Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1913-09-19
WINS AWAKENING

\
wanted to express the superlative Of
tyranny they said: AS bossy as Win
Neffens wife," a
Win Neffens' wife had been Nmed
Serena before her characteristics had
q chance to develop. She was pretty
In birdlike way. with swapping
black eyes and pert twist OF the
neck and general snug, trim round
ness of person that reminded one OF
sparrow. When Win first knew her
he was charmed with her little air Of
proprietorship and the way she ruled
him and ordered him around.
1t was pleasing to think that girl
took enough interes.. N him to act -
though she owned him. Nobody had
ever interfered with his having bic
own way before and It amused him to
let such a scrap Of girl bend him.
4 six-footer and broad in proportion.
to her will. After the novelty wore
of 1t was different. o..
Still, being good-natured and
placid fellow. he endured 1t and was
not particularly unhappy about 1t TIL
the question Of Joining the Antelopes
came up. The Antelopes were primar-
lily fratsrnal order, but they were
fitting up real club rooms, with .
reading room. billiard and card rooms.
and Three Pines had never had any
thing of the sort before.
Up to that time when fell the
shades Of night and business men In
Main street shut up shop there was
no place to go but home, and they,
went If clustering around the eve
ming lamp reading the Daily Clarion,
and the Farm Journal ever palled
they did not voice their boredom. be-
cause the case was hopeless. With
the advent of the Antelopes a great.
light shone out. All the male popular
ton fastened to Join the Antelopes.
Then and there Serena Neffens de-
livered her ultimatum.
Don't you let me hear Of your 60
ing near those Antelopes, Win Nef-
fens!" she told her husband. ITS
perfectly scandalous the way the men
are acting about 1t. I for one am 60
ing to keep my husband at home!
Where should married man be but
home, I'd like to know? Pretty idea,
deserving his wife and family just to
waste money on cigars and billiards
and gossip! You don't see me going
out to clubs evenings. do you? Well,
you don't go, either!"
Win Neffens walked out Of the
house without word, as was usual
" .th him when Serena talked, but he
wore a frown, which was unusual.
Every man In town but himself was
going to Join the Antelopes and he
wanted to Join, also. 1t would be nice
to have a comfortable club to drop
into Observation-Disclosures needn't
have been so peremptory and selfish.
He felt rebellious. It was while ho
was Tuning bitterly that the tempter
in the shape of Ben Sprankle got hold
of him. H.
"S'pose Serena kicked up row, eh?'
asked that astute elderly personage
when Win told him shortly that he
wasn't going to join. Huh! Don't be
an idiot! You join anyhow and she'll
never know it! The boys won't tell
on yeh!"
In fit of reckless daring Win Nef-
fens followed Sprankle's advice and
with the freemasonry Of small
town all the other members were
aware that they we're to keep still
about it at home. Thereupon Win
launched out on his double life.
When he was date to supper he ex-
planned that he had been talking with
a travelling man. Besides, his business
increased SO that every once In q
while he had to go back to the store
after supper to work on the books and
his correspondence.
It wore on Win and he developed
nerves. Serena was always lecturir :
on the sins of the Antelopes. 81 9
called the club a home-breaker al d
said she, for one, wouldn't stand 1t to
way the other women did.
Win was always guiltily expecting
the blow to fall. When Serena did not
come home one day till half hour
one look at her face and knew the
blow had fallen. Somebody had told
her. AS he surveyed her standing
gazing at him breathlessly, biting her
lip, collecting her forces for one grand
explosive attack, curious calm fell
over him, the calm of despair. Then
to his utter amazement, he heard him.
self speaking, or, rather, roaring. He
even pounded the table with his big
fist.
What do you mean." he heard COM
ing from own lips, "by being away
from your home this time Of she day !?
What do yon mean by keeping mo
waiting for my supper? GaddinE
about, goss,ping, neglecting your hus~
band and your duty"
"Wh-wh--why. VIM" gasped his
startled wife. He had never in all the
years even raised his voice before.
II tell you, won't stand it," he
concluded at the end of five minutes
heated remarks that seemed to form
themselves. This Is what drives .
man to clubs! You can get your sup
per and eat 1t alone-as for me, I'm
going down to the Antelopes, where .
man can get little attention."
He flung on his hat and stormed out.
His last sight of his wife showed her
dissolved in tears in the big chair
tears of shock and bewilderment.
"Gee!" said Win Neffens to HIM
self as he stalked down the street with
expanded chest, why didn't I ever do
that before?"
Double Reason.