The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1869-02-02

Don't scoid me, Evy, please know
I've been very naughty to tease Luke so :
You have spoken nothing but the
truth" said Evelyn, quietly, with her
coral lips compressed, and scarlet spot
burning on either cheek "Clara, some
times wonder how | can endure the daily
cross of my husbands temper"
Icmperl' said Clara, with a toss OF
her chestnut brown hair. {" And the poor
dear fellow has no idea how disagreeable
he makes himself"
"Only this morning. said Evelyn,
"he punished Freddy with unrelent'ng
severity Tor a lit OF ill.humor which he
himself has duplicated within tue last
haIf hour. am not m0ralIst, but II
strikes the that the fault is rather more
10 be censured IN iull grown reasoning
man han in child.
Evelyn" said Clara gravely, ado
you suppose he is beyond the power of
cure Z"
II hope not, but what can | doi Shut
him up as he shut little Freddy =
Evelyn's merry, Irresistible laugh was
checked by the arch, peculiar expression
in Clara's blue eyes.
"Ths remedy needs to be something
short and sharp said Clara, land tue
dark closet system combines both requl.
sites. Tears and Mysteries are played
out long ago in matrimonial skiFmishes,
you know, Eyy,' . ...
Nonsense laughed Mrs. Darcy, ris-
ing from the breakfast table in obedience
to her husbands peremptory summons
from above stairs, while Clara shrugged
her shoulders and went to look tor her
work basket.
Luke was standing in front of his bu-
reau drawer, ninging shirts, collars, era
watts and stockings recklessly upon the
bedroom floor
ia like to know where my silk hand.
kerchiels are. Mrs Darcy y he tumed.
f" Such state as my bureau is IN is
enough to drive man crazy !
ITS enough to drive u woman crazy,
/ think said Evelyn hopelessly, s,oop.
ing to pick up II few OF the scattered sr.
ticlcs. @
You were at tho bureau last, Luke.
II is your own fault!'
MY fault--of course il is my fault ~
snarled Luke. giving Mrs Darcys poo
die kick that sent il bowling 10 its mis-.
tress. Anything but % womans retort-
ing. terminating tongue. Mrs. Darcy,
| won't endure ii and longer!
Neither will L said Evelyn, reso.
lutely advancing, as her husband plunged
into the closet for his Business coat, and
promptly shutting and locking the door.
Il think I've endured il. anite long
onough---and here is an end OF i'll"
Mrs. Darcy! open the door!' said
Luke, scarcely able to credit the evidence
of his own senses. tg -
Il shall do no such thing said Eve
lyn, beginning to rearrange shirts, stock
ings and flannel wrappers IN their proper
receptacles.
Mrs Dar---cyw roared Luke, at fe-
yer heat Of impotent rage, "what on
eaSth do YOU mean I"
II mean to keep you In that clothes
press, Mr. Darcy, until you have made
up your mind to come out in more
amiablc frame Of mind If the system
succeeds with Freddy, it certainly ought
to with you; and l am sure that your
temper is much more intolerable than
his.
There was dead silence u full sixty
seconds in the closet, then came q sudden
burst Of vocal wrath.
Mrs, Darcy, open the door this IN
slant, madam! ~
But Evelyn went on humming a saucy
littln opera air, and arranging her clothes
I'D you hear met 2"
Yes--I hear you"
Twill you obey me ?"
"Not until you have solemnly promis
ed me to put some sort Of control on
that temper of yours; not u;:..il you
pledge yourself hereafter to treat your
wife as a lady should be treated, not as u
menal." won't.
mo Then in that case / hope you
don't find the atmosphere at all oppres.
sve there, as think it probable you will
remain in there some time ~
Another sixty seconds ofdead silence,
then sudden rain Of heels and hands
against the relentless panels,
I" Let me out, say, Mrs Darcy mad
am, how dare you perpetrate this mon.
strous piece Of audacity 2"
Z" Ny dear Luke. how strongly you do
remind me Of Freddy! You see there is
nothing | have SO little tolerance for as
n bad temper. 1t ought to have been
checked long ago, only you know I'm so
ridiculously indulgeut"
Mr. Darcy WINGED little at the famil.
lar sound OF his own words
Tap tap.tap came softly at the door.
Mrs, Darcy composedly opened it, and
saw her husband s little office boy.
please, mem, there's some gentlemen
at the Office in great hurry TO see Mr..
Darcy Its about the Apologize will
case"
Mira Darcy hesitated an instant; there
Was triumphant rustic in the closet, and
her determination was taken.
"Tel the gentlemen that your master
has very bad headache, and won't. be
down town this morning"
Luke CRASHED his teeth audlbly. as
soon as the closing Of the door sdmon
ished him that he might do SO with safe
IT,
Mrs. Darcy, do you presume to in.
terfere with tae transaction Of business
that is vitality important maam, vitality
importantf" .l.r. .,.1 Iata
Mrs, Dgrcy nonchalantly took M tho