Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1884-09-12

efforts to enlighten him. About noon
John came in, as usual, to dinner, to find
n roomiul of city visitors, friends of Mrs.
Benton. Now, John, although not vain
man, would rather have had some nutifi-
cation of that event, so that he need not
have appeared in their presence in his
working garments; but rs there was now
no help for il, he tried to make the best of
the situation, and greeted the visitors in
rather an awkward fashion. The latter,
no doubt, attributed Mrs. Benton's silence
toward her husband 10 modification at
his personal appearance. But, after all,
this affair passed without the exposure so
much dreaded by both parties.
John Benton had promised his wife,
previous to the unhappy occurrence that
had placed this gulf OF silence between
them, money to purchase new dress for
herself. One day he laid a roll of bills
upon tho table, and called her attention
to il. She nodded assent, and John was
satisfied that her memory was good for
anything that related to the personal
sdornment But what was his surprise
and disgust when she returned from town
and gave him the grocer's reccipted bill.
One morning, upon Johns retuI from
the city, he'astonished his wife by bring
ing with him lad, whom lie ushered
into the Kitchen with the remark:
"Now, Teddy, this is your home, and
that is your mistress, Mrs. Benton, and
whatever she requires of You, you are to
do, of course" .....
John Benton, in the utter loneliness of
his heart, and fearing lest his unused
tongue should become paralyzed by this
prolonged inactivity, or that ne should
lose his voice for want OF practice, had.
like Robinson Crusoe, brought home lit
tie man Friday to talk to, and also to use
as mouthpiece for himself and wife.
Things now went on with less blundering
and uncertainty, for Teddy was made the
medium for conveying the thoughts or
wishes alternately from one to the other.
But John monopolizcd so much Of the
boys companionship in his new-iound
delight a. giving vent to speech, that Mrs.
Benton still led rather lonely life.
"But," thought she, "what is sauce for
the goose ought to be sauce for the gander,
and will have a girl Friday before the
week is out. in order to strengthen and
improve my vocal powers" .: .
And so she did. Never was there more
astonished man than was John Benton Oh
the evening that he came chattering with
Teddy into the kitchen and stopped upon
the threshold to listen to the irrepressiblc
nood of female conversation that was be-
ing poured forth within. Indeed, so in
tent was Mrs. Benton on unburdening
her long-pent-up feelings that she did not
notice the transllxed figure of her husband
standing there till her startled ear caught
the remark: ..........
Gwen, Teddy, this is surprise party,
isn't it,"
"I'hose, Maggie" said Mrs. Bcntsn,
care the other half of this family"
The Benton household was no longer at
"sixcs and sevcns" for want of interpret
ers between the two heads, but it was
prolonged Quaker meeting as far as min
Cling of the seXcs was concerned. Each
Of the heads of the house now had victim
upon which he or she could iufiCt uncnd-
ing volubility. .3 -l
IL was about this time that John COM
municated to his wife the mistake In re-
gard to the dress money, and refunded to
her the amount. She in turn, through her
mouth-piece, intimatetl to him that his
company and services in driving the fam
lily horse would be acceptable to take her
to the city to purchase her gown.
10 this he readily assented, as he also
had business In the city. They had agreed
upon plan of communication before
leaving home, through small slate such
rs dumb people use among those who do
not understand their language. i....
On arriving at .he gorgeous store they
manifested ali awkward uneasiness, and
paused few minutes before entering.
This mute business In public WAS not REL
isEed by either Of the parties. But innlly
they entered and Mrs. Benton was greet
ed by polite salesman. She asked the
price Of piece Of a particular shade that
she fancied, she priced another piece Of
different color, aud during all this time
she was yainly trying In some indirect
way to get all expression of opinion from
her husband as 10 his preference. But she
ignominiously failed. She was not Oh
speaking terms with her husband, aud yet
she loved him well enough TO refuse to
purchase or wear dress the color Of
which he might not approve. She shrank
from the humiliation Of the slate, but
finding there was no alternative but yio-
latiOn of her VOW, she produced it, and
asked him the simple question upon which
her heart was set. For answer he simply
put his hand on the piece Of her choice,
aud she smiled plcasantlyas as she turned 10
the spruce and accommodating salesman.
The latter, taking ia the situation nc
glance, rapidly wrote upon bit Of paper,
Splendid goods; wear like iron; never
fade; very cheap; fifty per cent below
cost price; never get another chance like
it." which paper he placed in the hands
OF the astonished Mr.. John Benton. a|
"What's this?" he exclaimed, looking
alternately from the clerk to his wife.
"'Pears to me you're in hurry with
your bill, young man."
Never was there more astouBded sales