The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1915-03-31
A DOMESTIC TREASURE
BY ISABELLA D DALEY.

Mrs. Lyman sat at the breakfast Ia
BILE in her 99-cent calico wrapper,
which was clean but unattractive, and
listened rather YEARLY 10 her adored
husbands conversation
In her youth she had been called a
beauty. but ~ years OF unselfish pam
pering OF her family. together with a
constant struggle To get ahead upon
a limited allowance, had merged her
charms into workaday obscurity She
had become nothing more than
housekeeper who was careful and
troubled about many things.
Mr.. Lyman did not suspect that he
was not a model family man. lie hau
grown accustomed to seeing his wire
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 tf-
teen-year-old daughter. | supposed
she was a second vile
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 hergelf ! guess she doesnt
do much but play bridge and hirt
THAT is very ungenerous. Bess,
said Lyman reprovir ely. Mrs. Hick'
son is a lady Of exquisite taste. and
you should not be scandalized because
she is not inclined to be back num-
Der. I 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 time son, when your
mamma was a 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 mia
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, mamma? 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. I didn't think to ask you. be-
cause you never care for such ar
fairs"
Mrs. Lyman gave her customary an
0Ntl " itI uusDdllh
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-
iuEal kiss. Those mullins we're tip
top. and the beefsteak broiled to the
queens taste Nobody can beat you
Bess, in the culinary department, even
II 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-ofall'
work. Mrs Lyman went to her room.
Seating herself before her dressing
table, she gazed critically at her re-
Election in the mirror.
81 am altogether too domestic" she
commented audibly 81 think I'll fur
bish up little, even If we go without
a new narlor carpet and lace curtains
in the sitting room"