The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-05-01
The STRATEGiST
BY MARY T. NOLAN
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In the old. dull, uncOmplimentary
bureau-mirror she thus saw herself.
She had often told her husband that
a new mirror was needed for the
bureau.
"Wait till I get to work." was the
answer most often given; and meekly
and silently received.
Sam Judson was downright lazy.
He was a millwright. Now and then.
as the spirit moved him. he worked at
his trade for a cotton mill, mile from
his house.
No man-much less tOO-consider-
ate wife-could get Sam Judson to
work steadily. day In and day out,
TOR any length of time. He read
lot and smoked lot and jawed lot /;
all at his own sweet pleasure; and
thus idled away his tlme-and kept
his meek, thrifty little wife worrying
about what was to become of them.
One day Mrs. Judson received let
ter from her married daughter, Katie,
who lived in distant city. She read
this letter to her husband. and he
wasn't at all pleased at Katie's sug-
gestion that Ma Judson spend the
next six months with her.
This letter of Katle's now gave the
mother an inspiration.
She had been sweeping the upstairs
room, In, which the bureau with the
hazy mirror stood. Putting aside the
broom. Mrs. Judson opened a clothes
closet door.
From a hook she took q black
cloak with shiny Jet beadwork Of a
pretty and quaint design. She put the
cloak on, and tied the wide strings be-
meath q purposeful chin. Next her
hand went aloft to the closet shelf,
and came down with an article
wrapped in paper. Removing a num-
Der of pins from the wrapper. she
brought to light. and held out at arms
length before her. dark blue vel
vet hat with dlminutive forget-me-nots
tracing a light blue circle above the
brim.
1t was the hat that she ioved-the
most becoming and genteel hat she
ever had since her marriage day. And
Sam always liked her in that hat, too,
she reflected, as she adjusted it, be-
"You look like you was a million
aires wife-yes, you do. h0neyP the
pleased little lady whispered in conf
dence to her reflection.
The very Idea of likening herself to a
wealthy mans wife caused her to
laugh as at a huge joke, for upon
peerlng Into her pocketbOok, she saw
there one 5O-cent piece.
1t was about time she thought. to
start something-or starve.
With the unconquerable courage of
one going forth to fight for a just
cause against a strongly-entrenched
adversary. she marched down the
stairs to where the indolent man of
the house could usually be located
Samuel
There was something startling in
that sharplyspoken name to the col
larless, slippered individual seated in
stove. No one had ever before called
him Samuel. that he knew of. Twas
always Sam.
Mumbling to himself at being thus
rudely disturbed in his cogitations,
Sam slowly arose, and, Strengthening
up with an effort, saw determined
looking little lady gazing scornfully
upon him.
Then he let out roar. BLOW me, II
t amt my own little Janey! Ma. you
near scared me t death -
might as well be scared t. death
as starved t DEATH" proclaimed the
metamorphosed Mrs. Judson. Sam
uel Judson. you've not earned red
cent for a month, and there's Just fifty
cents between us and tn poorhouse! |!
VIII you-or will you not-go right
down to tn mill. and sit to work."
1t was a vulnerable attack, this on
slaught by ma on his lifelong, per
sonal prerogative. 1t actually made
him feel sick and weak.
I'll go-now-right or" said Sam,
meek as lamb. I'm tired Of loafing
round here. anyway"
Then a look of fright stole over his
face, for he became possessed of an
idea that ma would never have shown
such an Independent spirit II some
body wasn't backing her up. -Katis's
Invitation to ma! All. there he had
the solution.
The troubled man took his wife's
two hands in his, and tremblingly held
them, while his eyes. near to tears,
looked pleadingiy. lovingly. into those
Of his wife.
"You were goin'-goln' to Katie's"
she heard him say.
"Some other, time" was her gentle
answer; and, AZ an after-thought: 1T
all depends on you, Sam. from now
on r- -f sr+ Is.
"rll do right by you. for the future.
ma. promised Sam Judson. clumsily
endeavoring, to tuck under her hat a
wisp Of grayish hair that had strayed
down onto mothers cheek.
A short while thereafter. he was
walking briskly down the road that