Evening star., 1927-10-07

other. All depended on the way one
held the chimney.
You might say" she told herself
whmsically. that the long way -
how. l look before ! begin tv .ash
lamps. and the short way is how l
look after I've got 'em DONE
She placed the polished chimney on
the lamp and set the lamp with itS
fellows ON the long shelf over the
hand lamps that were intended to light
ones footsteps into remote glooms
like the cellar. Every morning Rosina
had to wash and fill them ALL
IF Cosmo could only learn to use
the same lamp twice" she sighed.
But just because they're on the shelf.
all clean and handy. he thinks he must
use 'em all. He never stops to think
CT the work 1t makes me or how
hate to wash lamps. I've often
thought I'd ST right down and do q
little figuring and show him the re-
suits. Eleven lamps n day for seven
days would be 81 week. and So
weeks III year"
Rosina, overcome by these numbers.
dropped into chair.
MY goodness me- she gasped. III
ever let myself think of the lamps
I've washed since 1 started house
keeping, they'd have to take me to
kirkvile To ths asylum. Don't seem
like l could keep it up forever. I've
a great mind to ask Cosmo to put in
electric lights
That afternoon she asked him. She
waited until he had eaten a fun meal
OF roast beef and apple dumpling
Experience had taught Rosina that
her husband had a more open mind
after his stomach was we'll filled.
THE way to a mans heart" she had
trained herself to rely upon.
The way to Cosmo Gregory's heart
seemed likely to be a short journey
today. for he had praised the dump
ling. thing he seldom did. So she
started in with scarcely the usual
reluctant shiver.
having electric lights put in the
house,"
Cosmo looked at her. He was q
large, bushy-headed man. with a eau
tious eye.
Haven't you got lamps enough?"
He glanced jocularly at the shining
row on the shelf above the sink. In
cold weather they ate in the kitchen.
Since there were only the two of them
In the household. 1t seemed scarcely
worth while to heat up the large din.
ing room.
Everybody on this street has elec.
trio lights but U.s." Rosina said.
Everybody on this streets got q
car but US. but that don't mean we're
going to have one"
Il wouldn't flip a cent for a car.
But do want the lights"
II guess you'll have to get along
without 'em. Rosina. 1 don't see my
way clear to stand any such un.
necessary expense. a lamps always
been good enough for me, and is yet,
and amt saying but 1t always will
be-"
Rosina felt Il spark of temper She
had helped Cosmo save a great deal OF
money. They could scarcely use up
their income. He was Sailing" funls
every day. She had never in her lie
asked for anything that was not per.
fectly reasonable. and she felt she was
not doing go now.
"Cosmo, I've just been counting up.
/ wash IL lamps every day. that's "a
q week. 3os month. 1906 a year.
We've been married 81 years, and that
makes
Hold on here Cosmos amuss.
ment had changed to alarm. He arose
hastily. Don't you get your head
turned with figures, Rosina," he said,
Rosina's brown eyes snapped, her
lips closed firmly.
He won't hear to having lights.
can see that" she said. But IL I
could convince him"
She went to the stove TO draw back
the dancing teakettle. The movement
was so sudden that the lid few of.
Rosina felt burning pain. The es.
Gaping steam had blistered her right
hand.
She dressed the wound and applied
a big bandage. 1t was very awkward
and painful.
You'll have to get along the best
you can. Cosmo," she said when he
returned to the house. II can't do
much with my left hand"
He was agreeable and sympathetic.
Don't you worry Rosina. I'll look
after everything. I'll be the incest
hired girl you ever saw" he promised.
Rosina directed him and helped
when she could. He was not trained
to the part. Few husbands are. But
he did exceedingly well. considering
that he was Cosmo Gregory and
Rosinas husband.
You mustn't forget the lamps, YOU
know. Cosmo." Rosina said to him
next morning.
He had been so good and patient
thus far that she disliked TO insist
upon his doing what she so hated to
do herself. Her fleeting anger of yes.
terday had left no trace, but that was
the way with all her anger. She
really pitied h'm now when he looked
at the long row of lamps. They were.
of course. all in need of attention.
can they go one day." he asked.
NO. Cosmo; they can't"
H.
clumsy man as he toiled at the brittle
things. 1t was no surprise to her
when he broke chimney. He swept
up the pieces carefully. After he had
gone out of doors. Rosina got her
spectacles and examined the lamps.
She shook her head dolefully. The
chimneys were dreadfully smudgy,
hut she supposed they would have 10
go that way.
That night it troubled her to see
how Cosmo tried to remember not TO
light different lamp every time he
wanted to go down cellar or into the
for something
Next morning after he had washed
the lamps for the second time he sat
down at the kitchen table.
what were those figgers you were
telling me about the other day,
Rosina?" he asked.
You mean about the lamps"
Eyes"
Lend me your pencil and an old
envelope"
He found both in his pocket and
they id some close calculating. After
a while Cosmo drew a deep breath.
Who'd have thought it," he NUT.
tered
An hour later he came into the
mouse from the woodshed. where he
nad been splitting wood, whistling. as
he always did when his mind was fun
Of some great concern. In surprise.
Rosina saw him put on his second
best coat. which was always a sign