The herald., 1917-03-01
MAMMY'S ADVICE
By OLIVE ROBERTS BARTON.

no longer. Aren't the cakes good,
dear!" she asked.
They're all right"
Has your coffee got Cold?'
"NO." The morning paper ru~tIed
impatiently.
What's the matter then. Tom
DEAR 1t cane out finally as it al
ways did.
Matter? What could be the mat
terri
Il don't know, hat you're 50 quiet"
Il can't read and chatter like ON
women eau. Its tiine'f for me 10 20
now. GOod-by." lie pushed back his
chair, glanced hurriedly AT his watch.
pecked at the top of her ear and Il
moment later slammed the front door.
Harriet watched him from the par
Tor window, her heart contracting
cruelty. her throat aching with pent-up
emotion. Tom, her dear husband,
Tom. who had been such IA wonderful
ly ardent wOoer, had ceased To care for
her. What was wrong: She Mas rs
1911 " wiz a. sAlC nv" h'N ~ 'N-
The coy little home gIowed with
cleanliness and good taste, and a real
~ good cook presided in the kitchen.
She liked cards. but as Tom hated
them she had given them up. She
liked To 20 out and see people but he
cared only for books or his club.
She went to the Kitchen.
Jennie" she asked languidly,
what do we need?"
Jennie, arms akimbo, eyed her mis-
tresS. II don't know what we need.
but | know what you need, Mis- Flem-
ing. You're all peeked and white and
skinny lOOkin', and it amt right. I'm
going to make you SOme of my lamb
stew l was tellin' you about. Its GER
tainly nO~urishin'."
Harriet shook her head. NO, we
can't have lamb. Mr.. Fleming mates
it,"
Jennie cooked her head on one side.
Hates 1t! Well. let him hate il!
Lemme tell you something. If had
that man o yours I'd"
Hush, Jennie" But she couldn't
stop the torrent.
I'D show him | was boss here.
Do you know what I'd do? I'd starve
i'm and bang i'm around, and spend
all the money he gave me on pretty
dresses and let him get so dOggOne
miserable an lonely an sick o Twin
he'd come an eat out O. my hand with
thankfulness an cry fob joy when |
spoke kind to him. / know his kind,
Mis- Fleming, an / know what's good
fob them"
THAT will do, Jennie. Get your
dishes washed" And Harriet walked
out of the kitchen with dignity.
But the seed was sOwn and it fell
OF fertile ground. II grew and ii bios
somed as Harriett's tears watered it.
"I1l do it" she cried, going 10 her
desk and getting out her check book.
She ran her eye over the balance of
her house money-just enough for the
month. She was thinking of the day
before when Gladys WitherspoOn had
called her up. II haven't seen you for
ages, Harriet" she had chided. Can't
you and Tom come tomorrow evening
TO dinner? I'm having the Maxwells
and the L~ightfoots; and guess who's
here-Dick's cousin, Harry Semple.
your old sweetheart. What's that?
Tom doesn't like dinner parties? Oh,
l know that he's an old stick, but can't
you come. anyway"
Harriet had refused, but now she
went to the phone.
GLADYS, have you asked an extra
girl yet for tOnight?"
Yes. but she can't come"
Then I'll be there. No, Lot Tom.
Just me-"
Harriet spent most Of the day in :
shops. When her money ran out she
things. 1t was q perfect orgy
Of shopping.
At $50 Tom came home to an empty
house.
Jennie gave him the note: Dear
I've gone to have dinner with
Don't sit up. I'll be out late.
Harriet"
He was angry, plain, unadulterated
furious. He drank some coffee, left
the house, went to the club end played
poker.
They met at midnight as Harriett's
taxicab drew up to the curb and Har-
vey Semple opened the door to help
her out.
Inside the house her husband flashed
on the light and looked at her. where
did you get the coat?' he asked
~ bought it." she replied, slipping It
from her shoulders.
"Dress new. too?"
YES. Do you like 1t? I bought a
lot of new things today"
You did? Why?"
"Oh, l just took a notion. I made
up my mind that if you didn't care for
/ wasn't going to bury myself.
So l got some clothes. and I'm going
% have q splendid time"
Impudence! Toms heart gave a
great p~ulsating throb. What Il tan
little woman she was! His
contrary masculine temper melted into
"You dear" he cried, suddenly gath
ering her into his arms. II adore
you!"