Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1880-09-04

|
After their guests had retired, Mr.
Taylor said to his wife, Il pity poor
Kate"
"Why?" asked his wife, unconcerned-
.ly, as she began putting her hair in
crimps.
"Why~ he echoed. "Can't you see
that Fred is perfect bear? But Of
course you can't; you never see any
thing" But his wife did not reply and
he said, presently, "HOw long will you
stand at that glass, frizzing your hair
that looks great deal better plain?"
81 thought you liked it better crimp-
ed; you said so last week."
'YOu are the most exasperating WON
an, throwing a mans speeches back at
him in that wayl may have said SO
last week, but now think you look bet
ter with your hair plain. You are just
like Fred. You want to find fault all the
time and then make it appear / am to
blame"
every WE'LL" said his wife, briefly; and
she turned down the gas that he might
not see her tears.
The four sat down next morning at an
excellent repast, but Mr.. Taylor said, as
he cut his steak, II wasn't aware before,
Dora, that you considered sOle-leather a fit
substitute for beef"
at is not very good, know, Edward,
but it was too late to exchange it when
/ found it was not the sirlOin / ordered"
Fred elevated his eyebrows, express
sively. "Ned, if you call this tough,
you should see the steak Kate treats me
to. Sole-leatherl why sole-leather is
tender by comparison. Ours is more
like rubber. / assure you this is choice
eating to me, accustomed to so much
worse"
Kate bit her lip and her face flushed
in her efforts to avoid laughter at Fred's
extravaganza and her brothers sur
prised look. Finally she burst into a
hearty laugh. "YOu can see how little
she cares for my comfort" said Fred.
'Hystericsw thought her brother, "n0
wonder" He ingeniOusly changed the
conversation to more agreeable topics,
but his manner to Fred was trifie cold
and constrained.
Thus matters continued for two or
three days. Whenever Mr.. Taylor made
a suggestion" as he delicately expressed
it, Fred capped it by finding fault with
Kate, until without thinking himself in
the least to blame, yet out of pity for
his sister, he began to be more prudent
of suggestions" Fred, however, found
plenty of margin for complaint. "Kate,"
said he, coming from his room where he
had been tumbling over the contents of
his valise, 81 have dozen shirts here
and not a single button on the whole
Dozen"
sVery true" said his wife, you asked
me to remove them, fancying studs
would be better"
"Where are the studs, then?"
"Why, don't know, am sure"
mo, you never know where anything
is. My mother used to say she could
find any article she wanted in the dark
est night. Would it be asking too much
Of you, Mrs. Hastings, to offer sugges-
tiOn?"
Il should suggest" said Mr.. Taylor,
sarcastically. that they are in the one
you have on"
30 thank you, Ned, so they are. You
see / have to look out for myself en-
tirely. Kate is so Indifferent. As for
the buttons, did ask her to remove
them, for they might as well all be off
as only half. l never mind one missing
button"
Don't you think, Fred," asked Mr..
Taylor, as they walked down street to-
gether, that you are little hard upon
Katew
Hard upon Kate?" echoed Fred.
"What can you mean"
Finding so much fault with her."
''Why, 1 never find fault, only offer a
suggestion now and then"
"FOrcible ones, Fred, or so they seem
to me. Kate never used to be so care
less and indifferent as you now seem to
consider her."
"You don't know her as well as do,
said Fred, shortly.
Mr.. Taylor flushed with anger. "Well,
it is not creditable either to your heart
or manners to speak of your wife and
my sister in that manner" E
''Humph," muttered Fred.
kate is very sensitive"
Exactly" said Fred, dryly.
"And she is so good a sister I am sure
she cannot be other than a good wife.
That you cannot appreciate her does not
alter facts" said Mr.. Taylor, incensed
still more by Fred's Indifferent man.
ner.
At this point, however, it changed.
''Ned, you are right, Kate is all and
more than you say of her, and l appre
ciate her fully. would not wound her
feelings for the world" /
'Then must say, you show your af-
lection for her in peculiar way" said
Mr.. Taylor, dryly, that's all"
do you appreciate your wife,"
81 hope So" said Mr.. Taylor, surprised
at the question.
as she good wife?"
Certainly, she is. When l married
her five years ago." said Mr.. Taylor, "she
was the one woman in all the world
for me, and have never changed my
opinion regarding her."
"Sensitivew asked Fred again, briefly
eyes, rather. Why?"
"Only this, have been trying lately
to show my appreciation and love fol
Kate in the same manner that you show
yours for Dora"
Il don't understand YOU" said Mr.
Taylor stiffiy.
"Nor you," retOrted Fred. "You say
you have good wife and that you love
her as we'll as you did five years ago
yet you constantly find fault with her
so much that Kate noticed it and sug
gested that 1 initiate your manners and
let you see how you admired it.
"DO you mean to sayP'
81 do mean to say that have copied
your manner faithfully, and as much as
possible literally"
Mr.. Taylor walked hastily forward
some distance in advance of his friend
He was mortified and angry, but just
enough to own after due reflection that
Fred's words were true and justifable
He had taken Fred to task for what was
but copy of his own manner. 1t will
seem strange, but MIR. Taylor had never