Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-07-27

briskly, "that is rather personal, Mrs. Merry
weather. I'm sure an idle man is no worse
than an idle woman and he is still a man,
you know"
And therefore necessarily good for some.
thing, laughed Phil
'No-therefore not expected to be good for
anything rotorted his wife
Good ~ he said "Now we shall get on
As long as We can cOniine ourselves to general
abuse Of the sexes, Mrs Merry weather, we
are safe. II is individual application that is
dangerous.
"Oh, that is no matter" she returned 'if
1t isn't personal. For instance, if said that
man who had put both himself and his wife
into ridiculous position ought to have suff-
cient wit and skill to find a way out OF il, that
would still be remark Of general nature"
Certainly and if l answered that even
under those circumstances some women would
be 30 stubborn or SO stupid that Solomon him
self could not get them out Of the simplest
fix, that, too, would be only a moral that runs
at large"
II am neither stubborn nor stupid" poor
Margie burst out, tears starting to her eyes
My dear Mrs. Merryweather,' exclaimed
Miss Spart whose presence alone prevented
the conclusion of the whole misunderstanding
at that moment, "of course Mr. Farebridge
meant nothing Of the sort. How could you
think so z"
at is said to be a feminine trait to make
personal application" " Phil said. II was only
speaking Of the wife Of the man in the hy-
potheOsis."
eve women are easily hurt" Margret said
in low voice, rising and moving away.
She was wounded and miserable. In imag-
ination the comedy which she and her hus.
band were to play she had fancied sort of
stage courtship, little high flown and unreal
from the consciousness on the part Of the ac-
tors that they were merely playing. A light,
half knocking gallantry was what she had told
herself although in truth, with woman's
sentiment, she had also expected the ring of
genuine love, too. Tears were in her eyes as
she now sought a seat in n retired part of the
piazzl, and it was with difficulty that she re.
Trained from breaking down altogether
step she knew approached quickly.
'Margie, her husband said, coming up to
her "how long"
Miss Spart's appearance cut the question
short
Why, here you are - she cried, yolubly.
What made you run away? Have you dis
covered, Mr.. Farebrdge p
No, ho replied but hope to, for Mrs.
Merryweather has been kind enough to prom
ise to drive with me this afternoon l will
that suits your convenience"
Aud before either lady could utter word
OF comment or suggestion, he had lifted his
hat and withdrawn.
The afternoon was enchanting, the semi.
tropical scenery sufficiently novel to both
Philip and Dlargret to hold their attention and
for the first half-hour of their drive there was
nothing to indicate any shadow of disagree
ment between the pair.
At the end Of that time they found them
selves upon Il secluded portion of the road
when Phil coolly put his arm around his wife
and kissed her. She resisted little, but end.
ed by returning his embrace with much fer
vor.
"Oh dear, Phil, she sighed, "how good it
does seem to be ourselves again, and not some
body else! think it has been perfectly fiend-
ish since you came. 1t seems week since
last night"
Then why did you send back my letter Of
introduction! That was particularly horrd
of you"
"Of course didn't think you'd give up So "
she returned you were great goose.
And great goose not to break in when
You locked the window in my face, | sup
pose =
oh well, it doesn't matter" was the fem.
For the next haf-hour the couple delivered
themselves over to the felicites Of billing and
cooling, diversified by sudden perils into
which they were brought 10y Pills erratic
driving, little of his attention being given to
his horses Then all their joyousness was
oyerthrown once more.
"Of course, the husband remarked, now
We can tell, and have done with all this un-
comfortable nonsense"
"Oh, no, Phil 20 cried Margie. "Just think
what horrible scandal that hateful Miss Spart
would make out OF it, She is capable of any
thing"
What could she make out of it but the
truth"
But nobody could ever be made to undor-
stand 1t, and 1t really is too ridiculous. Can't
you think of something else. Phil dear T"
Yes, he retorted sayagely, II can think
Of several things The price of stocks, for
instance, or the transit of Venus, or of how
hope Uncle Farebrdge and Aunt Merry
er are sizzling in the most tropical atitudes of
purgatory for making such diabolical wills"
why, Philip Sweetser how can you talk
SO; 1t is sacrlegious :"
You have no acquaintance by that name"
he interrupted.
And my aunt, too 90 she went on, without
needing him "and your own uncle, !"
Her husband broke into a bitter laugh.
You have logical mind, Mrs Merry
weather, he observed. Perhaps you can
think Of something.
"Oh, soLbed poor Margie, the tension of
her nerves finding relief in the tears which
flowed fast, you have no heart ut all. You"
There, there, Marge, /"
But being wise from past experiences, he
attempted no further argument, only gathered
her into his arms and allowed her to sob her
emotions into his left breast pocket
The result of the farther conversation be-
tween Mr.. Philip Farebridge and Mrs. Mar
gret Merryweather may be inferred from the
fact that when they reached the hotel, about
dusk, the gentleman went to the office and
wrote upon the register "Mr. Philip Fare
bridge and wife"-a simple line, which yet
proved sufficient to send perfect whirlwind
of gossip and conjecture through the quiet
corridors Of the hotel, where nothing SO ex-
citing had occurred since the elopement of
Clara Delby with young Smythe, two winters
before.
When husband and wife entered the din.
ing room together that night, Margret felt
the eyes OF every person present, aud was far
more completely covered with confusion than
even in the blushing days of her honey
moon.
Really" Miss Spart murmured, leaning
across the table, 81 was never more surprised
in my life. If had known you were going
of TO get married this afternoon would at
least have thrown a slipper after you. is it
true that you were engaged, but had quarrel
led2 That's what told Mrs. Turner was
sure of it this morning"
"Oh, we have known each other a long
time, said poor Margret, her cheeks Grim.
son "but we have never quarrelled."
The next morning it was even worse. Phil
at first noticed nothing amiss but his wfe's
keener feminine sense detected hostility in
the air the moment she entered the break
fast-room. On Miss Spart's face she read
fresh disapproyal in every line, while Mrs.
Turner'S bow was so slight that il such sal
utation had not been expected, it would
scarcely have occurred to a beholder that it
was intended for q bow at all Plainly the