The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1871-10-27

anu CONVERSATION anu nh TINS rNchiiSs bt
little effort, | had my ewes aud ears open,
and taneied | detected an effort ON her
part TO bc as entertaining as possible, not
only TO Mrs Perkins, but 20 her husband,
Aud wonderfully she succeeded, too
She talked little domestic matters moth
ing high flown aud distant and grandllo-
anrnt, but the little bits Of domestic and
social gossip in which all men are inter
ested, and To listen 90 which j. often u
positive relief after day OF dollars and
cents, or dIy-goods and groceries. And In
+ listening and replying 20 her aud her
/ ffiend's remarks, with an occasional word
IRON myself, the dinner hour passed rapid
/ " away, an hour after that sped quickly
/ by, and Peters wife suggested 10 hum that
/ IL was time 60 areSS for the club.
"Now, Nellie M'Lean exclaimed Ms.
I Perkins, " 1 think YOU are really stupid.
/ Mr.. MLean would have forgotten all about
I the club am sure he had already for
/ gotten it."
And therefore | reminded him Of IL, y
/ ssil Nellie. know Peter wouldn't 20
/ il he did not expect 60 enjoy II, and |
wouldn't have him miss an evenings en-
/ ioyment tor the world. Oh course would
/ like him 90 stay at acme, since can't go,
/ IL | thought be would enjoy home As
much but know he Is curious 20 see Mr..
Dutton, and don't want 10 see him dis
appointed. win you 20 dress now, Peter 7
Mrs. Perkins will excuse you won't you ~
"Oh, there's time Vet, my dear said
/ Peter. an rest awhile longer"
"0h, wise young witen thought |.
/ | think Mrs. Perkins was haltinclined To
think so too, from the way she looked at
I Nellie as she again sat down by Peters
I side, and took his hand in hers, and played
with il while she talked as lively as ever.
Ii was eight o'clock when Peter M'Lcan
/ jumped up from his chair and said he real
/ IL must dress. II could by any means
have stopped the pendulum Of the clock
on the mantle, so that il could not have
struck eight. l don't think be would have
thought again Of the club, for il was the
striking Of the clock, and not his wife,
which reminded him Of his engagement
this time. lie did get up this time, and
saying he had half mind not % 60 az all,
be went out OF tie room. with many Apol-
I ogies 20 Mrs. Perkins, 60 dreSs. Nellie, OF
course, went with him; and | had favor
able Opportunity Of studying the effect of
this lesson on Mrs. Perkins
| She remained in deep thought for several
minutes She had womans wit enough TO
understand Nsllie's tactics, and she was
evidently rejecting on what she had seen
and heard. But, little fearful that she
did not fully appreciate the moral, ven
turcd suddenly 10 ask her If she bad ever
read OF seen the play OF "A Woman killed
by Kindness
any goodness! what funny question ~
she exclaimed. No. What Is IL about p
"Nor Rule Wife and have a Wife 2 =
"No,n she said more seriously. " But
why, Uncle John :"
"They Ars very clever, sensible things
I 20 come from a man but | fancy Nellie
could have told him more about ruling a
4 husband and having a husband than be
knew about ruling wives"
"She does get along nicely with Peter, "
she said. Doesn't she
Very-and it's just so all the time
The fact il, Mrs. Perkins, Peter is n man
killed by kindness
I She was silent for n moment.
81 know what you mean. Uncle John"
she said at length, half angrily.
a am glad you do,n | answered.
"You mean that Mr.. Perkins amt
Well. you know best about that, my
dear and since you say he amt, believe
you. But think YOU will find that it's
the easiest way 90 rule any spirited man
worth having for a husband, such as ]
think Perkins is"
She had neither inclination nor time 10
answer this. for Peter and Nellie came in
TO the room again he dressed very hand
somely, and with his hat in his hand lie
was making his apologies Co Mrs. Perkins,
and about 20 leave, when the door-bcll
rang. The servant answered the sum
mons, and admitted a gentleman, who
was at once shown TO the sitting room.
''Why, it's Mr.. Perkins - exclaimed Nell
lie.
"Why, George cried his wife, running
up TO him and kissing him.
Halo, Perkins, said Peter; home
80 soon 7n
"Yes; | came home, found my wife
was here, and posted after her.n
d But the club! Sit down, sit down.
How about the club 2"
"0h, a swindlel Chamberlain and
went there. The place was 80 crowded
that we got a late dinner, and not the
choicest at that. When the reception
hour and the distinguished guest came, we
found the place SO crowded that we looked
and felt what vulgar fractions we were. go-
ing along with many hundred Others 20
make up a contemplate whole. The guest
was little, dried-up old Englishmsn, and
nothing like our beau ideal OF great mer-
chant. Then the introductions began, and
the amount Of toadying and stupid, un-
meaning and unmeant compliments was SO
disgusting that Chamberlain, with his usu-
al Western brusqucness, said he wouldn't
condescend to be introduced, and left. And
so did too. Don't you CO."
And Peter did not He and his wife
cbatted with the choice Of my heart and
her husband for an hour, during which Mrs.
Perkins was unusually loving and kind,
and then they went home. Then thought
il was time for me 10 go, and leave my
young folks 20 themselves but il was not
until had seen Peter back again into his
gown and slippers, and domestic as a cat.
p. ST. wrote all the above year ago,
at the time the circumstances occurred
have nothing to add but the fact that
NJ Lean 4 Perkins, dealers in Wholesale
dry-goods, l000l Church Street, are not
now represented in any social club; and
that do not know Of any two husbands
more thoroughly and discreetly ruled by
kindness in the whole of this great city Of
New York than they are.