The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1916-02-11
The Saving Of
A Household
BY EVERETT P. CLARKE

with sister who had died, and she
was now alone. Helen was her only
child, and to refuse the old lady would
be sacrilegious. For me to refuse my
wife's desire would be equally so.
consented, we'll knowing that If the
mother-in-law remained with us long
enough should be obliged to go else
where.
How does your mother stand on the
votes for women question: l asked
Helen.
"Shes a vigorous anti
Since | made no reply to this Helen
wanted to know why l asked and
when 1 gave no satisfactory reply said
that this would not make any differ
ence, since we were both Indifferent
on the subject.
Mrs. Goodwin came and saw and
conquered. There was no reason for
our not getting on pleasantly together
except that for forty years she had
managed her household and she was
too old to go into any one elses house
and relinquish the habit. If our maid
did not suit her the maid must leave.
This kept my wife changing servants
and me in misery. We finally gave up
trying to keep one, Helen saying that
she thought that, with her mothers
help, she could easily do the work her
self
This made matters worse, because
Mrs. Goodwin insisted on having every
thing done her way. and Helen was
obliged to do it all over again. The old
lady might have made possible our 60
ing out occasionally evenings by TAX
ing care of our little girl, two years
old, but she positively declined to take
upon herself such responsibility. de-
claring that "if the the child should
get the Group what would I do?' New
ertheless when Helen was present her
mother insisted on directing her in her
care of the child.
Something must be done. 1t wouldn't
do for me to tell Helen that i was
connecting plan to get rid of her
mother. In that case I stood good
chance of being the one to leave. L
was obliged to keep my own counsel.
One day announced to Helen that my
Aunt Martha needed a home. There
were many reasons why we should
take her in. What she and Mrs. Gold
win paid us for board would pay cur
house rent and leave us something
over. Then, too, her dear mother
would have companion, and it was
quite likely that the two Of them would
consent to take care OF Lucy while
we saw something of the world in the
evening.
Helen didn't see it in that light, and
for the first time was obliged to gain
my own way by domineering. But |
thought that it was better to risk a
break at this time than have one GER
tainly later, for am not one Of those
patient. forbearing men who will sui
fer my life and my wife's life 10 be
spoiled by some one who had no bust
ness to spoil it.
|
peared that the reason had given for
her coming showed my wisdom. Miss
Goodwin took a great fancy to my
aunt, and it seemed that the two old
ladies would become very chummy.
l knew better.
At the second dinner we all had to-
gether l said, Aunt Martha. what's
news in the suffragist campT
i Helen looked at me with wide open
eyes. Evidently she saw my plan.
! She crouched as one waiting for a
storm to burst.
You don't mean," said Mrs. Gold
win, that you are in favor of women
voting?'
Il certainly am" replied Aunt Mar
tina, setting her lower jaw.
THAT certainly can't make any diff
ference to you two interposed Helen.
You don't have to discuss the suffrage
! question"
Certainly not" put in, well know
| ing that | had thrown a bomb be-
| tween them with a fuse attached that
would certainly bring about an explo-
sion sooner or later.
! The two ladies maintained for some
time a discreet silence. Whether they
would have continued to do so | don t
know. but | do know. that they would
not if | could prevent. The next day
at dinner | said
Aunt Martha. / see by the morn
ing's paper a statement that in those
states which have adopted woman's
suffrage
"CharleS.'
Ny wife looked a demand that de-
sist. ! desisted. Having touched a
match to the fuse. waited for the ex-
plosion.
1t came.
Il have seen those statements" said
Mrs. Goodwin. land they are conclu.
sive."
81, too, have seen them" said my
aunt. "and they are absolutely false"
Fearing that my presence might
dampen the argument. left the table
The next day when came home from
business Helen told me that my aunt
must leave. ] took the ground that if
either left il should he her mother