The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-09-24
Ono day Farmer Holt and John Corey

do you like matrimony so far as ye
got?'
''Waal, / amt as independent as
was. My wife seems inclined to run
things"
Farmer Holt changed the subject.
Later Mrs. Holt dropped In on Mrs
| Corey and asked her similar ques-
ton.
"Waal. Mrs. Holt, it would be well
enough II John had any respect for
the looks o. the house. He's lived
alone SO long that his home isn't any
more to him than his barn."
I When Mr.. and Mrs. Holt compared
notes 1t became apparent to them that
II the Corey family continuedsAs they
had begun they would not hang togeth-
eI long. Mr.. Holt accused his wife Of
having been too active in making the
match, and Mrs. Holt retorted by ask
ing him who started the matter. Since
he had done so in reporting to her that
John Corey wanted a wife he pursued
the argument no further.
Matters in the Corey family went
from bad to worse. Whenever John
met Farmer Holt he abused him for
making a match for him with the ICON.
sarnedest woman in the world" When
Mrs. Corey met Mrs. Holt she rued the
, day when she had left good home to
keep house for man who was so set
In his ways that an OK team couldn't
move him. The recitals Of family diff.
culties were from time to time poured
into Farmer Hollis ears by John Corey
and into Mrs. Hollis ears by Mrs
Corey. Now and again the Hollis were
reminded that they had made the
match. John said he didn't blame
Holt for his share in tying him up
with virago, but this did not cause
the latter to feel especially well salts
fed with himself for having done so.
Mrs. Corey did not hesitate to throw
all the blame for her mistake" on
Mrs Holt
In time these vituperations became
so marked that the Hollis concluded
that they must do something to stop
them. The only thing they could think
Of was to apologize for having inter
fered to bring the couple together. One
evening after Mrs. Holt had cleared
the supper table and done the dishes
they walked over to the Corey farm
to carry out their intention. They
| found Mr.. and Mrs. Corey at home,
and the couple. not having had any rea-
son to quarrel with each other. re-
ceived their guests. if not with cordi-
atty, at least with common civility.
1 The visitors talked for time about
| the crops, what they were going to put
into the ground for the next year and
other ordinary matters. Presently Mrs.
i Holt looked knowingly at her husband,
/ who. nerving himself for an effort.
after clearing his throat, said:
! II want to say to you people that the
blame for the mistake that has been
made IS all on me. l mentioned to my
wife that John wanted to get married,
and she reckOned that you two might
/ be help to each other didn't
know that John wasn't used to havin'
clean house and
II didn't know" interrupted Mrs.
Holt. "that Mandy would make a fuss
every time there was bit O. dirt left
on rag carpet"
! Air you Stain this case or IT' ask
ed Farmer Holt severely.
! Look a-here," said Mr.. Corey, bris-
thing. What do you people mean by
comm we're to interfere between man
1 and wifeT
! "Ain't you got nothin' better to do
than thatY asked Mrs. Corey tempes.
! tuously.
I'VE jist wanted to apologize for
what we done in bringin' you two to-
! gether, seem that you both made a
mistake in putin ON double harness."
who's made mistaken" growled
| Corey.
There hasn't been any mistake"
I cried his wife.
! Mrs. Holt was so indignant at this
denial Of what had been poured into
her ears and her husbands ears for so
long time that she opened up the de-
bate on high key, Mr.. Corey endeav-
oring to drown her words with high
er one. For a time the man threw in
an occasional remark. but, finding them.
/ selves no match for the women. drop
ped out, their utterances sounding like
distant thunder muttering In violent
storm.
! Finally Farmer Corey deserted, leav.
ing his wife to carry on the fight alone
/ She then began retreat, turning here
and there to fire parting shot. Mrs.
Corey followed her on to the porch,
while John went out the back door to
seek quiet in the barn.
The tempest was stilled when Mrs.
Holt reached the gate and was not re-
sumed. No more reproaches were WIS.,
tied ON Holt by Corey or on Mrs. Holt
by Mrs. Corey. There was no inter-
course between the families for six
months. Then one day Mrs. Holt sent
mysterious looking box to Mrs Corey.
1t was not returned, but note Of
thanks came to the donor, with an
expressed desire that the past might
be forgotten. Within a few weeks from
that time the stork visited the Coreys.
Mr.. and Mrs. Holt sent the baby a sill
yer cup and were invited to stand
as godfather and godmother at the
childs christening. After the ceremony
they returned with the happy parents
to the latter's home
1t beats ALL" said Corey to Holt
how a little chunk of flesh like that
will make lot o other things seem so
little you can't see EN-"
Reckon you'll find the chunk n, fosb
not so little as you think" replied