Grainger County news. (Rutledge, Tenn.) 1917-current, 1918-08-22

was fiancee you was making pres
ent to, instead Of staid, sensible
wife,"
"Well, you see, Winnie and / are
about as silly and sentimental as we
were when we were only engaged" re-
sponded Hal Devon. tits these deli
cate attentions that please the wom-
en--howers, q box of sweetmeats, q
pretty collar pin. 1t isn't much, but
it lifts the wife out Of the ordinary,
recalls old girlhood days and makes
her happy"
"a woman's home is her idol,' quot
ed practical Wade Guthrie. Provide
for that first"
Sometimes 1t gets to be prison.
What do you do for your wife on her
birthday"
"Give her something useful, Of
course. Last year it was sewing ma
chine"
ITO give her more work to do, eh?'
swell, she wanted it and appreciated
It. When the birthday came around
last week 1t was carpet sweeper"
"And what does she give you on
such occasionsY
"Oh, box of ties; year before. last
| q seal ring. She never forgets me.
I'm wanting q watch fob. I calculate
It will come along next week. You
see, our birthdays are near together
Guthrie will be giving his wife a
coal hod or stepladder next time,
If something doesn't reform him." OBJ
served Hal to his wife that evening
recounting his colloQuy with his fel-
low clerk at the bank.
Winnie Devon and Myrtle Guthrie
had been schoolmates and saw good
deal of one another in these later
days. Wade Guthrie was model man
in his habits and reputation, but he
had fallen victim to the old-time fall
lacy that to be "a good provider" be-
gan and ended the duty of a husband.
Myrtle had never complained, but
more than once Winnie had noted q
wearied expression upon her face, the
sure sign Of dull home life. Eve
nings at least twice week Hal took
| Winnie to some entertainment. Wade,
slippers and pipe tray close to hand,
read and smoked, while Myrtle silent
ly sewed or mended, and then he
dozed in his chair until bedtime.
He was proud of her housekeeping
capabilities and Dragged of the same,
but he had been spoiled as the only
son of a family of sisters, was selfish
in his exactions without realizing 1t,
and withheld unconsciously from his
wife those superficial, but heartsoine
little attentions that keep woman
young.
1.-THE pink in Myrtle's cheeks is be-
ginning to fade" Winnie intimated to
sister Of Wade few days later.
Don't you think she stays In the
house too much?"
II know it," promptly agreed the
outspoken sister-in-law of Wade. HE
has settled down into a regular rut
and has pulled Myrtle into 1t with
him."
ALSO he has forgotten how to act
the lover, and he is starving her dear
little heart. Let US become crusaders
in waking him up. Next week is his
birthdayw
"Yes."
"You think up all the gifts you imag-
ine would please him most. You've
spoiled him, that's what's the matter.
Do you want to rouse him up for his
own and Myrtle's sake? Then-listen,"
and q low-toned consultation ensued,
which made them talk and look like
plotters.
Hal Devon kept his eye on Wade
upon his birthday. Practical and I'M
poetical as was Wade, the fact that it
was his natal day inspired him ito
perk up somewhat" as Hal expressed
1t.
Usual supply of gifts, I suppose"
he remarked. with feigned indifference
to Hal. "There's not only Myrtle. but
mother and my sisters wasting their
money on trifles," and his fingers
twirled about the pocket where his
watch reposed, apparently in antics
patton Of the expected new fob.
But for Wade Guthrie that evening
there arrived the surprise of his life
when the dinner was over and they ad.
journed to the dining room, Wade's
mother prefaced the gift giving with
the remark:
1--WE are all turning over new leaf
this year, Wade. You always give
Myrtle such sensible, practical gifts,
that go towards adding to the home,
that we decided to follow your exam
pie"
Wade Guthrie looked blank then
suspicious, and finally thoughtful as
his mother revealed her glft-a snow
shovel. His sisters followed, one with
shoe-blacking outfit, another with a
whisk broom, third with garden
hose. Wade, however, looked shocked,
but guilty, when Myrtle presented him
with a lawn mower. When they were
all gone he glanced at her in a re-
proachful way. She burst into tears
and fell into his lap and wept out her
grief on his shoulder.
ooh, Wade" she sobbed. II didn't
want to give you that horrid, common