The Elk Mountain pilot., 1921-05-26
So Handy Round
the House
By H. LOUIS RAYBoLD


o. 1921. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate.)
Sue read the closely written sheets
of her sisters letter with eager eyes.
1--WE are so glad, dear, that you may
be able to visit u.s. Just think-mar-
ried six years and my kid sister has
never seen my wonderful babies or
equally wonderful William. Which re-
minds me that hope this Perry per-
son you mention so casually yet SO
frequently in your letters is as suit
able for you as my husband is for me.
But you'll have to see William to ap-
preciate him. He's so handy round
the house"
She reread that last phrase. $50
handy round the h0usew Her
thoughts flew to Perry Keene, to his
good looks and attractive ways. He
had many admirable qualities to offer
as husband, but, somehow or other,
Sue simply could not visualize him as
being handy round the house."
Sues brow wrinkled as she medi-
tated. She hadn't said "yes" to Perry
| yet and could easily make her visit to
Helen an excuse for taking more time
before answering.
That evening Perry, spurred by the
hope of getting definite reply from
the girl he loved, arrived to find
barrier suddenly raised.
mo Perry" Sue said hesitantly,
then with gathering firmness, II won't
say yes until I'm absolutely certain.
When return from my visit to Helen
I'll give my answer
With that Perry had to be satisfied,
and on the following day he saw Sue
off at the station with huge box of
chocolates, an assortment of maya
zines and an earnest plea to decide
In his favor"
The unexpected marriage of Sues
sister while Sue and her invalid aunt
were at southern resort for the win
ter and Helen's immediate departure
for a little western town had brought
about the unusual circumstances that
Sue had never seen her new brother
in-law. There had been little money
on either side to spare for visits, and
not until the death of her aunt had
Sue found herself able to go to her
sister.
ed William from the group Of men
waiting at the station gate and pres
emily found herself tucked in the un-
pretentious runabout waiting at the
curb.
Their progress home was Interrupted
by a call at the fish market. "Helen
is just crazy over mackerel roes," ex-
planned william. And Sue sighed. 1t
was the first evidence of Williams
domesticity.
you dear thingi"
"Helen-and these darling chill
drenw
For moment the Joy of meeting
obliterated all else Then William un-
wrapped the roes. ''The man said
they ought to be used tonight" he ad-
vised.
Helen's brow clouded. "I have
steak" she began. Then her express
sion cleared Never mind. I'll make
1t into meat cakes tomorrow and have
the fish tonight. William is SO
thoughtful about bringing things
hOme," she added m an aside to Sue.
As the days passed Sue found her
self unable to arrive at decision
regarding Perry. More and more
clearly she realized that a vast gulf
yawned between him and her brother
in-law, and instinct told her that If
happy marriages were based on the
William type of man alone, welded
life with Perry would be foredoomed
failure.
William not only helped with the
marketing, but he swept the living
room before breakfast, and II the dust
sifted into the dining room, still-the
living room was swept. He knew the
contents of pantry and icebox, and
kept tabs. In perfectly nice way, on
the amount of butter and eggs con-
sumed And he washed the supper
dishes regularly with a beautiful dis
regard of every housekeeper's rule,
glasses first and then silver" doing
tie forks and knives and spoons last,
when the water was lower In temper
ature.
The last day of Sues visit Sue and
Helen went to the city on what Helen
termed a shopping Spree" Their in
tention was to return In time for
lunch, but the lure of the windows
and he spell Of the laden counters
proved of such siren influence that
the hours sped unnoticed. As re-
suit, 4 was well into the afternoon
before the sisters left the suburban
trolley and hastened up the shady
street to the house where william,
taking l, day off from work, was play
Ing nursemaid to the children.
"won', William and the children be
half starved, Helen7" Sue wanted to
know.
"Oh, William will look out for that"
replied ellen carelessly.
And W liam had. YES" he as
sured then. II got the kids some ice
cream cones and mixed up a little