Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-03-17
Mad In Spite Of HImselr.

| Past this city by the sea
Mad In Spite Of Himself.
Everything goes wrong" said Mr.. Trip
/ Ter, laying down his knife and fork with the
face Of a martyr
There are some people in the world with
whom everything seems chemically 30 90
wrong--there are some whose first infantine
wall is uttered in the minor key, and who 60
| on lamenting through life and Of this much
abused class Mr. Nathan Tripler was burn
/ ing and a shining light.
What's the matter, dear 2" questioned
/ Mrs. Tripler, who sat opposite to her hus-
band with a round-eyed baby on her knee,
and two or three little ones clanoring for
| their share of the mutual meal on either side
Of her
Mrs. Iripler was trim, neatly-made little
woman, with blue eyes and haxen hair-a
woman who might have been pretty could
| she have diyested herself Of a certain fright
ened apprehensive look that came over her
| face whenever her liege lord spoke or looked
toward her. Not that Dorothy Trpler was
actually afraid-her husband had never
either beaten her or used corrective meas
! ures, but when a man begins TO find fault,
woman is never easy in her mind lest some
| domestic screw should be waxing loose.
81 can't eat a mouthful, Dorothy" croaked
/ Mr.. Tripler, dolefully. Such cooking and
such food You may as well turn that new
cook of yours into the streets at once"
But, Nathan, II am very sorry, cooked
the breakfast myself, dear, this morning.
Isn't it nice 2"
Nice Yes-yery nice for those who
can digest feathers aud drink dishwater "
The biscuits are fresh and hot, Nathan"
81 don't want to be poisoned with hot
bread"
And | thought the beefsteak was unu-
sually tender
No reply. Mr.. Tripler had folded his
arms, and was gazing with an expression Of
abstracted despair at the ceiling.
"Will you have another cup Of coffeeY -
mildly questioned his wife.
Coffee Is that coffee Really
thought it was hot water that had got into
the urn 10y mistake
al will order some fresh made" said Mrs.
Tripler, with her hand on the bell-rope.
You will do no such thing, ma'am, if
you please said Mr. Tripler, shortly my
appetite is destroyed"
win you have an egg boiled ?"
"No."
There is some very nice ham in the
| pantry"
81 dare say-there always is when don't
want it,"
81 am very sorry, Nathan said poor lit
tie Mrs. Tripler despairugly."
! Yes, she was sorry, this faithful, much en-
during wife nor did the frequent repetition
of this domestic storm at all abate her peni-
tence and sense of guilt. Some women
would have got accustomed TO this daily dis
turbance and thrown it off as a robin casts
the dew from her wing. Not SO Dorothy
Tripler She was too sensitive, too consci-
entious too delcately organized TO laugh off
her troubles as some surface-deep characters
would have done. SO when her husband
had departed, still grumbling under his
breath, as he slammed the door, she leaned
her throbbng head upon one weary, little
hand and murmured softly to herself
"Oh, | wish Nathan was diiferentw
Then, as if she had uttered high treason,
she started TO her feet, checked the sensation
Of repining and began industriously TO pre-
pare the three apple-cheeked, tow-headed
little Triplers for school.
"lts Monday morning, aud Nathan don't
like them TO be too late" thought the meek
spirited wife.
Meanwhile Mr.. Tripler was slowly walk
ing down the path through the wild and soli-
tary glen that led 10 the road where, twice a
day, the Lendville stage rolled by, C, yeying
passengers TO the train at Martins station
1t was cheaper to live in the country, and SO
Mr., Tripler lived there, although, as far as ac-
tual tastes went, he didn't know buttercur
from burdock.
As Nathan trudged along, thinking how
best to get rid Of some troublesome shares OF
railway stock that we're sinking uncomforta
bly, on his hands, he suddenly became con
scious Of the presence Of man, stout and
middle-aged, with head as smooth as a bill
lard ball, who was sitting on boulder OF
moss-grown stone Just where the pathway
merged into the Lendyille road.
"Good morning, SIR said the stranger
Have a seat -
Mr. Tripler had no very strong social ele
, ments in his nature, so he sttly inclined hi'
/ head and kept on his way. But the first he
, knew two iron grasps were on his shoulder
. he felt himself twirled suddenly around like
/ a human humming top, and seated will
/ more force than was exactly agreeable on thu
e boulder.
\ What do YOU mean
Dear me :" suddenly interrupted this un
5 comfortable companion, "what very ME
hat you have. Now, what do you say 10 eS
? changing hats Mine is very nice straw
but find il somewhat heating to the brain.
You are welcome, sir," faltered the trem
ulous Nathan, speaking all the more rapid
in that the froakish maniac had alread
7 deity effected the change.
( I" And your coat, too-uice, cool liner
Upon my word, now that coat is intinitel
a preferable TO this swallow-tailed concern o
. mine with brass buttons, les--it fits m
7 very nicely, hope you don't object 10 th
b accommodation 2"
, "N-no !" faltered Mr.. Tripler
2 "Well, good morning" said the stranger
1 looking around with a bewildered air. "
: don't really see where my chief orderly is
!. told him to be here precisely at nine o'cloc
4 and everything will be In confusion il
$ don't attend to II personally"
d lie plunged into the green dense fastnesse
e of the woods, talking restlessly 10 himself a
4 he went, and Mr. Nathan Tripler was lei
alone in coarse straw hat and a coat o
;. coarse blue cloth, ganished with huge meta
e buttons, whose brilliancy was considerabl
d tarished.
A Dear me, what figure | cut, groane
4 Mr.. Tripler, eying himself with disgust "
1. must go directly home and get on somethin
), decent A man would be hooted throug
the streets Of New York If he yentured
" lldht hih all'hah ~ o"NA % AhaAhh' .
n this r.
IS lie rose, brushed away the chill drops {
. pcrspiration from his forehead and was ju'
!" replacing the crimson silk pocket handke
70 chief in its resting place, when he was su,
j. denly grasped from behind and thrown ski
a fully upon the ground
"Well, we've cotched you at last, m
hearty" said burly man who stood ov,
. him, while another man had bound both h
= hands and feet together before he could fin
3 words or breath 10 remonstrate. "Yo
2 thought you were goin' TO give us the sl
i heyY Come, il isn't worth while TO cut 4
~ like that, you know, unless you want Il
4 straight jacket brought out"
~ Straight jacket ?" gasped Mr. Triple
"what do want of straight jacket 2"
Nothing unless you behave yourself II
ruly like. Steady, then Tom, bring u
ID the wagon"
$, Where are you taking me TO 2" reno
,e strated our hero, as he was tumbled into
Or one-horse wagon
"To the asylum to be sure, where YOU