Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1917-02-22
MAMMY'S ADVICE
BY OLIVE ROBERTS BARTON.

no longer. Aren't the cakes good.
dearT she asked.
They're all right"
HAS your coffee got coldT'
"No." The morning paper rustled
impatiently.
whats the matter then, Tom
dearf" II came out finally as 1t al
ways did.
"Matter2 What could be the mat
terf'
II don't know, but you're so quiet"
II 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 ut his watch,
pecked at the top of her ear and a
moment later slammed the front door.
Harriet watched him from the par
lor window, her heart contracting
cruelty, her throat sching with pent-up
emotion. Tom. her dear husband,
Tom. who had been such a wonderful
ly ardent wooer, had ceased to care for
her. What was wrongi She was as
good a wife as she knew how to be.
The cOzy little home glowed with
cleanliness and good taste, and real
ly good cook presided In the kitchen.
She liked cards. but as Tom hated
them she had given them up. She
liked to 20 out and see people but he
cared only for books or his club.
She went to the kitchen.
Jennie" she asked languidly,
"what do we need?"
Jennie, arms akimbo, eyed her mis-
tress. 81 don't know what we need,
but know what you need, Mis- Elem
ing. You're all peeked and white and
skinny lookin', and it amt right. I'm
going to make you some of my lamb
stew was tellin' you about. It's GER
tainly nOurishin'."
Harriet shook her head. mo, we
can't have lamb. Mr.. Fleming hates
It."
Jennie cooked her head on one side.
Hates it, Well. let him hate 1t!
Lemme tell you something If / had
that man O. yours I'd" ...
"Hush, Jennie" But she couldn't
stop the torrent.
I'D show him l was boss here.
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 and let him get so doggOne
miserable 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. know his kind,
Mis- Fleming, an l know what's good
fOh them"
"That will do, Jennie. Get your
dishes washed!'' And HARRIET walked
out of the kitchen with dignity.
But the seed was sown and IL fell
on fertile ground. 1t grew and II bios
sOmed as Harrietts tears watered it.
"Pll 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 Wltherspoon had
called her up. II haven't seen you for
ages. Harriet" she had chided. Can't
you and Tom come tomorrow evening
70 dinner? I'm having the Maxwells
and the Lghtfoots; and guess who's
here-Dick's cousin. Harry Semple.
your old sweetheart What's that?
Tom doesn't like dinner parties? Oh.
| know that he's an old stick. but can't
you come, anyway"
Harriet had refused. but now she
went to the phone.
GLADYS, have you asked an extra
girl yet for tonlght?"
"Yes but she can't come"
"Then I'll be there. No. not Tom.
Just me-"
Harriet spent most of the day In
shops. When her money ran out she
charged things. 1t was a perfect orgy
of shopping.
At $50 Tom came home to an empty
house. ....
Jennie gave him the note Dear
Tom. I've gone to have dinner with
Gladys. Don't sit up. I'll be out Late.
Harriet"
He was angry plain, unadulterated
furious He drank some coffee, left
the house. went to the club and played
poker. .-f $751;
They met at midnight as Harriett's
taxicab drew up 10 the curb and Har-
vey Semple opened the door to help
her out.
Inside the house her husband flashed
on the light and looked at her. where
did you get the coatr' he asked
coldly. .."
II bought It," she replied. slipping II
from her shoulders.
"Dress new. toor
Eyes. Do you like TT / bought q
lot of new things today" .tti..
"You did? Whyr'
"Oh, I just took a notion. made
up my mind that IL you didn't care for
society wasn't going to bury myself.
SO / got some clothes. and I'm going
20 have "A snIandid tinla0