Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1917-07-19
MARDIE's EFFICIENCY


AAit SAkut VI Out VI tlD1p CuAAApntDtt
kitchen cabinets always filed Martin
with strange, inexpressible longings.
There was just enough of the house
wifely in his thoroughly masculine
makeup to make him feel convinced
that, were he woman, there would
be deep content In making biscuits and
bread and cake and pies In front Of one
Of those devices, with the neat little
rows of spice boxes oil ranged most
conveniently to hand, where sugar and
flour could be measured out In cup
fuIs and sIfted at the simple turn Of
q lever and where all the dishes TINT
anyone might need for cooking for two
were within easy reach. And At the
department store that Martin passed
every night on his way home from
business. there was a whole window
fun Of those tempting, soul-disturblng
cabinets, ranging from little oak ones
at $1D.74 to white enameled affairs at
5000. A woman stood beside him
looking longingly at them, too, and as
Martin saw her he sighed. IL Marble
only liked kitchen cabinets.
After Martin had INDUCED his dream
for housewifely JOY in this fashion.
dinner at the boarding house. TO which
he always brought a strong, brave APP
petite. seemed less sufficient and less
satisfying than ever.
That night as Marble was sltting
reading -re-reading. Of course--one OF
Ibsen's plays Martin. as usual. was
BURIED in the evening paper. But his
longipgs pursued him even there. For
there. spread over a half page Of the
evening paper, was an advertisement Of
those tantalizing kitchen cabinets with
cuts almost as tempting as the cabl-
nets themselves and column OF de-
scription Of all their virtues.
He felt Marbles eyes on him and.
no heard just the suggestion Of sob.
whats the matterI Aren't you
happy7" Martin soothed. After Mar
dies sobs there had been the tempest
Of Marbles tears and then came tho
soothing Of them. I'm 10 glad you
asked that" Marble frightened, "be.
cause I'm not just exactly happy and
/ didn't want 20 have to tell you. I've
been making plans--and yon are al.
why's 20 busy with that h0rrid old pa
per and the stock quotations and tho
real estnte reports saw you reading
those reports this very minute-that |
pever Eet dine to tell you. Even II
am a woman" abe went on. -therp u
no rAsOn why l should not be an In
dustrfai factor. There IN no reason
why I should not become efElcient;
there IL no reason why should De
parasite" To Martin al this sound.
cd deadly familiar. He had heard II
lots Of times before and he could en-
dure no more
II know" he murmurcd 'rvc heard
that dope before"
'But not Just thls,' Marble persist
ed. "You soc industrial conditions
have changed women's position"
Martin dropped hts head IN HIS
hands pcevis,sly. "oh, dent" he was
almost fierce rs ne spoke. Don't so
into detniis. What put that sort Of
thing into your head, anyway
Yesterday | went to a conference
Of the woman's College club"
Lord" Martin was ono 81 tho men
who believed that no disllked all col.
lego women on principle. .cut that
out. J don't want 90 hear e."
Marbles tears were dry. swell.
since you won't listen 10 explanations"
she said with hauteUr, "thore won't be
any. ] want 10 tnke a course Mt col.
lege. feel thnt my education has
been neglected. wnnt to become 81.
fcient. l want to-" She was trying
20 explain again.
'Not with my money you can't take
college COURSE" was Martins YER
dict. "You know my prejudice"
Nobody said anything about your
money" snapped the wife. The fact
that she had never spoken In that tone
before made II all the more cutting,
nov that Il came. II may be poor,
but I'm not pauper. rye got few
hundred dollars ia the bank and III
use that and ask no questions. I was
going 70 explaln--but you wouldn't
understand"
This took place one evening 10 Sep
tember just when the law classes NJ
the university were forming. And be-
cause Marble was gone from home Ave
or six hours every day, Martin knew
that she had kept her threat II she
ever studied at home, the books were
always well concealed In the evening
and Marbles conversation betrayed
nothing Of the subject on which her
mind must be dwelling during tho
hours OF the day. One day ia May be
found letter ON his desk. He opened
Il. Department OF Household Arts"
was the heading on the folded sheet
within. 'srhe honor of your company
is requested at luncheon TO be given
Saturday al one o'clock by the gradu.
aung class in household management.
The luncheon is 10 be prepared and
served entirely by members Of tho
class"
When he reached the domestic sci.
ence laboratory at the university Eve
minutes ahead of time. no Marble was
10 be seen.
8 The instructor Of the class was there
10 greet the guests.
"Oh. yes. Mr.. Stone. SO glad 10
meet you,' she was saying after he
had inquired for his wife. "She viii
be In presently, but she is 80 capable
that she Is in charge Of the luncheon.
That is what delays her In the kitchen.
Did she tell you TINT next year we ARE
going to make room for her as part
time lecturer7 Mr.. Stone, you are
such a fortunate man TO have a wife
who Is 30 home-Ioying."