The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1915-02-11
WAS SORRY FOR TOM
BY EUGENE LEITCH.

GitherS paused in the doorway, the
picture of amazed protest. In one
hand he held the evening paper and
magazine, and in the other a cigar.
On his feet were slippers, around his
form was a smoking jacket. A straight
line drawn to the nearest object from
him would have ended at the easy
chair comfortably turned upward to-
ward the electric lamp on the table
It was chair that Githers had sat in
after dinner for more evenings than
he could count. Why" he repeated,
cant l go in there and read? What
do you mean, mother?"
Mrs. Githers approached him and
picked a thread off his sleeve.
Wouldn't you just as soon sit up
stairs with me-" she asked brightly.
I'm going to sew"
What of it?" demanded her hus-
band. Don't you usually sew down
stairs here? Don't we always sit down
stairs? Why"
my goodness, john" exclaimed
his wife impatiently. Wouldn't you
like a changer"
"Elmira," said Githers, firmly.
you're hiding something-tell me at
once!"
Simply nothing" said his wife.
Only Grace is going to have a caller
this evening and I wanted to let the
child have the living room-oh, it's one
of the boys in her class and it's all
right, so you needn't glare. She's
seventeen and must have friends
among the boys as other girls do. Not
that she wouldn't just as soon have
US there. but we'd embarrass them!"
What the dickens!" growled 9th
ers, turning toward the stairs. "Pret-
ty state of things when I can't use my
own chair! Callers at her age!
Umph."
Mrs. OTHERS got him nicely ar
ranged in her room and as she reached
for the mending basket she paused,
hand in air. The front door had
slammed and vast whistling herald
ed the entrance of the son and heir
of the household. Mrs. Githers went
and leaned over the banisters.
Rob-" she called in dulcet tones.
"Hullo!" came the inquiring an
swer. Where are you? Where is
everybody Who's sick?"
Come up" said his mother.
Wouldn't you like to sit up here with
father and me?" she wheeled as he ar
rived at the door Here's a nice
comfortable chair and"
What's the matter with the living
room?" he demanded in amazement.
why"
Mrs. Githers sighed. q never saw
such stupid men folks" she declared.
"Why can't you do things without
having them all explained I'd like
to know? Grace has a caller coming
and"
"Whoopee-e-e!" shouted Grace's
brother, making a dart for her door.
Who's your beau, sis? Who've you
got a crush on"
Mother" came Grace's indignant
voice. Make Bob stop, I think he's
perfectly horrid! I haven't got
crush on anybody and you know it.
Bob Githers, and I perfectly hate you,
so there now!"
"Chlidren!" cried Mrs Githers. I'm
surprised at both OF you. Stop It at
oncei"
well, I'd like look at the chump
who's so important that I'm barred out
of my happy home" protested her son.
Gee! There isn't anything to do up
here, I'm going OUT"
mo, please DON'T" urged his dis
tracted mother I'll read out loud to
you and dad!"
Mother" called her daughter. fran
tically. Come and tell me how my
hair looks"
Left to themselves Githers and his
son stared dismally at each other.
Some doines. eh?" queried young
Githers. "Tommyrot, I call it! Will
sis be doing this every night forever'n
ever till she's married off? I'm going
to move if she does,"
This chair said his father ir-
ritably, was built for boa constric-
tor not a man. And where are the
matches?"
Mrs. Githers came back and Grace
floated downstairs. She played
piece on the piano exactly as though
she expected no one and then she
wolked about The men folks f1dgeted.
Then the telephone rang.
Presently Grace called dolefully up
stairs: Tom can't GOMEZ He's got
an awful cold! Isn't that hor-r-idi"
Others and his son reached the bot
tom of the stairs simultaneously.
MY but I'm sorry for Toni" said
Others as he grabbed the easy chair
Her Cherished Secret.