The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-06-27

AS "SAtis Atbh lAlCil VI IIS SIll. . ICuU
it would be a waste of words to attempt
to follow the arguments and counter
arguments concerning that poodle,
which for all they knew, might never.
have left San Francisco. The more his
discourse the more the animal appeared
as the paragon of all earthly virtues,
while she continued to paintit as a black
er and still blacker, ferocious and blood
thirsty wolf. This hec.~ discussion
was an inauspicious way of beginning
life beneath their own roof-tree, but
neither paused to think of that. Finally
Jack rose from his chair, and standing
up in an oratorical fashion, rs he did
when he was very much in earnest; he
said:
Mrs. Applegate, that poodle is com
ing, and we must receive it in decent
style, sol"
1t was the first time in all their mar
ried life that he had coldly and formally
addressed her as Mrs. Applegate, and
for the moment she felt the blood in
her heart chilling. Then her woman
nature reasserted itself, and in a voice
fully as determined as his, she began:
Jack, if you wish to destroy the
peace of our happy home"
But Jack was gone, and instead of
completing the sentence she walked in
to the next room and, throwing herself
upon the bed, she cried as if her heart
would break.
Her husband, when he left the house,
rapidly walked down the gravel walk
they lived in the suburbs-and, lighting
a cigar, began smoking furiously. He
did not return until supper, and then
the subject of debate was not again
broached, but it was evident that their
quarrel was uppermost in their minds.
The next day some hours after Jack
had left for business, Mrs. APPLICABLE
was surprised to see three or four work
ingmen prepared with tools and lumber
in the yard. Not knowing their bust
ness she slipped on her hat, and, going
out, inquired.
Going to bu1ia sss.ael, num-" an
swered one Of the men ne"NIr. Apple
gate said as how he was going to get a
Rocky Mountain poodle, whatever that
may be, and he left orders this morning
for a kennel"
And what could Mrs. Applegate do?
she could not order the work stopped
or hinder it in any way, as it would be
degrading TO her s~elf-respect to reveal
to these workingmen that she and her
husband We're not in perfect accord.
So she merely nodded, and, going into
the house, listened all the morning to
the hammering, and it seemed as if
every nail that was driven sent q pang
through her heart.
Such is the strange ~perversion of
wemen, however, that she prepared a
dinner of those things which he par
ticularly liked, and in the little wom-
anly touches about the house she
did all she could to make everything at
tractive.
At dinner Jack WIS unusually jolly,
and he tried to make up for her silence
by a continual flow of small talk. After
the meal he went into the yard and leiz-
urely inspected the nearly completed
dog kennel.
Nice bit of architecture, that" he
casually remarked on returning.
ooh, jack" said his wife, with half
a sigh.
"Now, Winnie" he began, edo be
reasonable. This thing-'
But he said no more, for she had
rushed into another room, and, closing
the door, was lost to sight and hearing.
Feeling decidedly uncomfortable, but
still with the reassuuing consciousness
that he was in the right,
Jack Apologize left his home
without making the least attempt to kiss
his wife good-by. With the poodle in
his thoughts hewent to the office of the
express company and asked if a dog for
him had arrived. No, 10 such animal
had come. Then he explained to the
eypressman that he was expecting n
Rocky Mountain poodle, aud that it
might be we'll fed and cared for on the
road he left quite a sum of money.
Then he serenity proceeded to business.
Meanwhile at home his wife was as
miserable rs She well could be. In one
breath she blamed herself. in the next
he was at fault. She felt that her heart
was breaking, and life no longer was as
bright rs 1t had appeared during the
happy days Of the honeymoon. When
Jack returned she WAS still gloomy and
depressed. Supper was melancholy
enougn, and Jack did not allude to the
poodle question until it was over.
Il was at the express office to-day .
he observed.
She did not reply or even look up.
Yes. he continued, ignoring her 81
lence, ''but there was no news of cur
San Francisco wedding present"
Then he paused, but still no answer.
"By the way" he went On, studious-
ly not noticing the fact that she was 81
lent, what do You think will be @
good name for the animal? Seeing
that he comes from the metropolis Of
the Pacific slope, wouldn't it be a good
idea to call him 'Frisco?' Frisco,
Frisco. that's not such a bad name for
a dog, is it, ell ?"
Jack Applegate!9 cried his wife
with a sudden burst of anger. You're
a cruel, unloving husband!' and then
she sought the refuge of her chamber,
and Like the bride of q month sobbed
and sobbed in despair of soul. The
world has grown black to her. and no
longer was there Joy or brightness in it.
1t would be hard to describe the mis-
cries and discomforts of Jack Apple
gate and his wife for the next few days.
He tried to be buoyant, but all to no
purpose; and for her part she was
thoroughly unhappy. That such a
state Of affairs could ever have existed
would, but a few short days ago, have
seemed impossible. Now it was a sad
reality. Every day Jack would call at
the express office and inquire concern
ing the expected poodle, but there was
no news of it. Meanwhile he had the
name" Frisco" painted on the kennel,
which, standing co~nspicuously in the
yard, rel reminded his wife Of the de-
plorable and unspannable chasm that
was widening between them.