Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1920-05-12
LEAVE 1T TO WIFE
BY GRACE o. wEArHERsY.

IL was unusually silent at the Merri-
well breakfast tasle that sunny morn
Ing. Jimmy. Sr.. neglected the golden
brown pancakes and gave his undivic-
ed attention TO the morning paper.
Mother Merriwell sat motionless. her
eyes fixed on Jimmy, Sr.'s face, while
Jimmy. Jr.. dabbled unheeded In his
oatmeal.
what Is the matter with you this
morning. JlmT" asked his wife. "You
haven't eaten a thing; Anything
wrong with the breakfast!"
"Nol-yes! Everything Is wrong"
snapped her husband. Jim never had
/ spoken 10 his wife In that tone be-
| fore
~Jiml What on. earth are you talk
ing aboutf"
Standing beside her chair his face
white, his hands shaking. he pointed
an accusing finger at her.
You're the reasOnl How can I get
anywhere In this world when. instead
helping. you deliberately hinder?"
Nan sat very still. her eyes big with
ne WENT On.
Here I am. a young man. with n
reasonable amount of brains. trying to
get along In my work. 10 make Sue
cess OF myself. and how can / when
my wife insists on wearing house
aprons from morning till night? 9th
er mems wives wear trim. stylish
clothes. and look nice. but you :"
lie broke OF and paced the floor.
He went into the hall and strug-
gled into his overcoat, and then came
back.
You know about that proposition
Tf get that chance IL will mean n sub
stantial raise. but l can't do II alone.
A nice wife. you arei"
All that morning, Nan was quiet.
trying 10 think Of some way 10 APP
pease her husband. Lunch time near.
she prepared some waffle batter. Then
the bell rang. and to her establishment
her husband and a stout. elderly man
stood az the door.
This Is Mr. Charleson, Nan. Mr..
CharlesOn. meet my wife," Mr..
Charleson was president OF Jim's COM
pany. aud Il was he who would deter
mine who would get the Fairview con-
tract. she led them into the CHEEKY
living room. where Jimmy. Jr.. sat on
the floor IN the sun, playing.
mir. CharleSon ahd ! were over 10
Fairview. and as Il was lunch time.
Ke Thought we'd come here" Jim
avoided his wife's eyes. but Nan rose
10 the occasion.
Il am sure / am very glad to have
yon. Mr.. Charleson. II you will ex-
euse me. I'll get lunch"
When they entered the dining room.
Jim shot her look OF reproach as he
viewed the table. but Mr.. Charleson
was very jovial. and soon he and Nan
were chatting like old friends. To
inns disgust. the topics were baby
and cooking.
MAY I have more salad. MRS. Merri-
wcilg" asked the visitor. It's a long
time since I've tasted anything so
good"
lie reached for another waffle.
Il remember when was boy.
down In Louisiana. every Wednesday
was waffle day. and how used 10
look forward To 1t. We ate them by
the dozens"
For dessert, there were big. sugary
doughnuts that Nan had made that
morning. Mr.. Charleson leaned back
and smiled NJ Nan.
You're fine cook. Mrs. Merriwell.
and I'm going 10 send my wife over TO
see sou and yet your recipe for dough
nuts"
When they had gone. Nan dropped
YEARLY into a chair and cried. Jim
my. Jr.. toddled over to her and she
caught him In her arms.
"Oh. baby I'm afraid we've queered
everything. Jim was so angry"
An hour earlier than usual. Jim
burst In. recklessly slammlng the door,
caught his wife and swung her clear
of the floor. covering her face with
kisses.
"oh. Mamie. girl. you did it, I've
got IT," And he twlrled her around
again.
About ten o'clock Mr.. Charleson
called me into his Office and said he
was going TO Falrview. and wanted
me 10 90 along. Well. we went. and
he discussed the whole thing with me.
and took notes. About twelve o'clock
he said:
"'You live near here. don't you. Mer-
riwellT
Il said Yes and then invited him
10 lunch. What else could ] dof lie
accepted. aud ] hoped and prayed
you'd have something In the house.
Well. after we left the house he was
rather quiet for while. and then he
said:
'MerriweIi. you're very lucky
man: Go you know itT
Il asked why.
"'NOur wife is a girl IN n thousand
she's got the right idea. ! only wish
my own wife were more like her.