The Owosso times., 1920-11-05
A.Sentinental
Bath
By VICTOR REDCLIFFE

.
Nancy Marvin had got out of bed
on the wrong side, her honest. humble
sood-natured husband, Seth, insisted
when she began the day with a volu
Die TRADE against the lodge that had
Kept him out until after IL the nigh,
previous.
Don't scold me, Nance" advised
Seth In perfect temper. 1t was a spe-
cial meeting to raise funds for q fam.
lily nearly all sick and likely to be
turned out to starve If the good
brethren hadn't rallied to the rescue"
But Nancy refused to be mOllified
She covertly alluded to charity begin.
ming at home. she found fault with
Seth because some of his clothes were
spread about the room, and finally
made manifest to him the fact that
the Blivens across the street had a
now phonograph which they had
brought over and set playing to while
away Nancy's lonely hours.
Nancy pettishly alluded to their
own old melodeon, worse than out of
repair and no one to play II, and
Seth made a mental note as to a SUBJ
stitute.
Things went wrong at the breakfast
table, where Seth upset the cream Jug
and Nancy, nervous and excited,
broke the handle from a treasured
china cup. Matters grew worse when
she gathered up the dishes at the sink
and Seth as usual came up to kiss
her good-by for the day. She had a
bowl Of water In her hand as he
swung an arm about her waist.
"Good-by, Nance dearl" he cried in
his jOlliest tone, but she resented all
familiarity and affectiOnate demon
stration on this particular occasion.
Get along, now!" scolded Nance.
I'm In no mood for nonsense" and
then all her fitful temper fiared forth.
With a sharp dip she directed the
bowl towards the lowering face.
Splash!
Seth staggered back, choking. blind
ed. dripping. Nancy paled. She had
gone further than she had expected
and was sorry for 1t. Half frightened
as she was, however. her lips set OBJ
stinately. She gave a great gasp as,
without word, but very serious look
ing even amid his ludicrous condition
from the involuntary bath, Seth pro-
ceeded calmly to the door, shook
away the trickling drops and went
outside. Overcome with sense Of
her unutterable violence and assault
against ordinary decorum, Nancy gave
utterance to a low wall, Topped fiat
upon the floor and sat there rocking
two and fro, her face buried In her
hands, a realization Of her act over
pOwering her. Seth, passing the side
window, glanced In and discerned the
cOntritiOn or remorse of his
emotional better half. His rugged
features softened somewhat.
"She's good Sort" he soliloquized,
"but mustn't encourage her in kick
ing over the traces this way. 1t
might be dishes or the rolling pin
next. Oh. well. she's mostly sunshine,
and will be nice as pie when l come
home tonight. l suppose 1t does sort
Of upset her to have the Blivens folks
get things I don't buy her. but I'll hu-
NOR this last whim.
Nancy was thoroughly ashamed of
herself for her impetuous action an
hour after its commission. Usually
Seth did not come home at noon, but
she hoped that he would that espe-
cial day. She spent the morning cook
Ing up variety Of toothsome delica-
cies, and was quite mellowed down by
upstairs making the beds when n
outside on the part of ex-
cited children coming home from
school sent her swiftly down the
stairs. The lower part of the house
was full Of smoke and SCOT and the
thrilling words reached her ears from
outside:
Fire! Telephone the hose COM
panyw
There were no flames in the kitch-
EN-, but the chimney was belching
forth flames and cinders and the shin
BleS OD Tie TOOI were oIuOhiuS. INdh-
cy began excltedly moving her best
parlor furniture to the front porch.
Then as the fire engine dashed into
the yard and the hose was unrolled,
she started for the kitchen and
reached its open rear door in time to
receive broad. flushing deluge Of wa
ter that drove her back, soaked from
heat to foot
Hi! play on the chimney and roof
that's where the fire is" came a
,tentorian command through the brass
trumpet of the fire chief.
"That's It'll All outp announced
he pipeman minute later. Just then !
Seth dashed up.
"Where's Nance-is she safer" he |
painted, and his chilled, half fainting |
1elpmeet clinging to the towel rack
% recover from the shock Of her bath, |
'elt her heart warm at the anxious, |
owing tones.
"You dearr shouted Seth, clasping !,
Ter In his arms, veritable dripping |
.ag as to attire, streaked of face, her
lair plastered down like wet moss.
md no clunQ 70 her as IL he would |