The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-09-29

through his hair with wild air. Ii
read out. with stern emphasis:
IT. T.-1f YOU love me, meet me a
the same place. l must see you.
l.. H."
Thompson looked under his eyclid
at his wife. She was following ever,
word with earnest face and grief
stricken eyes, and grin peered rount
the corner of his lips as he thought o
how he would cure her foolish fame,
for the agony column thenceforth.
49," he said, gravely, '.you know
aIP'
Gall, Theodore p walled poor Mrs
T. SIS this thing true?'
''That thing is trne," assented Tody
sadly; ''but l throw myself on you
mercy, and beg, for the sake of the-o
the Corn Exchange that you will do
nothing rash! Think not of yourself
alone in this sad affair, but of your
country"
..My countryr' sobbed Mrs. T., fall
ing back limp and aghast.
| "Yes. l am an ornament, as we'll rs
a useful member, of that great and
| glorious food menagerie-"
..Menagerie - walled Mrs. T., wiring
ing her hands. -
s.Yes. The bulls and bears are the
source of our income. Expose me, and
you ruin me. Be patient, and all will
be right once more"
Thompson shook with inward glee,
as his rapid Imagination wove the in
cident into a good yarn for the boys at
the next supper. excluding the true
names o fd1amotis pegsonR.
Mrs. Thompson listened with pale
face and piteous look, that might
have checked her husband in his joke !;
but with a quiet pride that was new to
her. and seemed born of this terrible
emergency, she hid her pain from him
and forced herself to speak calmly.
''Theodore," she said, slowly, ''tell
me. if you please, all about this"
She touched the paper lightly.
Thompson turned on his heel to stare
at her, but she was busy putting the
breakfast things together, aud he could
not see her face.
"Gadr' he muttered to himself. s.but
she takes it coolly. l wonder if she
caresr'
A sudden pang seized him; fierce
look drove the grin from its hiding
place, and he punched in the crown of
his hat vindictively.
''I'll draw it strong" he decided,
''and see if she don't come down"
Aloud, and with mock humility.
ut all grew out of the last LordA1ay-
or's Show. / was appointed by the
Ward to superintend the tableaux that
were to take part in the procession, and
it was decided to have one tableau in
particular to represent Ceres, the god
dess of plenty. 1t was that goddess of
plenty, my dear. that made me re-
creant to my connubial VOWS, and
bound me in the tolls of the siren"
Thompson paused, with dramatic
quaver. but looking curiously at the
quiet face bending over the silver
spoons.
''Well?" said the steady voice.
Thompson began twisting his hat
round and round in startled quandary.
What did it mean? She was as indif-
ferent as if he was telling of some other
fellow, and not himself-her own dear
TOdy ! She was losing her interest i'm
him ; she didn't care for this escapade!
Could it be possibleP Theodore felt
himself growing pale. And how pretty
she looked!
Theodore? said The small
woman, giving a lump of sugar to her
canary.
''Well, l got entangled, as one does
in those Kind of aifairs.'' suffered
Thompson, failing in his composition.
and wishing he had never begun it. but
urged on now to grand denounce-
ment, in the hope of breaking up the
chill Indifference of his wife's manner,
and of hearing once more her loving
little laugh and '.Good-bye, Todyr'
"Toly' was beginning to be one of
the sweetest sounds he had ever heard.
'.And it's gone on and on until the -,
present time"
He paused, ignominiously. Now she
would faint. She did not. She took
up the silver teapot and examined it
carefully.
What strange fancies men haver'
she said, quietly. 1T never occurs to
q woman to make such a fool of her.
self! Where does your goddess of
plenty-plenty of what, TheodoreP-
live. may askP
Thompson sought view of her face;
it was pale and set, and the eyes looked
sleepless and heavy.
'.She's hard hit, after all - exulted
the selfish dog. '.Now I'll make her
admit it.''
And he forthwith gave her an ad-
dress in a low tone, with humble con-
triton in his manner, watching fever
ishly the while for the stagger and
catch of the breath which should be-
tray his victory.
Mrs. Thompson turned to him very
quietly, and gave him instead a long
look.
'sAnd 1 believed you to be a gentle
manr' she simply said, and walked
past him out of the room.
Thompson was in no enviable mood
that day, and hats and handkerchiefs
for once were safe in their owners pos
session, for he no longer disported
himself, with cow-like gambols, on the
floor. nor blandly smothered timid bid
ders with their own coat-tails.
On the contrary. he made his offers
with the air of Nihilist conspirator.
and often stood staring down at his
feet with fierce frown.
Something's gone wrong with
said his friends, nudging
each other, and looking paralyzcd, as
they were about to pelt him with Il
handful of grain, and he suddenly
raised his gloomy eyes on them.
"Confound you, let me alone"' he
growled and they walked away as if
Tic UlSScSI IiScI AaO pAoAeA away
from the Zoo.
Later in the day came terrible
shock to Thompson. He had decided
to write 10 his wife, and ''make it up"
with her, when in walked his best
friend and fellow-joker, Tony Town
send.
"Hilloar" shouted Tody, feebly, |
half sorry to see him.
Townsend grasped him wildly by the
hand.
''Noble friend. you've saved me-" he
cried.
Thompson gasped.
Saved you?"
''Yes. II. T.'-you know" explained
advancing to shake him
again by the hand.
Thompson fell back in his chair.
keep off-Pm dangerous - he
yelled ''What do YOU mean?'