Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-12-05

thing, and while her husband was
suffering from pangs of remorse, as
husbands sometimes will, began
to suggest things to him. Sometimes
I'd outline things while he ate; al
ways waiting until he was about fill
ed up on a good dinner or supper.
There was a house in the neighbour
bod that had waterworks. Only one.
And the waterworks never happened
while the first wife lived. She'd
evidently been the waterworks her
self, just as so many country wom-
en- are "waterworks." drawing mill
lions of buckets, and carrying them
into the house, or to the wash place,
the lot, the hogs, etc. But Mrs. Sec
ond saw to it. They were installed,
while she was all shiny and new her
self, and while she knew her words
would be needed, making hay while
the sun shone and also while the new
broom swept clean!
Wise Mrs. Second! I pictured this
waterworks home to I'M. Devine. l
elaborated on. its blessings to a wom-
an.
He grew interested, I could see.
Then, he began to wonder about
prices. And I was ready for that
showed him an advertisement in his
farm paper. He had never seen il be-
fore. And. another in a newspaper.
And I expressed my willingness to
write for information. L worked it
beautifully indeed!
CEAPTEB XXvII
The waterworks companies re-
sponded at once to the request for
Information. 1 praised Mr.. Devine
for his thoughtfulness, and his hav-
ing his wife's interests at heart,
for so many men did not!
He agreed to keep it all a secret
feared Mrs. Devine would not ap-
prove. So many women hate to see
the money go, for they know too well,
alas! how it came! Their aches and
pains are an ever present reminder
of the fact, so they never get a
chance to forget. And it happened
along in course Of events, just as [
dreamed it should, that first after
noon, when [ felt my great inspira-
ton, and resolved to see what could
be done. Before Mrs Devine knew
about it, men had come from the city
and were rapidly fixing things up
for their happiness and comfort
At first she couldn't feel agreeable
to it. But 1 told her not to disap-
point her husband. because it was
gift of love, and he was so happy
having it done for her comfort.
[ pointed out the other water
works home; how the first wife toll
ed in the fields for all those weary
years and never lived to enjoy the
money that lay in the bank doing
nobody any real service. How quick
ly afterward that money came out
to light and the service it now per-
forms.
She agreed then.
They allus marry right off" she
said ana I knew of what she was
thinking, and let her think. She
needed to think And l eXulted in
the pridefuI manner in which Mr..
DeVine conducted himself. He was
ns proud of things as any boy. There
had to be a new range. A certain
style, in order to connect UP with
hot water.
1t came from the city all shiny
and new. The company saw to de-
tails and when Mrs. Devine lan1ented
"But five hundred dollars is sight
of money for poor folks to put out
in these hard times-I don't know"
"H-ss-h"' I'd whisper and say, "a
funeral costs about that much and
you didn't get burned to death, you
know. Cotton's way high, don't fret.
You deserve it all" and then she'd
say, yes" and hush. There was a
bath and lavatory, too. 1t was all
beautiful and everybody was happy!
Neighbors came in to calculate and
wonder. 1t was a big event and
provided more excitement than
funeral could ever have done.
kept in the background. It
was best folks not think l was the
cause of such wild extragance!
L could see women look hungriIy
and then turn away with a sigh.
COSTS a sight O. money" said one.
eyes, and it costs more'n a-bodT
would think for women to be all the
Waterworks, too" Mr.. Devine would
retort, thus siIencing any conscien-
cious objector! I'm sure 1t must
have been the proudest moment in
their two lives when Mr.. Devine
escorted his wife over the house and
showed her the improvements. I
slipped away to myself, that day, for
those moments were divinely their
own! And I wandered down the road
way thinking over events of the
past month. Soon L would leave and
[ hated to go, because I'd really en-
joyed it all. Glad I'd studied cook
ely. Glad my education had been
the practical sort. Others could
have their "ancient history" give me
the real, the live issues of today.
1 wandered farther than I thought
for, but the. cool breath of winter
coming led me on.
1 came to myself when 1 heard
the sound of a car and turned to re-
trace my steps. The rafting road
ster overlook me. 1t was Clarke
Warren.
He slowed down, then stopped to
inquire: "Will you get in and ride?"