impatiently for Hetty. She
was not in sight. He left the case and
waited upon them. then went in
search Of her. At sight of her calmly
reading in the middle of a Saturday
he gasped. Are you crazy?" he de-
manded angrily. This amt Sunday"
I know it, calmly.
There's customers in the store and
I've never got that case checked"
I've quit" said Hetty. and turned
another page. II heard Matilda Har-
ris wants a place to clerk. You better
hire her" Her voice was even and
Hiram did not notice that the hands
which held the book were shaking.
Jones car afford to pay her $40 a
week and he doesn't make as much as
we-as you do
For two long minutes her amazed
husband looked at her. Slowly he
realized that the labor troubles OF
which he read in the newspapers had
invaded his life. A strike! He had
never dreamed that Hetty would
strike.
The big doors below opened and
closed rapidly. Evidently the store
was filling with the afternoon crowd.
He glared. Hetty outwardly was quite
calm. And, like other distract en-
ployers, Hiram. capitulated.
How much."h asked painfully,
do you want?"
Eight dollars a week." Hetty gen.
erously conceded.
"Wha-a-at!" roared Hiram. Below
the doors opened and closed. More
customers were coming in, Hiram
gulped. swallowed. choked. "All
right"