The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-04-23

fault Is rather more TO De eensured 10
a full grown reasoning man than in
Evelyn" said Clara, gravely, do
you suppose he is beyond the power
OF cure? :"
Il hope not; but what can l do?
Shut him up, as he shut up little
Freddy?"
Evelyu's merry. irresistible laugh
was checked by the arch, peculiar ex-
preston in Ciara's blue eyes.
The remedy needs to be some
thing short and sharp" said Clara,
"aud the dark closet system combines
both requisites. Tears and Mysteries
were played out long ago in matrimo-
NAL skirmishes, you know, Eva.
( " NONSENSE laughed Mrs. Darcy,
rising from the breakfast table in
obedience to her husbands peremp-
tory summons from above stairs,
while Clara shrugged her shoulders
and went to look for her work basket.
Luke was standing In front of his
! bureau drawer, hinging shirts, collars,
cravats and stockings recklessly upon
the bed room floor.
I'D like to know where my silk
handkerchiefs are, Mrs. Darcy" he
fumed. Such state Rs 2 bureau
is In is enough to drive a man crazyl"
It's enough to drive a woman
| crazy, think, said Evelyn, hope
lessly, STOPPING to pick up few of
the scattered articles.
You were at the bureau last,
Luke. 1t is your own fault"
My fault - of course it's my
fault" snarled Luke, giving Mrs.
Darcy's poodle a kick that sent it
bowling to its mistress. Anything
but a woman's retorting and recrimi-
mating tongue. Mrs. Darcy, | won't
endure it any longer"
Neither will | - said Evelyn, re-
solutely advancing, as her husband
plunged into the closet for his bust
ness coat, and promptly shutting and
locking the door. - think | have
endured it quite long enough-and
here is an end of 1t !"
Mrs. Darcy, open the door," said
Luke, scarcely able to credit the evil
dence of his own senses.
Il shall do no such thing" SAID
Mrs Darcy, cOmposedly beginning to
re- arrange shirts, stockings aud fan
mel wrappers In their appropriate re-
ceptacles.
Mrs. Darcy" reared Luke, at
fever heat OF impOtent rage, what on
earth do you meanY'
Il mean to keep you in that clothes
press, Mr.. Darcy, until you have
made up your mind to come out In a
more amiable frame of mind. If the
system succeeds with Freddy, it GER
tainly opght to with you; and | am
sure your temper Is much more intol-
cradle than his.
There was a dead silence of fully
sixty seconds in the closet, then
sudden burst of vocal wrath.
Mrs. Darcy, open the door this
instant, madam"
But Evelyn went on humming a
saucy little opera air and arranging
her clothes.
Do you hear me2"
Yes, hear you
VIII you obey me?"
Not until you have solemnly
promised me to put some sort of con-
troll on that temper of yours; not
until you pledge yourself hereafter to
treat your wire as a lady should be
treated, not as a mental"
=" won'tW
mo? Then in that case I hope
you don't find the atmosphere at all
oppressive there; | think it probable
you will remain there some time!'
Another sixty seconds of dead ST.
lence, then a sudden rain of heels
and hands against the wooden panels.
!" Let me out, | say, Mrs. DarcyI
| Madam. how dare you perpetrate this
monstrous piece of audacity?"
" My dear Luke, how strong you do
remind me Of Freddy. You see there
| is nothing | have so little tolerance
for az bad temper. 1t ought to have
| been checked long ago, only you know
| | am 50 rldlcu onsly indulgent"
Mr.. Darcy WINGED a little at the
familiar sound OF his own words
Tap, tap-tap, came softly at the
door. Mrs. Darcy composedly open
ed it, aud saw her husbands little
office boy.
" Please, mem, there's some gentle
men at the Office in a great hurry to
see Mr.. Darcy. It's about the Apple
gate will ease.
Mrs. Darcy hesiiated an instant;
there was triumphant rustic in the
closet, and her determination was
taken.
" Tell the gentlemen that your
master has bad headache, and won't
be down this morning"
Luke CRASHED his teeth audibly, as
soon as the closing OF the door adj
monished him that he might do so
with safety
Mrs. Darcy, do you presume to
interfere with the transaction of bust
ness that is vitality important, ma am,
vitality Important"
Mrs. Darcy ncnchalantly took up
the little opera air where she had left
it, letting the soft Italian words rip
pie musically off her tongue.
Evelyn, dear!''
What is it, Luke?" she asked,
mildly.
Please let me out. My dear, this
may be joke to you, but"
assure you, Luke, it's nothing
of the kind 1T is the sOberest of seri-
Gus matters to me. 1t is a question
as to whether my future life Shall be
miserable or happy"
There was third brief interval of
silence.
Evelyn" said Luke, presently, in
a subdued voice, will you open this
door?"
"On one condition onlyr"
And what is that?''
All! ahr thought the little Lieu
tenat General, he's beginning to
entertain terms of capitulatlon, is he?
On conditions" she added aloud,
that you will break yourself of the
habit of speaking SHARPLY and GROSSLY
TO me, and on all occasions keep your
temper"
:" My temper, indeed" sputtered
. Luke.
just your temper" returned his