The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-01-06
MARTYRS OF SUBURBlA
BY FRANK FlLSoN.

Copyright. 1914. by W. q. chapman.)
Young Mrs. Raleigh cast a furtive
look after her husband as he disap'
:peared at a run round the corner OF
the lane. Then she sank down into a
chair and had a good cry.
They had been married a month,
and were in full possession Of their
suburban home.
when we are married, dear, we will
live In the country" her husband had
said to her. mo noisy. grimy city
streets for U.s."
Eyes, DEAR" Dora had answered.
"And we will have chickens and rose
trees"
OF course, it was possible to procure
help from town-not locally, since all
the girls drifted into the factory, five
miles away, by the screech of whose
whistle the Raleighs set their watches.
But maids would not stay: they gen.
orally set down their bags, shifted,
and took their departure. So young
Mrs. Raleigh did her own cooking and
sweeping. g.
The chickens died Of the pip, e1'
cept three, which died Of the gapes,
and one, q rooster, which Dora had
subsequently seen in the backyard OF
Henry Foulkes, the colored man who
tried to make the vegetables grow.
The electric light bill was twice as
high as they had calculated, and gas
seemed to cost a dollar a cubic foot.
No wonder Mrs. Raleigh had a good
cry before she started seeding the grit
out Of the local, grocer's seeded
rnisinsl
The hardest thing was to put on an
Of cheerfulness when Henry
came home. That night she dried her
eyes and practiced q welcome smile
until she could do no better. Then
she sat under the honeysuckle with
her garden hat on, which was the way
her husband liked to see her.
When at last she saw him coming
up the lane she was surprised at his
detected look. And there was no doubt
about it-Henry positively slouched!
The minute he came within a stones
throw Of the front door the SLOUGH dis
appeared. He appeared spry and
springy. He positively reeked with
enthusiasm.
"And how have things been going,
dearest?" he inquired.
Finely, dearest" answered Mrs. Ra.
leigh. There is a chance Of getting
q maid next week. too. Uncle John
writes from New York that he is
thinking Of sending his wife's maid
into the country to regain her
strength. She has been somewhat run
down, you know. Only there's some
thing wrong with the furnace, dear.
It.won't draw any more"
1T never did draw" said her hps-
band, ruefully. II guess it's the coal"
$50 / had to get a cold supper" his
wife concluded. !
They ate their dinner in silence. An
evil thought was growing rapidly in
side Mrs. Dora's pretty head and she
fought it back for all she was worth.
After dinner they crouched over the
cheerful oil stove and stretched out
their hands to the blaze.
Dora" said her husband, rather
shamefacedly. II had lunch with
Griggson today In his new apartment
on Riverside drive. He has the cutest
little place imaginable and NJ trouble
with the things that bother us-heat.
ing and lighting, He laughed at me
for country Jay. Naturally he doesn't
understand. II he could come home
and see you under the honeysuckle-"
! TT will be fine when 1t blooms,
won't it, dear?"
"And the clematis has positively
grown. I measured it yesterday, and
It is an iach longer than when we set
it in. Well, as I was saying, those
poor city fellows don't know what
life means. They think 1t consists
of going to theaters-"
Eyes, and having lobster suppers
afterward," said Dora Raleigh scorn-
fully.
"And taking taxicabs and seeing the
cheerful mean cheerless lights Of
the city. And having a lot Of noisy
people round In the evenings instead
of enjoying the calm and quiet Of the
country"
"And-and going out to supper
when they feel like It, and-and see.
ing the picture galleries, and the park.
:and-and musical evenings" said
Dora, Historically.
"And not having to run for trains In
the morning" her husband continued.
"They don't get the benefit Of the
fresh country air. They don't half
live. What with their entertainments
and late hours and friends always
dropping In and"
Henry! Don't!" screamed Mrs.
Dora Raleigh, bursting into h~ysterical
tears.
Dearest! What is 1T" demanded
her husband, holding her In his arms,
while q wild light Of incredulous hope