Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1920-07-15
LEAVE 1T TO WIFE
BY GRACE 0. weATHERBY.

well breakfast table that sunny MORN
ing. Jimmy. ST.. neglected the golden
brown pancakes and gave his undivid-
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, Jim?" asked his wife "You
haven't eaten a thing; Anything
wrong with the breakfast?H
mo yes Everything is wrongw
snapped her husband jim never had
spoken to his wife in that tone be-
fore
Jim What on earth are you talk
ing about?"
Standing beside her chair, his face
white, his hands shaking, he pointed
an accusing finger at her.
you're the reason How can l get
anywhere in this world when, instead
helping, you deliberately hinder?"
Nan sat very still, her eyes big with
wonder. He went on.
Here I am, a young man. with a
reasonable amount of brains trying to
get along in my work. to make a sue
cess Of myself and how can I 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 :"
He broke off and paced the floor.
He went into the hall and strug-
! gled into his Overcoat, and then came
I back.
"YOu know about that proposition
If l get that chance it will mean sub
stantial raise, but | can't do it alone.
A nice wife, you are"
All that morning, Nan was quiet,
trying to think of some way to 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 at the door.
''ThiS is Mr. Charleson, Nan. Mr..
CharlesOn, meet my wife," Mr..
CharlesOn was president Of Jim's COM
pany, and it 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.
'Mr. Charleson and | were over to
Fairview, and as it was lunch time,
we thought we'd come here" Jim
avoided his wife's eyes, but Nan rose
to the occasion.
81 am sure 1 am very glad to have
you, Mr.. Charleson. If you will ex-
cuse me, I'll get lunch"
When they entered the dining room,
Jim shot her a 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
Jim's disgust, the topics were baby
and cooking
MAY 1 have more salad, Mrs. Merri-
well?" asked the visitor. IT'S a long
time since I've tasted anything so
good"
He reached for another waffle.
81 remember when l was a boy,
down in Louisiana, every Wednesday /
was waffle day and how I used to
look forward to it, 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 at Nan.
you're a fine cook, Mrs Merriwell. /
and I'm going to send my wife over TO
see you 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 slamming the door,
his wife and swung her clear
off the floor, covering her face with
kisses.
"Oh, Mamie, girl, you did it I've
got itw And he twirled her around
again.
about ten o'clock Mr.. Charleson
called me into his office and said he
was going to FairvieW, and wanted
me to go along. Well, we went, and
he discussed the whole thing with me,
and I took notes. About twelve O'Clock
he said:
"'You live near here, don't you, Mer-
riwellY
81 said Yes, and then invited him
TO lunch What else could 1 do? He
and I hoped and prayed
you'd have something in the house.
Well. after we left the house he was ..
-ather quiet for a while, and then he =,
,aid !
" 'Merriwell you're a very lucky G
nan; do you know itT {
81 asked why. q
"'Your wife is a girl in a thousand.
She's got the right idea. l only wish