The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-02-16

uNn call you lOOllSn, DOpIlld.
Didn't he, Sarah? ask you, Harry?
And you said Sophia, too!''
''Sophy," said Mr.. Severance, gently,
<%do you think this is dignified?'T
Il don't know how person can be
expected to be dignifed when her hus-
band tells her before everybody that if
she wants to go to Europe she must
spend her own money, or stay at home,
or tantamount to that -"
Mr.. Severance pushed back his plate
and laughed. ''You dear little goose, "
he cried, edo you really think | said
anything of the kind? Do you really
think would let you spend dollar OF
your little money?'
''My little money!
''Harry and Sarah" said Mr.. Sew
rance, turning to their cousins, 81 am
sure you will excuse this little domestic
scene, you are SO much q part of
| us --'
Mrs. Severance had endured a good
deal, she said to herself, without finch
ing, only sparks shot from the eyes be-
tween those long curling lashes; but
this was the last straw, and it was tears
that shot from the eyes now. II should
think it was that should be asked to
excuse" she cried. ''Rebuked for eX-
travagance, and addressed in this man.
ncr, as if | had come to you pauper,
before the servants, before every
body -"
"Rebuked for extravaganza" re-
peated the husband. so puzzled as to
forget the danger oftaking up his wife s
words.
"You said would ruin you" And
here, either with the misery of the
picture or the misery of the recollec-
ton of the accusation, came a sob, and
then another. and Mrs Severance pushed
back her chair and made for the door,
upsetting the lovely India screen in her
blind progress. And of course her hus-
band pushed back his chair and sprang
after her, while Harry and Sarah looked
at each other and laughed. Poor little
| thing said Sarah, "she's so nervousl
She has prod and con'd over the trip
so much that she's all in confusion.
| She wants to 90, and she wants to stay,
and she wants him to want her to 90,
and she wants him to want her to stay -"
And while Sarah was involving herself
in the problem Harry finished his soup,
and Mr.. Severance came back in
triumph, leading his wife, blushing and
smiling, with her eyes full of tears, and
who took her seat, saying: '.You both
know | am such simpleton that it
doesn't signify; so [ won't apologize.
Only I'm sure | never shall feel quite
certain now that Charlie doesn' t grudge
me the pleasure, because when a sus-
picion has once crept in, it will keep
putting its head up; and if | believed
he did, l would certainly go, for never
thought of his wanting me to stay at
home for anything but because he
couldn't bear to part with me, and see
he can bear to part with me perfectly
we'll"
Il really think" her husband said,
gayly, ''that you must have been sit
ting up nights with this notion of yours,
it has 50 unnerved you. OF course
want you to take the trip over if you
would like it.
''If would like it, Charles As if
there was anybody who wouldn't like
to go to Europe! Especially with the
holidays over, and Lent coming onand
OlAO NeNi liz 1tl III leOlllC
'Well, then, I'm sure 1 don't see
why you don't 60, For my part, 1 had
rather you would 90 than not" Rash
speech-for the tongue is a fire.
That's Just it" That's Just what |
sayn' she cried, turning on him with
her cheeks burning like two great
roses, you don't see why dom 90,
and of course you want me to 90 if I
would like to, and you'd rather I'd 90
than not! A pretty way to talk to n
wifei Those are your own words.
You needn't contradict them. You can
bear to part with me perfectly well, you
see You have other ways, no doubt,
to pass your time than in my society.
You had rather I'd 90 than not 0, I
never thought never thought-and
before two years" And it was
neither tears nor smiles nor bushes
now, but Mrs. Sevrance was taken out
of the room in kicking hysteric.
,"Great heavens, Sarahn' said Harry.
''Do they 90 on this way every day at
dinnerH' The butler began to grin.
poor Charlie Sevrancen' said Harry,
helping himself to the lobster pate,
which was too delicately crisp and
brown to be kept waiting, Jobs wife
was nothing to her! What have 1 done
to escape his lot? But she does give
nice dinner. Let me look at you, YOU
commanding woman" he began again,
after little. ''To think that you new
er had a hysteric in your life! Have
you failed in your destiny? or have |
achieved greater fate than belongs to
husbands in general?"
And here feeble wall plped through
the crack of the folding-doors into the
room beyond, 80, how can you be
laughing in that way when l am so
wretched?n
81 wish Europe was in the bottom of
the SEAT cried Mr.. Severance, opening
the crack and coming back to finish his
repast. ''When you are through,
Sarah, if you will try to talk little
sense into Sophy-I can't"
"O on! oh!' cried Mrs. Severance,
at the door herself, her pretty bright
locks all drenched in Cologne water
and curling in rings round her face
that was now as white as it had been
rosy. ''Ihe idea of your talking that
way about me behind my back! |
know ! haven't q great deal of sense.
and | suppose that's the reason you
want to be rid of me. Q! I'm going