Evening star., 1914-11-14

curtains. The holes were darned She
saw the clean floor. You forgot the loose
spots in it's brightly secured yellow
planks. She saw the white tablecloth-
1t would not stand another darnlns.
Doubtless it did look pleasant to ZERO
coming in from days warm iouIisiig
| on a river bank. Perhaps if it didn't
| look so pleasant. Jenny set her lips
| together i'll a peculiarly firm way, She
Topped the fish in the frying pan.
Put in plenty of butter, lazliy
| urged Ferd through Tobacco smoke. i
| like 'em crisp
Jennys lips tightened and she drew
long breath, as though she were be-
ginning something. Il can't" she saia,
calmly. Tn going to sell this week
butter to get sugar to can berries.
"All right" assented Ferd. good-na-
turedly. Just as you say, girly. 1t
was very hard to quarrel with Ferd.
Say. by George. I clean forgot you
asked me to spade up that ground for
late potatoes. Remind me tomorrow
no, not tomorrow. / want another try
at that pickerel. But the first of next
week"
4 WILL" said Jenny. They ate sup
per pleasantly. Ferd carefully took
the bones from a small piece of fish
for the baby. After supper he insisted
upon wiping the dishes for Jenny. But
she said. carelessly. Never mind, III
let the dishes go till morning..
Sure" agreed Ferd, Il would. It's
too hot tonight to fuss with the greasy
things" Then he milked the COW and
lounged on the small front porch till
bedtime. Jenny sighed. Would he
care"
1t was three days before he noticed
anything unusual. It took Jenny three
whole days to get her clean. neat abode
into condition even remotely resem-
bling the Naggerlys. But she did it.
She did not sweep the floor. The dishes
stood in repellent, unwashed heaps. She
took the white curtains down and did
not hang them again. She flung rub
bish over the yard. Ferd gathered it
it out again. She did not make the bed
except at bedtime. Secretly she cried
and could hardly endure to look at it.
But she persisted. She knew of no
failed, why, then, life itself would be
failure.
At the end of the fourth day Ferd
was puzzled and his amiability les
Don't you feel like working"
Jenny stretched her arms lazily. "Oh,
l feel all right Why"
Why: repeated Ferd. in amaze
the house and yard. Then he asked:
Where did YOU put my shrts?
couldn't find a clean one"
.oh. didn't wash this week." yawn-
ed Jenny. Il didn't feel like it."
81 believe you're sick,''
Another week went by. And then
Ferd, still puzzled, wondering and anx-
ious. began to do the work that Jenny
neglected. Il just can't stand this
house. he said. apologetically. And
now I know you're sick" He picked
up heap of dishcioths from the floor
He swept off the stove. Jenny saw his
face crease with distaste I've got so
hate to come home from fshing," he
chaffed. Maybe if you'd get some iron
and wine, JENNY
Jenny laughed coldly. with what ."
''Oh, I'll get a days work somewhere
to get enough money" quickly and af-
fectionately.
Since he would not understand, Jenny
told him. Il got tired of keeping the
house homelike-with nothing" brief
"Oh. Jenny That was all he said.
But he did not finish sweeping off the
stove. Instead. he angrily flung out of
the house. Jenny sat somberly in a
rocker and waited. 1t was long after
dark when he came back. His face
was sullen. He tossed his hat upon
the table. where the supper dishes still
stood unwashed. He sullenly filled his
pipe. Then. I'm going to work in the
morning for old man Bayne.'
Are you, said Jenny, listlessly. She
had won, but she wondered if the win
ming We're worth while. Would home
ever be the same again? In the vic
tory something had gone out of even
her old tolerant love for Ferd. She
looked somberly at him.
Perhaps he read what she felt in her
unhappy eyes. He dropped the pipe and
pulled her roughly from the rocker
into his arms. Don't look at ME that
way, Jen,' he begged. I've learned. /
was mad, but 1 know 1 got what was
coming to me: And you won't have to
do 1t again. I never realized that YOU
were doing all the pulling and 1 was
only walking by the shaft"
oh. Ferd." Jenny sobbed, happily. eff
you knew how I loathed this terrible
mouse: Come on. let's clean it to-
night THE END