Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-02-03
TODAY'S EVENING STORY
THE ELECTRIC RANGE
COPYRIGHT BY w. WERNER

in myself later, but I don't know
just when I will be able to get away"
He waited for her to say she would
wait for him, but she didn't so he
went on. you take old Kate and
1 will walk over to the siding and
catch the train in"
'All right" Mary answered.
She nursed her grievance all that
forenoon, hardly giving a thought
to dinner. She was shocked to find,
when she came down from changing
her dress, that the beans had boiled
dry, the potatoes were soggy and
the johnny cake had fallen. Never
before had she placed such meal
before her husband. Mary was proud
of her reputation as a good cook. But
she made no apologies, and Tom ate
cheerfully; pretending not to notice
anything unusual. The children had
gone over to their grandmother's to
spend the day. He couldn't COM
plain, Mary thought, he didn't dare
to, with all the work she had to do,
and so little help doing it. Never
once did her purpose waver. She
drove resolutely to town, left her
horse at a livery stable and went
about her shopping. She was just
coming cut from the five and ten
cent store, where she usually bought
some toys for the children when she
ran into Mrs. Cassell, a neighbor,
and her married daughter.
Hello, Mrs. Anderson, bet you
don't know what your Tom was say
ing about you a few minutes ago."
Mary stiffened involuntarily. Mrs.
Cassell chuckled to herself. 1--WE met
him down the street and invited him
to have dinner at the hotel with us,
and said we'd take him home after
ward in the car, but he said he was
meeting you and going home to a
supper cooked by the crack cook of
the county. Look at her blush" the
old lady went on, gleefu1ly. Mary's
cheeks were pink and tingling. For
the first time for weeks she forgot
the electric stove. How could he be
so loyal and dear when she was so
horrid."
She hurried across the street to
Clawson & Henry's big hardware
store. IT want to look at harrows,"
she said brathlessly. The salesman
promised that the one she ordered
would be out the next morning.
When she met Tom on the street
she smiled at him sweetly, and he
fairly beamed in the pleased recog-
milton that the storm had passed.
After he had put up the horse he
helped her get supper from the pan
try shelves, and then later he went
with her to put the babies to bed.
"KnoW what days tomorrow" he
asked her as they came downstairs
together.
Mary thought he had found out
that she had bought the harrow.
"Why, what do you mean?"
Tomorrow is some ones birthday.
Did you think had forgotten it?"
go" she challenged him tender
ly, that's why you had to go to
town today, cause tomorrow's my
birthday"
The next morning, ever time Mary
tried to peek furtively out the front
door to see it Clawson's team was
in sight, it seemed to her that Tom
was there, too. And when it finally
did come he was besides her. his arm
across her shoulders. AS the old
horse turned in the door yard, she
felt his arm tightens as he pulled
her closer.
IT'S you new harrow" she told
him, smiling softly up at him.
Harrow nothing" he replied, with
a joyous laugh. Its bringing the
electric stove I've been getting for
your birthday"