Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-03-27
One WOm1dN's
Story
BY Carolyn BeeCher.
CHAPTER VI:

HAD discharged the maid again,
and we were once more alone The
- dinner we had just finished was
execrable, and Robert was in a wretched
humor.
The trouble with, you. Margaret, is
that you were ruined at home"
Spoiled, suppose you mean,h l re-
turned frigidly.
NO, ruined! Absolutely ruined! Hope
Iessly. untitled for life by over-indul-
gence i'm unnecessary things, and under
indulgence in the things that count in
making a mans home comfortable: The
earth wasn't made for your special pleas
ure, neither for merely a footstool. but
for you as we'll as others to do serious
work" ~-
You know l had never been obliged
to do anything, never had been taught
to cook and do mental work! l never
supposed you married me expecting me
to do such things; you could easily have
hired them done-perhaps more cheap
ly than you can support me-!
Its too late to talk about that now
l married you, and L should like you to
take little care for my comfort"
l did not tell him that only that morn
ing l had spent weary hours over the
stove trying to learn to make some SIM
pie dishes to please him, only to have
them failures, and SO thrown away; that
] had burned my hands, Redeemed my
face and rasped my temper doing it,
hoping to surprise him. l only winked
very, hard to keep the tears back and
said coldly:
LAS you have married me, you will
have to take me as l am
l. know now that had ! told him how
desperately | had tried, how tired and
discouraged | was he would have been
all that was kind and loving; but from
my attitude he Judged L didn't care, and
so said things that hurt, things that sank
in and ranked for months afterwar s..
This was the nearest a real quarrel
we had ever had, and it left both of US
singularly unrepentant. 1 knew Robert
felt aggrieved, and l felt so. hurt. and
discouraged that 1 would make No
Napces.-. -.... p. .-.. 81.
The next morning after an almost
silent breakfast, from which Robert had
escaped as quickly as possible, I left
everything just as it was. sotled dishes
on the table, and in the kitchen, beds
unmale. and the house generally in,
state of confusion, and going to the bank
Edrew out some money. Then:I found my
way to an intelligence office. The woman
that kept it almost frightened me out of
my Wits asking 50 many duSSllOHS'
had always supposed the mistress was
the one to be pleased. but l had to re-
adjust all my rpTeconceived- ideas on
the subject.
Finaliy. after over an hour spent in
being questioned and in replying, start
ed back home this time accompanied by
capable looking woman, who said she
could cook we'll enough to suit Senator
Plunkettt's wife, who was the most par
3; I1I In, N fASSpd
she could suit young thing like you'
ma am" -" ~
So Matilda and 1 made a bargain.
She was to cook. wash and iron and
make Roberts home comfortable for him
for $35 a month.
That night we had the first really well
cooked meal we had had in weeks. Rob
ert was late in coming in' so could not
ask any questions until after we were
seated at table and Matilda in spotless
cap and apron had left the room.
MY! but this tastes good"' he eX-
claimed as he bit into a juicy piece of
steak done. to a turn. Where did you
get herr
Where one usually hires that sort
Of person, in an employment office" l
returned, not yet ready to forgive him.
How much?" his mouth full of crisp
sweet potato. g." 49, go p. r.' eel
"Thirty-five dollars"
"Jehoshaphat! Do you think can
stand that?" munching a hot biscuit,
light as a feather. '" ..t
mo, but l can better than your fault
finding Then, the good dinner, - the
spotless table, and general air of clean
illness and comfort Matilda had already
evoked had it's effect also upon me, and
l told him, I'VE might as well give up
and board or else have some one capable
of doing the work. I prefer to live here
and keep Matilda; if you prefer the 9TH
err we will commence TO break up to-
morrow" . $685..
Just then Matilda brought in lus-
cious apple pie. and coffee. and put them
on the sideboard until she had cleared
the table. That hot apple pie was more
than Robert could stand.
wen stay here with Matilda just as
long as we can possibly afford it, he
announced. -. .,.. .- g.. .
Matilda is my affair. I will pay her.
It is only. right since she is doing what
you consider my work.
"Oh, come now, Margaret. how can you
be disagreeable when you have had such
a good dinner. 1t was fit for. the gods"
he declared cheerily.
After dinner we found a cosy fire in
the CRATE and the general air of COM
fort that had pervaded. the dining room,
now transferred itself to the living
ROOM Robert lit his cigar, and leaned
back in his chair contentedly watching
the rings of smoke for a few moments,
then said emphatically:
This is comfort!
So ended my first lesson in realizing
that man must be fed. That no home
could be happy with poor, badly cooked
meals. Right then and there deter
mined that Matilda should teach me
every single thing she knew - @.'-''-
But good resolutions, they say, are
made only to be broken, and mine were
no exception. l really intended to learn
to keep house, but there was plenty of
time, and Matilda did everything so well
that we were perfectly comfortable
without my exerting myself. Then, too.
she rather resented my being in the