Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1917-07-10
DOING HER DUTY
BY LOUISE cARBY.


In the kitchen behind him middle
aged woman was clearing off the
breakfast table and putting things to
rights. He whistled and she sang, for
there was no trouble on the minds or
Mr.. Harris and his wife. Their only
child-a daughter Of nineteen-had
been married to Lawrence Marion
three months before and was happy
bride.
The latch of the gate clicked and
the man called to his wife:
"Susan, someone is coming"
"Let 'em come" she replied.
"Hello, Nettie," they both called out
as the daughter turned sthe corner Of
the house.
She walked past them into the kitch-
en-, sat down and put her head down
on the table and began crying.
1t was ten minutes before she raised
her head and wiped away the tears
and said:
81 guess Lawrence and are going
to part!"
"Now, Nettie, what's 1t all aboutT"
said her mother. "Does Lawrence find
faultT
mo, not in words-not to me. But
he told Mr.. Riker the other day that
he thought young man fool to mar
ry."
eff he doesn't find fault In words,
what does he do"
HE hardly eats a thing. He has
got in the habit of going out nights"
where TOT"
HE plays billiards, guess"
'But he never speaks harshly to
your"
Its In his actions. Sometimes I
think he looks at me with contempt.
There is no question but that he Is
sick of his bargain. II Lawrence
doesn't change don't think I can live
with him much longer" sobbed the
bride,
"But he's going to change"
"What's going to change him?"
"You are. Let me tell you some
thing. This is going to be plain talk.
From the time you were sixteen you
were always thinking Of dress and
beauty and gadding around. Instead
| OF mending your own clothes, you put
the work off on me. You wouldn't
help me about the housework so much
as to sweep a floor or set the table.
You didn't make your own bed half
| the time"
"But was a girl, mother"
"Yes, and you are getting your re-
ward. I wanted to teach you house
work for your own good when you
were married, but you had an excuse
every time. You are not making a
home for Lawrence Marion, and he
realizes the fact. I am going home
with you and stay long enough to show
you how to do It,"
| OF course the mother had been In
the daughters house at least once q
week, and each time she could have
found fault with the way it was kept,
but on this occasion 1t looked worse
than ever. She looked around with q
sigh, and then took Off her hat and
sa1d:
1--WE have got to wash the dishes
and sweep up, the first thing"
But Lawrence never seems to no
dee how the house looks"
The dishes were, nevertheless,
washed. wiped and put away, and the
floor was swept. Then the mother
asked:
"when did you mop the kitchen
floor last"
'Why, never mop it. Lawrence
said he'd hire woman some day."
"Pin up your skirt and get at it."
The hopping was done.
"Does Lawrence like steak for din.
ner?" she asked, as they sat down to
rest.
mot very we'll, guess"
Probably not, the way you cook
I'll Do you know porterhouse from
round?"
why. always tell the butcher d
pound and half Of steak"
When Mr.. Marion came home that
evening he had so many surprises In
store for him that he had to take them
one by one. The house was clean
light and airy. He had the best din.
ner he had eaten since he left his
mothers table. He took a peep into
the kitchen and smiled. He was talk.
alive and smiling. and, after the meal
he said to his wife:
"You are dressed up as If you were
going somewhere"
I'VE are going somewhere" she
laughed.
II promised to play billiards to.
night. but will cut 1t out If you want
to go to the lecture at Royal hall
You see, you are in the habit of sit
ting down with a book in the evening
and as / am no bookist l have had to
turn to something else. Yes, Wen GO
to the lecture and have a good time
Lawrence did not have to get ur
next morning and prepare his own bite
Of breakfast. 1t was ready for him
and opposite him sat wife so primped
up that he opened his eyes in wonder
AT the end of fortnight, when Mrs
Harris returned to her own home, hel
husband greeted her:
"Why didn't you stay a whole Year,
Didn't have to-" was the reply.
swell, is there TO be a divorce?"
"When husband is kissing his wife
about twenty times a. minute il doesn'-
look much like a divorce, does it,"
"Humphi"
"Yes, humph. 1 owed duty to thai
girl and I've been paying it,"
Copyright, 1911, by the Mcclure Newspa
per syndicate)