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

"DOn't you ever speak TO me again,
said Mrs. Benton, "and Ineyer will speak
to you from this hour on"
There was something positively alarm
ing in this united command and promise,
rs the tones in which it was uttered were
impressively earnest, and the manner OF
the speaker was very far from triling;
and they fell upon the startled ears of her
worse half in way that caused Mr.. Ben
ton to quail u little, for he knew enough
of the temperament of the angered woman
who spoke to feel that this was no idle
threat.
John Benton and his wife Mary ha2
been married a quarter of century at the
time of this violent outbreak, and had
hitherto been active and matrimonial part
ners. They lived in the country upon
their own little farm, and though they had
not always held the most absolute har-
mony of opinion, their devotion to each
other and their unity upon all the essen
tial matters of life were undisputed. 1t
was only in the infinitesimal objects of
life that they clashed. They had, together,
met and surmounted great obstacles in
their common path, but they removed
rocks only to stumble over pebble.
And finally the contemplate little riv-
ulets that had been constantly trickling
for so many years In so many different
ways had seemingly met to form a great
vortex in which they were doomed to be
swallowed up. Those hitherto active and
voluble tongues were about to rust in idle
ness, at least at home. They were resolved
to become hcneeforth silent partners.
John Benton accepted the situation
without replying, for what was there to be
said! Had he not been commanded to re-
frain forever from speaking to his wife?
Gallantry forbils us to cast any great
share of the odium of this scene upon Mrs.
Benton. Besides, had not John, just be-
fore the last volcanic eruption of speech
upon the part Of his wife, insinuated that
her "unruly member was rs long as o
fence rail?" Could female flesh and blood
endure such base simile as this, when
applied to herself? Ard had he not as
serted that her words were legion, and
that her tones we're thunderp Should
wife pass over such insulting personal
metaphors rs these? Mrs. Benton, either
wisely or unwisely, decided in the mega
tive. .....
The first night of the self-enforced si-
lehce in the Beh.On cottage was awkward.
The usual curtain lecture was omitted,
and such death-like, desOlate stiffness
prevailed that sleep was out OF the ques-
ton. The morrow brought its tribula-
tions, following one another in close and
annoying succession. Mrs. Benton, find
ing the situation too irksOme TO be borne
without some new excitement to replace
the lost art of speech, determined upon a
revolution Of the whole household-thc
grand Safety valve for the pent-up feelings
or housewife, and one OF the best known
remedies for the disease Of hypochondria
or anger. Sac went about this herculean
task az though life and death hung in the
balance, or as though upon its completion
depended the casting out Of the dumb
devils that had taken. up their abode here.
Many ludicrous blunders were the incv-
liable consequence of this abandonment Of
the usual mode of conveying thoughts;
the double orders given to the grocery
man and the butcher, tile duplicate pur-
chases of all sorts of odds and ends, led to
much confusion and vexation in the, Ben
ton household. .....l ,---y y..I,..
One morning John Benton thought be
detected Unusual preparations going oD
in the culinary department, a grand over
hauling and busting OF the best china Set,
and sundry other indications Of some IN
usual eyent. Mrs. Benton tried in her
dumb show manner 10 refresh his memory
in regard TO an expected visit Of which he
had been previously made aware, but
which had slipped from his somewhat de-