Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1920-10-27
HEkPECKED
BY GERALDINE CAMPBELL.

- 1890. BY Mcclure Newspaper syadicate.l
II tell you. Frank. it's the only
life. No henpecked husband for
yours trulyr'
His companion smiled indulgenily,
and thought Of a little square white
box reposing in his inside pocket.
"oh, / suppose it nh depends on the
way You look at it," replied he. "Just
now / have a mighty different point
Of view from yours"
Ton Price, a hardened bachelor,
gave him a quick, sharp glance.
SAY, what's all thisy" he demanded,
I've heard a lot about you and that
darned Avis Dear, but / didn't be-
lieve you'd go with a girl like her.
l hope none OF those rumors l heard
were trueY rather anxiously.
Frank grinned mischievously.
''oh. just wait few days. Some
thing may happen" thinking again OF
the little box. "And let me tell Won.
Tom, Avis may be little Of vamp,
and she may like to order a fellow
around some. but for all that she's a
nice girl"
See here, Frank Carr, we've known
each other since we we're kids, haven't
we, and always been the best of
friends?" "A nod from Frankly well,
want you to take my advice. You
can't deny Avis Dean is a vamp You
can't deny she has rather shady
reputation. You can't deny that she
las you sayl and all the rest Of her
family like 10 order a fellow around
little too much And. finally, see
what a life Dick Carter leads after
marrying Avis sister, who was just
Ike Avis is now. Why, the poor fell
low cant spend cent but wife must
know where 1t is gone-he can't ieave
the house hut she knows where he is
going. Talk about henpecked hus-
bands Take my advice, Frank, as you
always have, and stay away from Miss
Dean.
We'll I'll think about It," answered
Frank with a twinkle which showed
he hadn't the least idea that his
friend was in earnest.
When Frank reached Avis house, he
went up the stone steps three at
time and rang the bell furiously.
A maid came to the door almost
Immediately. Yes, Miss Avis was at
home and expecting him.
In Is minutes Avis entered the room
and something in her eyes as she Joy
fully greeted him put all Toms eau
tons out Of his mind.
A year later Mr.. and Mrs. Carr
were settled IN modern bungalow at
one of the two beaches. The Sewing
circle TO which Mrs. Carr belonged
was TO meet AT her house that after
noon. All the ladies were TO bring
their babies, and, as Mrs. Carr said,
they would have real home after
noon. At o'clock. however. the men,
bers OF the circle unanimously decided
that they liked the movies better than
hot house and fretful babies, so long
suffering Mr.. Carr WAS brought in and
asked in honeyed tones by his wife
II he wouldn't take care OF the babies
while they went 10 the nearest the
alter.
''Of course you will, my DEAR" said
Mrs. Carr decidedly after a moments
pause. "you're used to things like
that. aren't your" laughingly.
He gave a short, sardonic laugh as
he answered, Yes, I'm used to things
like that"
So the ladies went of to enjoy the
latest seven-reel thriller. leaving their
some twenty babies to the care of Mr..
Carr. AS they left the poor man look
ed hopelessly at the children. Then
he went TO the piano, showed all the
bric-a-brac from the top into the
midst of the wondering babies and
sat down TO enjoy a magazine.
In Is minutes, he was brought back
to earth by the sound Of 20 voices
yelling Justify. He brought more brio
a-brac, he gave them his watch and
all the the small clocks in the house
(having once heard that a watch
amuses a baby when nothing else
will). he took from the walls the pic
lures, he danced the squalling chill.
dren by turns on his knee.
By the time the ladies of the Circle
returned, Mr.. Carr had given their
children everything in the house but
the heaviest of the furniture-and the
babies were stlll crying. The outraged
ladies quieted their children. put on
their coats and hats and went TO their
respective homes, vowing that they
would make Mrs. Carr resign from the
Circle.
"oh, Frank, do wake upl What is
the matter with your"
Frank Carr slowly opened his eyes
saw Avis looking even more lovely
than ever, bending over him-and
realized that he was not a henpecked
husband-it was all a dream.
'oh-er-er, beg your pardon
Avis, er--I didn't mean to fall asleep
i"