Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-07-05
DAILY NOVELETTE,
THE LASHINC
BY Ada NJ. Felt

1Vl ing to the apartment of her
daughter and rang the bell. The door
was opened to her by comely young
woman with eyes redeemed by weep
ing.
"Well, Maggie" said her mother,
"what Is the matterT' Is it sick We
are? Your Sadie has come to Inc three
mornings this week to be washed and
have her hair combcd before she went
to school She said you didn't get up
for breakfast any more. Amt ye well"
Instead of replying her daughter
thrust n crumpled piece of paper into
her hand. "Read that :" she exclaimed
tragically. That is the way my hus-
band talks to me-or writes" tears
running FROM her eyes.
Mrs. D smoothed the paper
and. read the short note; then cleared
a chair of an accumulation of news
papers, undarned stockings and a
rhild's night dress and seated herself
Joe says here that he is not much of
cook and less of a housekeepcr. Sadie
told me that there wasn't hardly any
thing for breakfast, and that her father
didn't have any food to carry for his
dinner. Can't you find time to cook for
your family? Sadie said that Joe had
to buy their supper last night, an he
writes here that he has had to cook
it most of the time for the past two
weeks. Is that the way you make home
pleasant for a man who's just back
from them camps in France?'
''Hc says there" declared Maggie.
'tbat his, daughter is the same as a
half orphan, and that he is planning to
put her in an asylum. Do you think
that is the right way for a man to
talk to his wife,"
''That's the way if it's needed. Yer
little girls racing the streets after
school, nobody at home till her father
comes from his work-comcs to dark
house, an no supper. If we've no love
fer yer husband sh'd think yc'd take
some care of your daughter when she
gets used ter the streets she won't be
contentod at home. Where do We keep
yourself?"
Last week I was out getting donn-
tions for the Federated Sisters and this
week I've been helping tend n table
at their fair
Yes, interrupted her mother. oyer
brother was down ter that fair yostcr-
day. He said that from ) O'Clock to 7
which is when he was therc-you was
dandn with all the soldiers an officers
An, yer own soldier at home irwin to
cook his own supper" Mrs. D-s
eyes flashed scorn. Il Just Want TO ask
yc: How does yer Joe behave? Does he
work every day at his job? Does he
bring all his money home? Does hc
stay in the house evenings? Does he
treat yc with kindncss?" She woitod
for a reply.
les he works: and he stays home
nights studying, and he brings home
his money, of course"
There's no of course about it at
ALL the other intcrjccted. "Many a
man does not"
But do YOU think it is kind to tell
me that he'll put Sadie in an orphon
asylum. and go to his fathers to stay.
as he does not care to live here alone?"
My girl, We have good husband.
I'll ask ye-do you work at YOUR Job
faithfully? Ie do not. Te've been off
an out O. the house lcavin' YER work
undone, an gettin' no cookin' ready
for yer meals. Do you think amy man
would like to sit down in a room that
looks like this? What do you be doin'
with the duStpan on the paror table?
With dirt an disorder everywhere, an
his wife gone, what man will long be
content to be studyin' how to get on
in the world, an make more money for
his family?' She paused to observe her
daughters abashed look as her ewes
glanced quickly over the unsightly
room.
1T may be necessary for women ter
work hard at fairs an such to raise
money for all these causes that need |
It nowadays. l don't say it's not, but
4 girl like you ought not be so selfish |
rs to do it all, neglectin' yer own hus-
band an children. Ye ought ter allow !
some one else ter have the chance ter
work for charity. You can help. but
lon't ye do so much that We cant be
lere when your Sadie comes home from
school. an yer husband ter his supper. /
AS Joe inserted his latchkey into the
ock that night the door flew open, and
lis pretty young wife grasped both his
lands, drawing him into the immacu-
ately clean room. Dropping his hands,
he unfastened her waist, turning her
,ack toward him. Quick, Quick
Iook down my back and see if YOU
ee any marks :" Joe peered down the
White column of her neck to the soft
urves of her shoulders.
"Marks?" he questioned, puzzled.
Eyes. Do you see any marks of a
ASH" He looked again then she
vhisked aroSpd and threw her arms
bout his neck, burying her laughing
ace in his shoulders. Mother came
over this morning and gave me
mighty tongue -lashing." She drew
own his head and kissed him. eve
een very neglectful and unkind, Joe,
nut I'm not going to be any more. Come
nut to supper"
The next complete novelette-"When
Mother FOrgOt.p