Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1870-08-05
SEL.ECTgY) :. STORY
THE FIRST QUARREL.

declare, George Graham, if you arm
enough to try the patience Of Job [ don
believe there is another woman living tina
has to bear what I do who'll ever thinl
that came in here after breakfast ant
worked good hour putting things to rights
and now what does it lock like p
! Tears stood il the little wfc's eyes ant
her face heightened out till you would have
thought she had just heard of death.
"What is it, Susie what's up now p
What does vhat look like And Mr.. Ora
ham turned carelcssly, and good naturally
too, from the double loaded article on Re
construction, which he had been SO earnest.
ly reading, that though he had heard, he
had scarcely comprehcnded . word of com
! plant. .sa+ 81. y11 1
"That's just like you, George! II were
to tell you that the house was on fire you'd
only look round and say, Where, Susie p
He laughed, hearty laugh it was, too,
clear and ringing, a laugh that many Q wife
would have treasured Up as lpen Do pearls
and precious stones.
It nettled Mrs. Graham and she said
sharply-''H you'd open your eyes, you'd
see what does uhat look like"
He rubbed them briskly, and then peered
around the room.
| II declare Susie [ don't know what you
mean The carpet is swept, the furniture
is busted, the fire briglt-what is it? /
can't for the life Of me see anything wrong. "
''You can't? No, of course you can't i
See here, ard there. and there" and she
pointed rapidly, her emphasis growing more
incisiye each time, to his heavy oyerooat
which lay a tumbled mass on the lounge
to his hat, which was lodged uncere,aoni-
ously in the middle of her work basket, to
his rubbers which were roasting on the stove
health, aud to his gloves which he'd demprc-
ly settled themselves on the mantle piece
Il sec, I see, Susie but then you know
I'm careless. good ior-notbing sort of a
fellow who never had eng bringing up, and
you must make allowance, my dear aud
tossing the paper on the table, he caught
her hand and drew her gently upon his lap
and said, soothingly, as one might talk to a
fretful child, "Don't be GROSS now, pet, be-
cause I didn't mean anything bad, you
know Put up your lips and let me kiss
away the pout.' s.:
But the lips Mers net put up to meet the
touch Of those bearded ones. Instead, they
assumed rigidity, squareness, immoblity
"lfust have the lecture first wife, be-
fore I can either give OR claim kiss Well,
out with it then The sooner I'm whipped
the sooner it will stop hurting, as [ used to
say to the boys when the schoolmaster was
after me with the rod Of correction But
SUSIE" and here his tones, which had been
ocular, assumed touching aarnestness. Il
don't like this being scolded every timo !
come into the house. I have borne it so far
patiently, but it is wearing out my temper.
I shap't be able to hold out much longer,
Tn afraid shall sooid bacs, and we'll
quarrel, and then-our home, but shall
say it, Susie what too many homes are,
nothing more nor less than cheap editions Of
bell itself" ri ana e.G0rg 4Fe. ..z0 =
g"Bpt, George, how canI help it? You
do try me terribly. !" A5 g.e.ra3 40
"How, Susie? I" eT Z 10 s'>.asre ldr4
"Why, by not putting your things where
they belong. | was brought up to have
place for everything, and everything in its
place, and it does worry me to come in from
the kitchen, tired and hot, and then find the
sitting room looking SO. I like to have
things neat and orderly" Gs,l4 s.,t a .a ....
but you know we can't have everything
We want in this world, Susie and is il
worth while for you to fret your life away
because I can't always think to put my
gloves in my pocket, and hang up my Goa
and hat, and leave my pobers in the en-
tryP" 81. 80 3'S' 4 tIg.
That word ''fret" was an unfortunate
one ; it stung her, aud she said bitterly
but you nerer think, George. 10
come rushing in like wbirlwind, and YOU
toss your things pell-mel every which way
and if they are ever picked up and put il
their plae, it is me, and not you that doe
it, and I am getting tired of it. | cant ant
won't stand it any lopger'' s"a
"What will you do, Susie?" There wa
severity in his tone now.
"Do? Why, wont stand it. won't b
any mans slave y and the black eyes fash
ed defantly. 4e
Did I ever ask you to be my slave p
The map's eyes were flashing nov.
t "But what else am n I toll like en-
from morning to night to do up the wor
and put things in order, and you come
+ and undo it all, just as have got through
y 1t is enough to make saint swear.
She was so excited now she hardly kne'
ghat she said.
"And what am ~ he retorted Il
2 you're slave, Pm quite as much. Wh
turns every cent that is brought, in? Wh
:. pays the rent, and buys the fuel, and Ivy
:, in the provisions? Who clothes Mrs. Su
! san Graham, I'd like to know y
eShe earned her own clothes once, an
Gan Do it again, George Graham It il
: necessary, and no thanks to you or an
other man. tda
ut is pity she hadn't kept on earnln
ii them herself Then she would never hay
had to pick up and put away her husbands $
and he-well, it wouldn't be gentlemanly
|. sag IT" -,
t F"Dut, with it, sir. Never spoil lok