Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-05-08
Euening Story
MAN MY's ADVICE.
Copyright 1917 by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate)
BY Olive Roberts Barton.

| L ON was grumpy. HARRIET SuOuAu
have been accustomed to it but she
wasn't. She put down her coffee cup
several times to say something, but as
often picked it up again in silence. FL
nally, however she could endure it no
longer. Aren't the cakes good, dear?"'
she asked.
| They're all right"
Has your coffee got cold:'
i NO"
| Would you like an egg?"
No" The morning paper rustled
| impatiently.
Whats the matter then. Tom dear?"
| 1t came out finally as it always did.
Natter" What could be the mat
terri
Il don't know, but you're so quiet"
Il can't read and chatter like some
Women can; It's time for me to go now.
Good-by.' He pushed back his chair,
glanced hurriedly at his watch: pecked
at the top of her ca" and 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 a wonderfully ard
ent wooer. had ceased to care for her.
What was wrong: She was as good
wife as she knew how to be. The cozy
and good taste, and really good cook
presided in the kitchen. She had sac
riftced herself too in many ways to
add to his contentment. She liked cards
but as Tom hated them she had given
them up. She liked movies or the the
alter. but as Tom hated item also she
had given them up. too She liked to go
| out and see people bu: he cared only
for books or his club.
She went to the kitchen.
Jennie" she asked languidly, 'wha.
do we need?'
Sugar and olive oil and SOAP and
mustard an Say Mrs. Fleming, don't
you feel we'll? ?" The big colored woman
stopped washing dishes
yes, I'm all right What else do we
need:"
Jennie, arms akimbo, eyed her mis-
tress. Il don't know what we need, but
I know what you need. Mis- Fleming.
You're all peeked and white and skinny
LOOM, and it amt right. I'm going to
make you some Of my lamb stew was
tellin' you about. It's certainly nourish-
in. I've fed it to babies and they fatten
like little pigs
Harriet shook her head. NO we
can't have lamb. Mr.. Fleming hates
it,"
Jennie cooked her head on one side.
Hates it! Well, let him hate it! Lemme
tell you something. If / had that man
70 yours I'd"
Hush, Jennie But she couldn't stop
the torrent.
I'D show him ! was boss here.
There amt a man in the world won't
walk over his wife if he gets a good
chanel 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-dear knows you haven't
had one for land knows when-an' I'd
let the house go dirty an have good
time, an let him get SO doggone mis-
cradle 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. I know his kind
Mis- Fleming, an | know what's good
fob them. amt denyin' that Mistah
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 on
fertile ground 1t grew and it blossom
ed as Harriett's tears watered it. Sure
ly something was very wrong If Jennie
had noticed. 1t wasn't all her magma
ton. Finally the tears dried and an in
dignant flush replaced her pallor. Her
eyes sparkled with inward fire as they
had not sparkled since her honeymoon,
and her pretty little chin was tilted up
at an angle that BODIED i'll for some one.
'Ill do it," she cried, going to 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 chided. why don't
you ever come over: Can't you and
I'm having the Maxwells and the
Lightfoots: and guess who's here
Dicks 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, any
way"
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, not Tom.
Just me-"
And already thrilled with an excite
ment which left her cheeks/still redder
and her eyes brighter, Harriet put on
her things and went out to shop
Jennie" she said. stopping in the
kitchen, I'm going out to dinner, but
Mr.. Fleming will be here. You don't
need to make that chicken pot pie. I'm
going to cut down table expenses, so
open a can of salmon for my husband
and fry some potatoes, and there are
some cold apple dumplings you can
give him. I'll not be home to lunch
Jennie looked after her mistress with
broad grin. Bless the lamb. II that
amt the best thing I've heard in my
life. III starve him--I'll starve him"
Harriet spent most Of the day in
shops. She bought an evening dress of
lovely old blue that brought out the
deeper blue OF her eyes, an afternoon
dress and stunning little suit. She
bought slippers and shoes at SIS
pair silk stockings. hats, exquisite lin
gerie and gloves. When her money ran
out she charged things. 1t was perfect
orgy of shopping. Had Jennie been
there she would have been astounded
at the size of the blossom her seed of
advice had produced
AT 3 Harriet had facial massage.
her hair dressed and her nails done; at
she went home; at 5 she dressed: at
8 she ordered a taxi. and at $50 Tom
came home TO an empty house and
S,Ip0ar the like IF which he had mt sat