The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-12-23
BY MARGARET WEYMOUTH
JACKSON


mas present. He had said he
wanted an electric train for
Christmas, and Maude bought him
one and brought it home and
showed it to Kenneth after Rod
die was in bed.
Kenneth looked at 1t without
enthusiasm.
How much did it cost2" he
asked. Maude said slowly (she
really hated to tell HIM:
Fourteen dollars, Ken. They
had three sizes and this was the
cheapest. 1t just has the tracks
and cars and the transformer"
Kenneth's brows grew black.
Listen, Maude," he said, his
voice sharp. how do you get that
way? Paying s14 for an electric
train for a kid years old, when
we still owe DR.. Murphy for all
that trouble Roddie had with his
ears last winter?
IT'S nonsense-an electric train
for kid that small! He won't
be able to run it himself, and We
can't afford it-and he can't
have it!
Did I have an electric train
web I was years old? Did I
have thirteen suits, and the finest
wool and silk underwear, and four
or five different pairs of shoes
and a REFER coat from Fink's
that cost as much as a mans?
You're making a fool out of
yourself and the kid, and If you
don't slow down and use some
sense, you and 1 are going to have
real serious trouble"
1T seems to me we've got it
now" said Maude, her lips trem-
bling, her eyes filling with tears.
IF it was left to you, Roddie
would have notohing to wear but
overalls, and maybe one cheap lit
tie wash suit for Sunday school,
and one pair of cheap shoes. 1
try to be good mother to Rod
die"
You might think little about
being a good wife to me while you
are at it" he said, his voice ris-
ing. why shouldn't Roddie wear
cheap shoes, and overalls, too, as
far as that goes? He's just a lit
tie boy.
you keep me in debt all the
time. The more I earn, the more
you buy. I'm sick and tired of it.
I'm trying to get on my feet,
and trying to look a little to the
future. Better for the kid to wear
overalls now and have an educa-
ton later!"
He said more, but her mind had
liked on only one reproach.
You think I'm not a good wife
to your"
1t was thin ice. Buth Kenneth
was mad clear through.
Yes, I think you're not a good
wife" he told her. Just because
you keep the apartment clean and
spend every minute on Roddie
doesn't make you a good wife!
You ought to do that.
Il don't think any woman's a
good wife who sacrifices her man
to false ideas of grandeur, who
keeps him always in debt to get
things for her little boy-things
his father can't Afford"
TIL not stay with you another
Il day, Kenneth Williams" she
cried. I'm glad I found out what
you think of me"
There was evidently no repair
ing it. The things they said grew
worse and worse.
1 fonly he hadn't said that
about her not being a good wife!
In the end they did something
they'd never done before. They
went to bed angry with each
other. Kenneth got his pillow and
a comforter and went to sleep on
the couch and Maude criew for
long time, thinking of all she had
done for Kenneth and Roddie and
how hard she had worked and
never spared herself a minute.
And just because she wanted
things nice for her beautiful lit
tie boy
She was dreadfully wounded.
1t was essential that she have the
affectionate regard of the people
she loved, and Kenneth hadn't
miced words-he didn't like her
any more. He didn't want her
for his wife. She grew more and
more unhappy until sleep and ex-
haustion quieted her.
But in the morning she slept
late, and Kenneth was gone, and
Roddie up, playing about in his
pajamaS, when she finally
awakened.
In a quiet. heay mood she
dressed the small boy and gave
him his breakfast. Kenneth had
gone off without making up with
her. 1t was the end, she told
herself dramatically.
Nc AAoOC uP AICI ulltlu, DIS SHE
drank little coffee-she was too
heartsick to eat anything-that
she would leave him today. It
wasn't the first qaurrel they had
had about money, but it was the
worst. Maude felt that she didn't
want to see Kenneth again-ever!
If that was what he thought of
her-if he thought she wasn't
god wife, after she chad loved him
SO, and had worked her fingres to
the bone for him-if that was
what he thought, she might as
we'll clear out-leave him, and let
him save his old money!
Her mother had told her. when
she married Kenneth that any
time she wanted to, she could
come home. Now she would do
it!
Her father, too, had given ner
500 when she was married.
Its a trouble stake, Maude,"
he had told her. It's Just an
emergency fund, but you're never
to use it unless you are in really
serious trouble. It's not to buy
fI,i,,oc 49,.