Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-03-28
THE DAILY NOVELETTE,
Leave H to Vile
By Grace o. Weatherby

uteVhtiDn W tht uiOfuiuk paper
Merriwell sat motionless, her eyes fixed
on Jimmy Sr.'s face, while Jimmy, Jr.,
dabbled unheeded in his oatmeal.
Suddenly baby broke the oppressive
silence by voicing his disapproyal. It
seemed to have some effect, for Daddy
folded his paper and made a pretense
of eating the now cold pancakes. After
moment he pushed aside his plate
with some force and rose.
What is the matter with you this
morning, Jim?'' asked his wife. you
haven't eaten q thing! Anything wrong
with the breakfastf'
mo Yes Everything is wrongH
snapped her husband. Jim never had
spoken to his wife in that tone before.
Jim what on earth are you talking
about?"
Standing beside her chair, his face
white, his hands shaking, he pointed an
accusing finger at her.
You're the reason How can get
anywhere in this world when, instead OF
helping, you deliberately hinderf"
Nan sat very still, her eyes big with
wonder. He went on.
Here am young man with a rca-
sonable amount Of brains, trying to get
along In my work, to make a
success of myself, and how can when
my wife insists on wearing house aprons
from morning till night? Other men 8
wives wear trim stylish clothes, and
look nice, but you =" He broke
of and paced the floor.
why don't you get yourself some
clothes? Why don't you get maid to
do the housework, and not make your =
self ugly by constant work."
He went out into the hall and strug
gled into his overcoat, and then came
back.
You know about that proposition
If get that chance It will mean sub
stantial raise, but 1 can't do It alone,
A nice wife you are ~
He strode out and slammed the door
He hadn't kissed her ! The first time in
their. two years of married life. Nan
tried to reason 1t out He was simply
overwrought by worrying about this
Fairview chance. She did not blame
him for wanting it. it meant long ster
toward success, but she could not do al
he wished.
They had barely enough to live or
and IL she followed his advice
they would soon be in mire Of
debt. And supposing, after all this hat
been done, he failed to get the coveted
position They could hardly go back t.
their old way Of living. He would just
have to get over 1t
All that morning Nan was quiet, try
ing to think of some way to appease hel
husband. Lunch time near, she pre-
pared some waffle batter. Then tn,
bell rang. and to her astonishment hel
husband and a stout, elderly man stoot
at the door.
This is Mr.. Chsrleson. Nan. Mr.
Charleson. meet my wife" Mr. Charlie
son was the president of Jim's s company
and it was he who would determine VIII,
would get the Fairview contract. Sh
led them into the CHEEKY living room
where Jimmy, Jr., sat on the floor II
the sun, playing.
MIR. Charleson and ] were over t,
Fairview. and as it was lunch time w
thought we'd come here" Jim avoide,
his wife's eyes. but Nan rose to tn
occasion.
. 'I'm sure am very glad to have YOU
Mr.. Charleston. II you will excuse me
/ I'll get lunch.
Out in the kitchen. Mans heart sank
SO much depended on this luncheon. an
, she had almost nothing in the house
Her lips frightened. He would get jus
what Baby and she were going to have
and that would be all She'd have
, chicken salad. for there was quite lit
tie left from yesterdays dinner. The
she made the waffles. When she wen
/ to announce lunch she discovered Bah
> sitting contentedly on the visitors knee
r Fine boy, Mrs. Merriwell," he re
marked.
, When they entered the dining room
Jim shot her look of reproach as
viewed the table, but Mr.. Charleson wa
/ very jovial, and soon he and Nan wer
chatting ike old friends. TO Jim's dis
g gust, the topics were Baby and cooking
!. May have more salad, Mrs Merrl
well?" asked the visitor. Its Ion
time since I've tasted anything +
4 good
q He reached for another waffle.
. II remember when ! was n boy. dow
= in Louisiana. every Wednesday wa
I waffle day and how used to loo
forward to it. We ate them by II
r dozens.
d For dessert. there were the big sugar
doughnuts that Nan had made thu
morning Mr.. CharlesOn leaned baC
and smiled at Nan.
h "You re fine cook, Mrs. Merriwel
- and I'm going to send my wife over
see you and get your recipe for dough
nuts.
When they had gone, Nan dropp,
c YEARLY into chair and cried. Jimm
e Jr.. toddIed over to her and she caug
= him in her arms.
o "Oh. Baby. I'm afraid we've qpecr
- everything, Jim was 50 angry
An hour earlier than usual, Jim bur
> in. recklessly slammed the door, caug
y his wife and swung her clear of I
= floor, covering her face with kisses.
" "Oh. Mamie. girl. you did it. /
. got it," And he twirled her arou
" again.
}. Then he SET her down in chair q
10 dropped to his knees before her,
. face suddenly sober.
"Oh. Nan. I've been fool. b
= I've learned my lesson, and YOU u ncv
is hear me speak again as did Il
h morning. Let me explain, dear,
,t About 10 O'Clock Mr., Charles
y called me into his Office and said
IS was going to Fairview and wanted |
to 60 along. Well, we went and