Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1922-08-25
MORNING AFTER
BY EDNA WILLIS SWIFT

NOLNCAhR yet AB0 NOAASs With ny
came, gave evidence of the unveneered
truthfulness of a husband of 10 yelrs'
duration. Maria" he said calmly.
you look like a picked gull
His wife's face registered a just IN
d~ignatiOn.
"A what?' she gaSped.
Her husbands explanation carried
an apologize one Now, don't ruffle
up your feathers, dear. l Gidn't mean
anything, dear. Just an Old saying we
had down home when anyone was
tired. And you are tired, aren't you,
Marian
Mrs. Blair sighed. "Ill say I am"
she agreed, in up-to-date y%ernaollar.
DO you wonder, Bob?'
Mr.. Blair folded his napkin slowly.
Then, in the portentous manner of a
man stating a fact hitherto unknown
In this whirling world, and especially
to his wife, he replied; do you re-
alize, Maria, that for the last 10 years,
with the exception of a few miSerly
weeks, you have been on the job
every morning, sending me away with
q smile?"
Who knew better? Mrs. Blair
smiled.
Here is my suggestion. Every
morning, during the summer months,
as you know, l eat only uncooked
breakfast foods. There is absolutely
no need of your rising just to sit at
the opposite side of the table to see
that l Fletcherize. Get me, Marian
Maria did. He continued: Il have
decided that the best remedy in the
world for you is sleep-nature's sweet
restorer. SO tomorrow morning we
will begin. Impress on your subcon-
scious mind, tonight, the fact that it Is
going on vacation, and believe me-,
Maria, this rest will do you more good
than all the seaside resorts in the
w~orld-eaten up with mosquitoes, and
lacking the comforts Of a home. What
do you say?"
Maria, from force of habit, and also
to keep the peace, consented.
The next morning Mr.. Blair jumped
blithely out of bed. He meant well.
Oh! yes, he was a good man. But man
proposes, and so on. You doubtless
have heard this remark Of ancient
vintage. His foot came In contact
with a pin dropped on the floor by
some emissary of the evil one. He
emitted a howl that would have awak-
ened the dead. Mrs. Blair sat bolt up
right. Her husband was nursing his
foot, but Immediately soothed her.
Its nothing, Matchmaking. Just
knocked my foot a little. Relax" And
Mrs. Blair relaxed"
maria! !" Out Of nowhere into the
now! Her husbands voice broke In
upon dreams. 1.-THE milk Which bot.
tle is ourS?"
She told him, sleepily. Anything
else you want to know"
mo, nothing. Sh Go to Sleep" And
so weary was she, and so strong the
influence Of the dream, that nature
again won.
For a few minutes, however. Once
again q realistic voice woke her
"Maria, where do you keep the evap
GRATED milk? Sorry to wake you, but
can't find it."
"On the second shelf, dear, with the
canned goods. DO you believe you can
find it, or shall l get up?" Again the
negative answer, the softly spoken
"Sh" and the eXhortation to sleep.
But this dream was horrifying-stu
pendous! She was falling-f6lling
Would no one save her? Then she sat
bolt upright in bed, her s~ub-conscious
mind registering disaster. She heard
the clatter and bang of many cans-s
remark in her husbands voice not toll
Grated in polite society. What would
the people in the lower suite think
Bob always gave way to moods, as il
ne lived in the wilderness. She reached
the door, when she was confronted by
her husband.
"Go back to bed, dear-you prom
ised. | only knocked down a can OF
two. Please, Maria" And Maria
YEARLY consented.
This time, however, she barely
reached the bed when a terrifying hiss
and an explosive remark in her hus
bands voice reached her seethina
brain. She fairly flew to the kitchen
In the corner, his huge yellow side'
fairly bristllng with anger, sat Pom
pom, the beloved cat. Never having
been subject to the slightest unkint
touch, his humiliation vas all the more
poignant now. Her husband looked
somewhat frightened as he gazed OF
the indignant feline.
''That fool cat" he ragged, 'begaI
brushing up against me when | trie(
to lift the kettle. A little drop Of ho'
water fell on his paw. You would
think l tried to kill him. Bah! Wha'
a demon! That's what comes Of you
making such an idiot Of him. Wht
runs this house? That cat or me?'
He became slightly confused. Pompon
his rage still unabated, crouched as 1
to spring.
To comfort both was the work of
moment. Another, and she was bacl