The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1915-01-15
CHAPTER vi.
THE CASE OF THE McWINTER FAM
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In room in an ordinary dwelling a
woman sat before a sewing machine.
The low hum of 1t filled the room with
q murmur like that of many bees. The
woman's husband, seated at table
near by, was reading and smoking and
he looked up absently each time the
humming ceased temporarily. He
scowled, shifted and reshifted his pipe.
"Are you crying again. he growled,
laying down the. paper. I'm getting
tired of your constant snivel-snivel."
He rose and walked over toward her
threateningly He shook a finger und-
er her nose. That man has got TO
get out of the house, or I'll know the
reason why. He bothers me every
time look at him. tell you he's got
to seek another boarding house. |
don't want his hang-dog face around
here any longer"
"Hang-dog!" she protested.
That's what l said. There will be
a rumpus if he doesn't
You are wrong; you are wickedly
wrong" said the wife She wiped her
eyes on her apron. Just because he
speaks kindly to me and pets the child
you act as an insane man. I've shaved
for you; I've done everything woman
could What do you do? You sit and
read all day"
That's lie!" the man roared. I'm
not an ordinary workman, and there's
very little work for me to do.
$50 I've noticed" dryly.
II don't want any back talk. All |
say is, that man Smith has got to get
out. | won't have him on the premises
IL! l. &C.,
The tears began to run down the
woman's cheeks again. you were
a different sort of man before you
took to drink"
"Your whining'd send any man to
drink But you are always whispering
and when | show up you break apart
and begin to talk about the weather.
Maybe you think / am fool?''
John McWinter!" she cried, with
passionate indignation.
That's right work up the injured
look. But the martyr stuff doesn't go
with me, Sally. I've got ears and eyes
and I've been using them. He goes at
the end of his week, and that's all
there is to it. He's got the child run
ming around after him as II ne ana
not l was the father
udt y OCC0OSc uC 10 CIV Ay . manu- ~
her and never strikes her unjustly, as
you do"
Hasn't a man got a right to cor
rect his own offspring. I'd like to
know?"
If she gets in your way you box
her ears. II she does not come In
stantly when you call her. you use the
whip. Can yau blame her for not low
ing you as you expect?"
For herself she did not care, she
had no illusions left; but where her
child was concerned, she was some
thing OF q lioness. She did not want
the fairy tale beliefs knocked out OF
the little ones head before her time.
stop sniveling. The man1 coming.
It'd be Just like you To play the beaten
wife when he comes In. Perhaps It
wouldn't be a bad idea to give you .
whack once in q while. Then maybe
you'd have something to SWIVEL about "
The man who was the innocent
cause of this conjugal arraignment
4 came in. his laboring mans lunch has
ket under his arm His expression
that Of man who had done his work
that day faithfully and welcomed the
coming of evening. He nodded pleas
antly. He saw the red eyes OF the
woman squared his shoulders for q
moment and passed on.
"Humph! ] notice that you don't
SWIVEL while he's looking at you.
How can you talk to me like that!'
'I'N talk to you an please"
"You are watching every move
make as II | wasn't good woman.
When married you loved you. You
were an analytical chemist who every
one said would make a mark In this
world. But drink has thrown you on
the reefs. And some times hate you. !"
He caught her by the shoulder and
swung her out Of the chair and raised
his arm.
Here, here, McWfnter!" cried .
voice from the doorway. None Of that
while am in the house. You ought
to be ashamed Of ycurseif.'