The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1921-08-09
The Household
Eyrant
By MURIEL BLAIR

Iar, was the nOmeiy way In WHICH
Ezra DOckrill put it.
There's no need" insisted his old
time friend, Greg Parsons. BE sensi-
BILE, Ezra, and take an old comrades
advice. Melinda Dockrill, your wife,
is the very best housekeeper in Carl
ton, and, nobody disputes it. She
tends her house and minds her own
business SO far as her neighbOrs are
concerned, but she has been hard,
terribly hard on you"
There was a good deal Of sense and
reason to what both men said, and
despite Ezra's weak explanations
their point of view was practically
identical. Ezra was beginning to get
the reputation of being henpecked, and
his excellent wife, excellent in some
ways-had degenerated into a scold.
Melinda DOckrill was fast growing
into household tyrant. When Walter
MAXWELL came counting their pretty
daughter, Flora, She opposed the
match tooth and nail. When just
now some old Spanish American war
comrades Of Ezra wanted him to 60
over to Pelham to a reunion, she hid
his old uniform, kept him awake two
nights lecturing him on the PERM
ciousness Of wasting his time, and
| fatty refused to allow him to even
march to the depot with his friends.
That might have been well enough.
| for, as said before, Ezra was meek,
Gofn Cny.f Of
man. Right on top Of this decision
| of the masterful Melinda, however,
there was a scene in the household
that appealed to another side OF
Ezra's nature. Young MAXWELL had
come to Mrs. Dockrill in a frank,
manly way to ask permission to marry
Flora. She had put her husband aside
in the discussion without even con-
sulting him. The result was that poor
/ Walter went about town, detected
reproach to the kind-souled Ezra, and
poor Flora mourned till all the happi-
ness seemed gone out Of her life.
That evening Ezra came down to the
Parsons home.
"See here, Greg" he said, 1--WE were
talking about Melinda today"
"Quite right, Ezra; what about it?'
"Why, just this-rve been thinking
over what you said"
"About time, should say" re-
sponded Parsons.
81 don't care for myself. can
stand Melinda's pecuiiarities. That
poor girl of mine, though, and young
Maywell-she's set them grieving their
hearts away with her stubborn ways,
and it isn't right, it isn't right" and
Ezra broke down.
Ezra" said Parsons very seriously,
"if you will follow out my directions
I'll guarantee to cure your wife OF
her tantrums in a week"
"Greg," responded Ezra, grasping
the hand of his old-time friend fer
wildly, you do just that and I'll give
you those old war relics of mine
you've coveted so long. What am
to do to help your"
If Ezra Dockrill was mystified as
to the plan of his friend, his cratic
helpmeet- had clear Mysteries when she
found he had defied her authority and
had gone to the reunion. She rushed
down to the Parsons home, enraged
then anxious, and finally alarmed.
give got a sort Of doleful story to
tell you, Melinda" said her old friend
"I'm afraid Ezra has broken the
traces. It's like a horse checked uI
too high. Give him the chance ant
the critter'll sprint"
"Why, what do you mean? Surely
nothing serious has happened tt
Ezra?" cried Mrs. Dockrill, a quicl
catch in her voice.
otis the warlike spirit, you see
Melinda" explained Mr.. Parsons
Everyone is talking about the Mexi
can war. Why, there were lots Of thu
old soldiers just wild to enlist. Ezrs
is a brave man. The war spirit 60
him. They were recruiting at Pei
ham. If he's joined the army agar
he'll make his mark"
1t was there that Mrs. Dockril
broke down. "Tell you now" observed
the specious Parsons, II might hav'
| II lulucnCC Win thO eANJNecAh
general, and Ezra, too, if he really ha'
enlisted. You've got to promise conces
sion. His heart is set on Flora ant
young MAXWELL"
"Tll agree! I'll agree" interrupt
ed Mrs. Dockrill vehemently. "Onl!
get my dear husband back and he'll
never have to complain OF me again.
She passed a sIeepless night. Whel
that precious old schemer, Parsons
presented her husband the next da.
at noon, Melinda threw her arm
about the neck of her prodigal spouse
and Parsons sneaked away feeling
quite mean for giving so hard a les
son to a deserving though at time
somewhat contentious woman.