The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-10-17
How Maggie Arnold Cured her Husband
Of SmOhiny,

. I J
discovered any signs of him. At last tiret
of waiting, she arose, and hastily unfasten
ed her bonnet and shawl, flung them with
an impatient gesture upon table. "Soms
unforeseen circumstances delayed me-" viii
be his excuse tonight, suppose; but the
aext time he invites me to walk | shall have
previous engagcment-of course SHALL
Descending to the sitting room, the first
sight greeted her eyes was the veritablc sub.
ject of the last hours cogitations. There
he sat, the very personification of calm
content and happiness, reading the news
and putting away so busiy at fragrant
Havana, that he appeared as if he never
again expected to enjoy such treat The
room was filled with dense smoke his hat
had fallen to the floor, and lay so close to
the CRATE that it seemed in great danger Of
getting scorched. A single glance took in
the whole scene, and her exclamation was,
"well, declare Fred, if this amt too pro-
voking Here find you sitting smoking
with as much unconcern as if you hadn't
asked me to walk, and not waiting with
the patience Of Job-or, as Fanny Fern
more uuthfully says, "with the patience of
woman for your lordship's appearance :"
/ But my DEAR" blandly answered Fred,
Il had such nice cigar thought would
T
you did wait just minute or two but new
er mind it now, Maggie; I'll soon finish it
and then well take the walk So look plea
SAINT, and smiling" and stroking her hair,
"a he would have done TO soothe frighten-
ed kitten.
But Maggie Arnold was sadly vexed she
was in no mood to be easily coaxed. Fred's
first remarks Were still sounding in her ears
end so she answered, echoing his words,
Little consequence, to be sure, since you
are wiling to neglect me for that filthy cigar.
| Oh, Fred, you'll break my heart! you will
| never leave off smokiug-oh dear! oh dear!
| shall certainly die!" and the miserable
lady threw herself upon the sofa, and gave
way to violent fit of weeping.
Fred jumped up, took the cigar from his
lips, and placing it upon the mantle piece.
There said he, II have done smok ns-"
"For ever" interrupted Maggie, looking
up with an enquiring gaze.
"For now" replied Fred; and he went
on to say, now for the walk please tell
me where | nay find my cane; come, Mag
gle"
But, Fred, you will leave off smoking
you love me, do YOU not:"
All, yes, TO distraction, dear lady" he
answered, with theatrical start; placing
IN about her waist, he gently lifted her
from the sofa.
Don't talk such nonsense" persisted the
offended one; say, now, when will you
leave off smoking:"
Cant say" replied Fred, oarelessly.
Why not:" said Maggie; and echo an
swer. why not:"
"The plague take me if can answer that
ques,eion,' said Fred, to himself. \ mo-
ment's silence, then he quickly answered,
don't know, Maggie"
=" Are you a Know Nothing 2 asked
Maggie.
YES said Fred. And again there was
a pause for the space OF five minutes, during
which time our hero amused himself by
walking backwards and forwards whistling
the patriotic tune Of "Red, White and Blue"
As for Maggie, she appeared to be intcntly
regarding the wrought figure in the .ear-
stained handkerchief with an uncommon in
tcreSt. There was evidently some impor-
tant thing revolving in her mind-whether
it was the subject of the late conversation
or something else, we shall ascertain here
after.
At last, suddenly jumping up as though
the conclusion was arrived, she tn ust her
handkerchief into TO her pocket, and said,
as she turned toward the door, I'll be rea-
dv for the walk soon"
There was a menacing smile upon her
countenance as she said this and Fred saw,
but could not understand IT, 1t was smile
of satisfaction; a reproachful smile, too--in
short, it was very queer kind of smile;
and in vain did he endeavor to solve it.
But while the married pair are enjoying
the walk, we will take a retrospective view
of their past history, at least few months
back.
Frederick and Margaretta Arnold had
been welded a year. and nothing had occur
to mar their conjugal happiness except that
tie former was exceedingly fond Of cigars,
viii was source o. great annoyance to
the latter.
Maggie, as she was familiarly called, was
a neat and busy house wife, and il was very
vexing 10 her to behold parts of cigars lay
ing about. sometimes upon the mantle, and
sometimes upon the floor. Quite often she
would find a half-smok ed one resting upon
the ,nowy cloth that covered it with ashes.
Besides she did not like the smell of cigars;
she hated the smoke; it always made her
eyes smart badly. But she at first only
chided her careless husband. who wondered
greatly what she could find so very disa-
greeable in his choice of cigars.
Thus far no progress had been made in
his reformation, and she saw him growing
more and more incorrigible every day as
the habit grew stronger. No method had
presented itself to her mind by which she
could bring about the consummaton of her
great wish, until the event occurred where
our sketch opens; when she beheld herself
of secondary importance to fine cigar, she
though, it time to do something. While
she sat upon the sofa a desperate resolution
was taken-it was this: She resolved that
she would begin to smoke cigars herself
disagreeabe as they were. "Ana just as
long as Fred smokes l SHALL" she silently
mused.
Frederick was good hearted fellow, and
dearly loved his dark-eyed Maggie, and
meant to do everything to make her happy.
As for the habit of smoking, he did not
actually realize it to be source of annoy
ance and unhappiness to her. Either his
extreme love for it had blinded him to a
knowledge Of the state of her feelings, or
his odd notions, which men always have
that women are whimsical" led him to
disregard alike her gentle chidings and re-
monstrances.
ly thoughtful, Maggie" said Fred Arnold to
his wife, as they entered the sitting-room
after their return from their walk What
in the world are you thinking OFF,"
"Oh, something-the very same thing
that occupied my thoughts while sitting
there an hour since," said she. pointing to
the sofa.
"Ah, indeed!" said Fred. "Well, what
of it 2"
"That you shall soon know" she replied
How very mysterious you are" laughed
Fred, as he took another Havana from his
cigar case. Lighting it, he walked from the
room bidding her at the same time very
affectionate "good bye"
The street door had hardly closed when