Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-05-01
Epening Story
DOING HER DUTY.
BY Louise Corby.
Copyright, 1917, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate)

A man. somewhat middle aged, sal
on the back steps Of house In the
outskirts of the town of Royalton anc
whistled as he put an edge on his az
with milestone.
In the kitchen behind him middle
aged woman was clearing off the
breakfast table and putting things tc
rights. He whistled and she sang, fol
there was no trouble on the minds Of
Mr.. Harris and his wife. Their only
child daughter of nineteen = had
been married to Lawrence Marion
three months before and was a happy
BRIDE
The latch of the gate clicked and the
man called to his wife:
Susan, some one Is coming
Let 'em come" she replied.
Hello Nettie," they both called out
as the daughter turned the corner OF
the house.
| She walked past them into the kitch-
en-, sat down and put her head on the
table and began crying.
my stars, Nettie. but what is it?''
exclaimed the mother.
| HAS Lawrence broken Leg" asked
the father
I'll can't talk now" Nettie sobbed.
The father and mother went out on
the steps and he whispered in her ear:
| ID, you think he came home drunk
last night?'
"He never even drinks ginger ale"
"They might have had a quarrel
| about the cat or something"
mo use guessing. Wait till she has
had her cry over"
r. roe Inv ro(p,,$oe hafcpo fho hriHo
raised her head and wiped away the
tears and said:
~ guess Lawrence and l are going
to part!"
Nov, Nettie, what's it all about?"
said her mother. Does Lawrence find
FAULT"
''No. not in words-not to me. But
he told Mr.. Riker the other day that
he thought a young man fool to
marry"
IF he doesn't find fault in words,
what does he do?"
"He hardly eats thing. He has got
in the habit of going out nights"
Where to-"
"He plays billiards l guess
But he never speaks harshly to
your"
"1t's 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 does
not change I don't think | 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 something
This Is no surprise to me. I've been
expecting it every day for month"
"Then you knew that Lawrence was
was -"
Il knew that he wouldn't stand for
it" si Esa
why. mother"
ooh, 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 homework so much
as to sweep floor or set the table. You
didn't make your own bed half the
time"
But I was a GIRL mother"
Eyes, 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"
But Lawrence said he would be glad
to live on cheese and crackers" plead
ed the young wife.
81 don't blame you for believing him,
but all young men Of his age are soft.
At any rate. in his case he has tried
from crackers and cheese and you've
got something coming to YOU"
"She's coming home!" said the faith
er.
On the contrary, John Harris, am
going home with her to stay at least
two weeks"
do you mean it, mother"
81 do You are not making home
for Lawrence Marion, and he realizes
the fact. I am going to stay long
enough to show you how to do it, and
your father must cook his own meals
and make his own bed"
"But-but-" began the daughter.
mot word. Nettie. I'll be ready in
twenty minutes"
Of course the mother had been in
the daughters house. at least once a
week and each time she could nave
found fault with the way 1t was kept.
but on this occasion 1t looked worse
than ever She looked around with a
sigh, and then took of her hat and
said:
I'VE have got to wash the dishes and
sweep up, the first thing
But Lawrence never seems to notice
how the house looks"
The dishes were, nevertheless. wash
ed, 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 with many a
sigh and a groan, but It was done.
While the wife worked at it. the mother
overhauled the pantry and the bread
box, and found basketful Of scraps to
throw away.
Does Lawrence like steak for din
ner?" she asked as they sat down to
rest