Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-11-28
DOING HER DUTY
BY LOUISE cARBY.


with MILESTONE.
In the kitchen behind him a middle
aged woman was clearing off tn
breakfast table ard putting things t
rights. He whistled and she sang, TO
there was no trouble on the minds o
Mr.. Harris and his wife. Their onl,
child-a daughter Of nineteen-ha'
been married to Lawrence MariOl
three months before and was happ,
bride.
The latch of the gate clicked ant
the man called to his wife:
"Susan, someone is coming"
"Let 'em come" she replied.
"Hello, Nettie," they both called GU
as the daughter turned the corner O.
the house.
She walked past them into the kitch
en-, sat down and put her head dowI
on the table and began crying.
1t was ten minutes before she raised
her head and wiped away the tear:
and said:
81 guess Lawrence and I are going
to part"
"Now, Nettie, what's it all abOut|
said her mother. "Does Lawrence fine
fault?"
mo, not in words-not to me. But
he told Mr.. Rlker the other day that
he thought young man fool to mar
ry."
"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, guess"
"Dut he never speaks harshly to
your"
"It's in his actions. Sometimes
think he looks at me with contempt
There is no question but that he is
sick of his bargain. If Lawrence
doesn't change I 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"
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. 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 a
week, and each time she could have
found fault with the way it was kept,
but on this occasion it looked worse
than ever. She looked around with q
sigh, and then took of her hat and
said:
1--WE have got to wash the dishes
and sweep up, the first thing"
'But Lawrence never seems to no
tice 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 lastT
"Why, I never mop it. Lawrence
said he'd hire woman some day."
"Pin up your skirt and get at it."
The mopping was done.
'Does Lawrence like steak for din
ner?" she asked, as they sat down to
rest.
mot very we'll, I guess
probably not the way you cook
it.! Do you know porterhouse from
a round?"
"Why, l always tell the butcher
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 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
1--WE are going somewhere" she
laughed.
II promised to play billiards to-
night, but will cut It out if you want
to 60 to the lecture at Royal hall.
You see, you are in the habit of sit
ting down with book in the evening
and as I am no bookist I have had to
turn to something else. Yes, We'll go
to the lecture and have good time"
Lawrence did not have to get up
next morning and prepare his own bite
of breakfast. It 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, her
husband greeted her:
"Why didn't you stay a whole year?"
"Didn't have to-" was the reply.
swell, is there to be divorce?