, 1922-05-18
A COUPLE OF
CAPITALISTS
They Saved and Saved to Get the Thing They Wanted,
and Then Found 1t Didn't Satisfy.
By ELEANOR PORTER
Author of "Pollyanna," Just David" Etc.

have n hired girl but | hain't no more
idea where to get one thar anything,
an | don't knows l want one, If |
did"
And Mrs. Gray sat back in her chair
n rocked violently to and fro, cycling
her hostess with the evident con
seriousness of having presented a
poser. That resourceful woman, how
ever, was far from being nonplussed
she beamed upon her visitor with a
joyful smile.
Just the thing, my dear Mrs. Gray
You know | am to go south with May
for h winter. The house will be
closed and the doctor Mt the hotel. l
had just been wondering what to do
with Nancy, for l want her again in
until then, and by that time you will
know how you like the Idea of keep
Ing n girl. She is n perfect treasure,
capable of carrying the entire work
of the household, only"-and Mrs.
Steele paused long enough to look
doubtfully at her friend-"she Is a
little Independent, Inc won't stand
much Interference"
Fifteen minutes later Mrs. Gray de
parted, well pleased, though wlthal a
little frightened. She spent the rest
of the afternoon in trying to decide
between a black alpaca and n green
cashmere dress.
That night Reuben brought home n
large bag of peanuts and put them
down in triumph on the kitchen table.
There ~ he announced in high glee.
I'm gcin' to have n bang-up good
time
"Why, Reuben" demonstrated his
wife gently, you can't eat them
things-you hain't got no teeth to
chew EN- with ~
The mans lower jaw dropped.
well. I'm a-goin' to try 1t, anyhow"
he insisted. And try it he did but
the way his poor old stomach rebelled
against the half-masticated things eff
fectually prevented n repetition of the
feast.
Early or Monday morning Nancy
appeared. Mrs. Gray assumed n brave
aspect. but she quaked in her shoes
as she showed the big strapping girl
to lei room. Five minutes later
Nancy came into the kitchen to find
Mrs. Gray bending over an obstinate
coal fire In the range-with neither
coal nor range was the little woman In
the least familiar.
There. now said Nancy brlskly,
"T1l fix that. You just tell me what
you want for dinner, and l can find
the things myself" And she attacked
the stove with u a clatter and din
that Mrs. Gray retreated In terror,
murmuring. Han and if you
please" as she fled through the door.
Once I'm the parlor, she seated herself
In the middle of the room and thought
how nice it was not to get dinner; but
she jumped %nervously at every sound
from the kitchen.
On Tuesday she had mastered her
fear sufficiently to go into the kitchen
and make a cottage cheese. She did
not notice the u%nfavorabIe glances
Of her mald-of-all-work. Wednesday
morning she spent happily puttering
over "dolng up" some handkerchiefs,
and she wondered why Nancy kept
banging the oven door so often.
Thursday she made a special kind of
pie that Reuben liked, and remarked
pointedly to Nancy that she herself
never washed dishes without wearing
m extra apron; furthermore, she al
ways placed the pans the other way
In the sink. Friday she r%earranged
the tins on the pantry shelves. that
Nancy had so un~accountably mussed
up. On Saturday the Inevitable ex-
plosion m
"If you please, mum. I'm willln' to
do our work, but seems to me Ii don't
make no difference to you whether ]
wear one apron or six, or whether ]
hang my dlsh-towels ON a string or on
the bars, or whether | wash goblets
or kittles first and | amt in the habit
of havin' folks spyin' round on me. If
YOU want me to go, I'll go; but II !
stay. want to be let alonei"
Poor little Mrs. Gray fled to her
seat In the parlor. nnd for the rest Of
that winter she did not dare to call
her soul her own but her table was
beautifully set and served. and her
house was as neat as wax.
The weeks passed and Reuben he
gan 10 be restless. One day he came
In from the post office fairly bubbling
over with excitement.
Say. Emily, when folks have money
they travel. Let's go somewherel
"Nhy, Reuben-wheref" quavered
his wife, dropping into the nearest
chair.
"oh. / dunno" with cheerful vague
ness; then suddenly animated. Lets
go to Boston and see the sights"
But, Reuben, we don't know no one
there" ventured his wife doubtfully.
"Poohi What II We don't7 Hain't
we got money! Can't we stay at n
hotel7 Well. l guess wa can !"
Nancy was trembllngly requested to
take n two weeks vacation. and great