The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1880-11-04
SimpkinS' Mistake.
B. E. B. w.

B. E. b. w.
Tt UBBY, dear" observed Mrs.
IT Simpkins, mildly, one morn
~ ing after breakfast.
Ssf69 Mr.. Simpkins Immediately
put down his newspaper and ram
med both hands into his trousers
pockets. Twenty years experience
of married life had made him willy,
and he knew that this bland form
of address presaged persuasive at
tack on his pocketbOok. When
Mrs. SimpFins wanted money, she
addressed him as chubby DEAR" in
their ordinary domestic intercourse
he was plain "Mr. 81" or "Simp
kins."
Hubby, darling," said Mrs.
Simpkins, 81 really must have a
new bonnet this spriug. Tam quite
ashamed to go into the street."
Mr.. Simpkins groaned.
81 saw one at Broadway store
yesterday" continued Mrs. s.; "a
beautiful thing, so stylish and so
cheap-Only $I4."
"That's always the tune" blurted
forth Mr.. Simpkins. "Here's cor
ruption in every department of the
government; silver worth only 9S
cents on the dollar, snd-but what's
the use of talking economy to
women?"
Mrs. Simpkins arose, and, pass
ing over to her husband, sat down
on his lap and put her arms around
his neck. She was no longer young.
Her cheek had lost something of its
girlishness, but there was in the ac-
tion that which recalled to Mr..
Simpkins the days of long ago,
when he was proud to hold her
thus, and when he would cheerfully
have paid for hundred bonnets
year if she had asked for them.
"My DEAR" he said relenting a
little, ''do you know what $14 will
buy?"
eyes," she said simply, "it will
buy that bonnet"
Mr. Simpkins sighed, and his
pocketbook came slowly forth from
his pocket.
"There," said he, handing her the
money, Il can't see the sense in
woman having so many bonnets;
there's a whole barrel-full u } in the
attic now"
Mr.. Simpkins arose with ges-
ture of impatience, and, jamming
on his hat, stalked down town to
his business. He stopped on the
way and bought $12 box of cigars
and lunched at noon at fashion
able restaurant, at an expense of
$3.50; but then these things were
necessities, and Mr.. Simpkins did
not have a barrel full of old cigars
in the attic.
Whether it was the remembrance
of his wife's little act of girlishness
that morning, or whether his heart
WAS tinged with a slight feeling of
remorse for his ungraciousness, Mr..
Simpklns took his way homo up
Broadway that night with warmer
feelings toward womanklnd than he
had known for a long time. In
some way every woman he met ap
peared attractive-a psychological
phenomenon which other men be-
sides Mr.. Simpkins have observed
in their own experience. In fact,
there was scarcely a woman who
passed him that, afternoon whom
Mr.. Simpkins did not notice, in re-
spect either of eyes, hair, teeth or
dress.
Il DECLARE" he said to himself,
81 had no idea there were so many
pretty women In New York"
But when Mr.. Simpkins reached
Tenth street, there descended from
Twenty-Third street stage a Wis
ion of such perfect loyeliness as
made the heart of Mr.. Simpklns
fairly leap into his throat. Clad in
what seemed to him the most ele-
CANT and bewitching costumes, and
wearing the most piquant of hats,
tied beneath the chin with a bow of
cherry-colored ribbons, the long
ends of which foated saucily over
her shoulder, this celestial being
tripped across the street to Stew
arts, raising her snowy skirts as she
went, and displaying en- paSSant an
ankle sufficiently bewitching to
cause Hiram Powers in despair to
smash to infinitesimal atoms all the
craven images he had ever attempt
ed TO make. Mr.. Simpklns stopped
short and gazed after her. He was
no longer young man, but the fire
of youth still smoulderej in lis
breast, and seemed now TO burn
with an ardor as fierce as that of
twenty years ago.
by Jupiterr' he exclaimed,
"could anything be more lovely2"
Without a moments hesitation he
crossed the street and entered Stew
arts in pursuit. At that moment
he would have given the price of
fifty bonnets for another single
glimpse of that one with cherry rib
bons. But his search was in vain
the lady had disappeared. Up
stairs and down, in the elevator,
around the rotunda, through every
department OF the vast establish
ment went Mr.. Simpkins, so manv
times that the clerks began to eye
him with curiosity not unmixed
with suspicion. At last, in despair,
Mr.. Simpkins gave up the search
and sadly wended his way home
ward.
at was a dream" he said to him