The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-08-25
The Head Of the
House
By ELENOR HOLMES

/ VAennI<e over your
tyrannize over met Why, mother,
what do you meanY'
I mean just what l say. William
IL a tyrant. Didn't hear him refuse
20 give you the money you needed for
your fall hatr'
martha thought moment, then smil.
60. You heard me ask him for * for
nat He said he would not give me
90 Tor l couldn't get much of a hat
Tor that. he gave me 80"
oh. ne did, did he? He probably
old that to make you feel easy at hay.
ing to go without a new cloak. Ten
dollars for hat saves $40 for cloak. "
But l don't need a cloak. I spent
800 for one last November"
What! That old thing with a sheen.
skin collar! 1t isn't at for a servant
girl to wear"
why, mother, dear. that collar IS
mink. and the cloak is as good as new"
That's not saying much for it. You
| are the shabbiest dressed woman |
know of. When l was your age made
your father pony up for what wore.
l told him it would be time enough for
me to dress shabby when I'd got old.
| didn't intend to look Hike a bundle
OF rags when was young and hand
some. AS soon as we were married l
let him understand that wasn't to
be his slave. And that's what every
wife needs to do right of The longer
she puts on the harder it's going to be
to get the upper hand"
But, mother, don't want the upper
hand. VIII and I manage our affairs
jointly"
eff your father would have listened
to me we would have been rich today
OF course l couldn't go into his store
and run it; had too much to do al
home. The consequence is he was al
ways buying goods he couldn't sell and
trusting persons who wouldn't pay
and that's the reason I've had to be
contented to be poor mans wife
But when I had him at home I tell
you made him toe the mark"
The young wife smiled. She knew
her mothers idiosyncrasies, and she
knew, too. that actors are not usually
takers. She considered her mother
harmless, and instead of being infu
enced by her she humored her.
"You must remember, mother" she
said, that all women don't have the
frmness that you have"
IAN right. If you want to take a
back seat and let man ride rough
shod over you. For my part, I DOM
intend to let any man boss me-"
Now, during the last words of this
dialogue Mr.. Bumbleton came into the
house and walked upstairs. His
wife's hearing was not of the best, and
she was not aware Of his approach
On reaching the door of the room
where mother and daughter were talk
ing he paused and looked in. His
wife's back was to him, while his
daughter faced him. When his wife
spoke her last sentence he smiled al
Martha, then, assuming a severe ex.
preston, walked into the room.
Amelia" he said to his wife stern.
ly, II thought l told you to have the
lock on the front door fixed. I've been
fumbling with it for q long time. I
come home tired with business, think
ing l have a wife at home to attend
to these little necessities, and, behold,
nothing is done. Why didn't you do
as / told your"
"Why, Henry, forgot It"
Forgot I'll Do you consider that
any excuse for neglecting your du.
ties?'
"Now, Henry, I'm awful sor"-
"Sorry! Does being sorry prevent
my struggling to get into my own house
half the afternoon1 Hereafter I'd have
you to understand that when tell you
to do anything want you to do It."
"I'll telephone for the locksmith at
once" And she started for the booth
Come back here. Don't you know
you can't get a workman after 5
O'Clock? What's the matter with you.
anyway t~
During this storming the father cast
occasional glances at his daughter, who
frowned her orders for him to desist-
At this point she broke In:
Papa, you are very unkind. Mother
didn't feel well this morning and
told her she had better lie down and
take a rest while made her cup OF
tea. She didn't eat much breakfast,
you know. There now; that's q good
papa! Don't scold any more"
With this she went to her father and
put her hand over hs mouth.
Every well; for your sake, my dear,
III overlook your mothers negligence
this time, but II It occurs again.
He got no further. for his words
were stopped by kiss from Martha.
At that moment Marthas husband
came In.
whats upr he asked
"Oh, nothing much" replied his IA
ther-in-law. 81 just found it necessary
to exercise my authority as head Of
the house. l would recommend you to
begin your wife's training early"
'Thatn do, papa" said Martha.
"You needn't trouble yourself to In
struct my husband as to how he shall
treat me. I'll attend to that"
"Just So" Then to his wife, is din