The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1915-02-19
A DOMESTIC TREASURE
ey ISABELLA D. DALEY.

listened rather YEARLY to her adored
husbands conversation.
In her youth she had been called q
beauty, but IL years of unselfish pam
pering of her family. together with a
constant struggle to get ahead" upon
limited allowance. had merged her
charms into workaday obscurity. She
had become nothing more than a
housekeeper who was careful and
troubled about many things"
Mr.. Lyman did not suspect that he
was not a model family man. He had
grown accustomed to seeing his wife
work from morning until night, keep
ing their home in immaculate order,
making dainty clothing for the chill
dren, and cooking meals to please his
fastidious taste.
On this particular morning, he was
discussing pretty Mrs Hickson, the
wife Of his new partner
"She is really the most delightful
woman ] have met in many.a day." he
said, with candid enthusiasm. "She is
so bright and up to date and young
looking; was surprised to learn that
she is the own mother of Hickson's fif-
teen-year-old daughter. supposed
she was second wife"
81 heard Mrs Hickson say she had
always boarded since her marriage"
quietly remarked Mrs Lyman. "Of
course she has lots of time to take
pains with herself. guess she doesn't
do much but play bridge and flirt."
THAT is very ungenerous, Bess,"
said Lyman reprovingly. Mrs. Hick-
son Is lady of exquisite taste, and
you should not be scandalized because
she is not inclined to be a back num-
her. | don't wonder that Hickson Is
proud of her"
81 don't think she Is as pretty as
mamma" Loyalty declared little Bert
Lyman, whose youthful mind grasped
the inference that his idolized mother
was suffering from indirect criticism.
Mr.. Lyman laughed.
There was a time, son, when your
mamma was daisy in looks, but that
was before she settled down and had
twosexpensive youngsters to take care
Of"
"And a popular society man. added
Mrs. Lyman, with a shadowy smile.
Lyman did not appear to catch any
sarcastic intonation in his wife's mild
observation.
We'll, / must go downtown" he
said, glancing at his watch. "A man
can't linger forever in the bosom Of
his family. By the way, Bess, wish
you would see that my evening clothes
are all right I'm going to an Elks' re-
ception tonight There will be dance
afterward, and that calls for stin
toys"
Are you going, mammal" asked
Vera, the small daughter Of the house
of Lyman.
mo. dear, hadn't thought Of going
anywhere"
Lyman looked up In careless won
der go. of course, If you wish,
Bess. l didn't think to ask you, be-
cause you never care for such af-
fairs"
Mrs. Lyman gave her customary an
swer to her husbands Indifferent in
vitation.
81 think should prefer to stay with
the children" She did not mention
the fact that all her party gowns were
several years behind the fashion.
81 thought So" said Lyman, accom-
panying the remark with light con-
jugal kiss. "Those mullins were tip
top, and the beefsteak broiled to the
queens taste. Nobody can beat you,
Bess, in the culinary department, even
If you don't shine in social functions.
After the children had departed for
school, and the mornings work had
been done. with the inefficient aid Of
the diminutive colored maid-of-all-
work, Mrs. Lyman went to her room.
Seating herself before her dressing
table. she gazed critically at her re-
Election in the mirror.
II am altogether too domestic" she
commented audibly. 81 think I'll fur
bish up a little. even II we go without
a new parlor carpet and lace curtains
in the sitting room"
During the following week, Mrs. Ly-
man went on several secret pilgrim
ages downtown, and heroically prac-
ticed mysterious exercises In the Sc
clusion Of her room.
When Mr.. Lyman announced his in
tention OF taking a trip to Chicago on
business which might detain him few
days, he did not notice that his wife
packed his suitcase with unusual
cheerfulness nor did he think 1t
strange that she made him promise
to wire her when to expect him back.
Chance sometimes assists plotters,
and Mrs Lyman's plans to amaze her
liege lord were aided, beyond her ex-
pectations. by his accidentally meet
ing, on his way home, a travelling man
who was an old acquaintance.
They crowded as many "reminiscences
and jokes as possible into the two
hours they spent together on the train,
but still their fund of anecdotes was
not exhausted.
"As You are going to make my
town." said Lyman, why can't you
put up at my house? ! can promise