The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-10-04
One day Farmer Holt and John Cores

"Waal, amt as independent as
was. My wife seems inclined to run
Farmer Holt changed the subject. /
Later Mrs. Holt dropped in on Mrs
Corey and asked her similar ques-
ton. -
WAL, Mrs. Holt, it would be well
enough If John had any respect Tor
the looks o. the house. He's lived
alone SO long that his home isn't any
more to him than his barn."
When Mr.. and Mrs. Holt compared
notes it became apparent to them that
If the Corey family continued3s they
had begun they would not hang togeth-. :
es 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 'con,
sarnedest woman in the world When
Mrs. Corey met Mrs. Holt she rued the
day when she had left good home 10
keep house for man who was so SEE
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 Helt's 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. .r0hn said he didn't blame
Holt for his share in tying him up
with q 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 har 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 thang 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 ogt their intention, They
found Mr.. and Mrs. Corey al home.
and the coxple, not having had any rea-
son to quarrel with each, other, re-
ceived their guests. II not with cordi'
| atty. at least with common civility.
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
Holt looked knowingly at her husband
who. nerving himself for an effort
after clearing bis throat. said:
II want to say to you people that tn
blame for the mistake that has beer
made Is all on me. mentioned to m!
wife that John wanted to get married
and she reckoned that you two nigh
be help to each other. ! didn'
know that John wasn't used to havin
clean house and
81 didn't know" interrupted Mrs
Holt "that Mandy would make fus
every time there was bit o. dirt lef
on a rag carpet"
"Air you Stain this case or I?'' ash
ed Farmer Holt severely.
Look a-here," said Mr.. Corey, brif
Ting. what do you people mean b
comm yere to interfere between ma
and wifeT"
"Ain't you got nothin' better to d
than thatT asked Mrs. Corey tempet
tuously.
I'VE jist wanted to apologize fo
what we done in bringin' you two t.
gether, seem that you both made
, mistake in putin on double harness. y
who's made a mistaken" growle
Corey.
There hasn't been any mistake,
cried his WIFE
Mrs. Holt was so indignant at TIL
. denial of what had been poured int
her ears and her husbands ears for s
long time that she opened up the d.
bate on high key, Mr.. Corey endea'
oring to drown her words with higl
er one. For time the man threw
an occasional remark. but, finding then
selves no match for the women. dro
ped out, their utterances sounding lii
distant thunder muttering in violel
:. storm.
Finally Farmer Corey deserted, lea
ing his wife to carry on the fight alon
!. She then began retreat, turning hel
and there to fire parting shot. Mr.
Corey followed her on to the pore
while John went out the back door
seek quiet in the barn,
. The tempest was stilled when Mr.
= Holt reached the gate and was not r
sumed. No more reproaches were vi
/, Tied on Holt by Corey or on Mrs. He
:, by Mrs. Corey. There was no int
course between the families for S
d., months. Then one day Mrs. Holt Sc
a mysterious looking box to Mrs. Core
:. 1t was not returned. but note
:, thanks came to the donor, with
t, expressed desire that the past mig
. be forgotten. Within few weeks fro
= that time the stork visited the Corey
. Mr.. apd Mrs Holt sent the baby a s
yer cup and were invited to staI
% as godfather and godmother at Il
% childs christening. After the oeremol
. they returned with the happy paren
= to the latter's home.
n "It beats ALL" said Corey to Ho
a how a little chunk of flesh like tn
n will make lot o other things seem
o little you can't see EN-"
% Reckon you'll find the chunk O. fle
not so little as you think" replj