Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-11-27
MRS. DOBBS' WHIM.

fytenss saiJ That IL about the best people
,viII say of an elderly pair, II they are not
. sotaIlectuaI or troublesome. Mr.. and MIS-
r,otls vere neither. Mr.. Dobbs was stout
and commonplace in appearance, and he did
mot fijrt with his neighbor's wife, or gamble
~ sOocks or live beyond his Income. he
- halLmarked among upright men, and
~ trustee for half his friends children.
M doubt he was little heavy and prosy at
tin,ex but these are drawbacks freqrently
attendant on men OF probity. He certainly
was never tempted by impulses or inspirs-
tions OF apy sort either to do wrong or to be-
come witty and original.
Mrs Dobbs was reputed respectable and
ylrtuous matron for other reasons lmpri-
mis-. she had no taste In dress neither did
sbe paint her face, or excite the envy and
spjts OF her female friends by besu,iiying
her house She was fond of good dinner OF
. soiid English sort, and always wore black
silk or satin gowns Her caps were prepos-
ferrous erectious OF lace with gilt or steel
ornaments attached aud when she went To
the theatre she wore red bernous. Truly
This couple were left behind in the race Of eN-
travagance, frivolity and eccentricty. Fash.
lonable folks would have nothing to say TO
them those VINO did consider them worth
cnItiyatiug explained their status rs "good,
worthy people," with compassionate shruG
or smile.
MIR. Dobbs was something in the city,
and his big Office and many clerks brought
la something more than comfortable in
come Yet be made no parade of wealth and
kept household accounts strictly. Every
eyeninp he returned punctually by the six
O'Clock train from Waterloo, carrying his
fisb basket with him. Fish was better and
cheaper in the city than at Clapham, and
Mrs. Dobbs was particularly fond OF hsh.
The worthy Josiah would not have spoilt
TO-, ,laa mr.
her salmon in season. and her red mullen
and whitehall, all in due turn, OF tho very
best
BY this you will understand that Mr
Dobbs was devoted and domestic. Yet there
were thorus amid the roses OF his con JugaL
Paradise Mrs Dobbs was now and again
beset by spirits of unrest and disronten', anu
her whims At intervals caused dear, steady
going Josiah much Inconvenience
There wore nc children at Clarence Villa
and perhaps for this reason Mrs Doons had
more leisure for complaint She Prarused
the art of murmuring with as steady per
sistence Is prima donna her scales. Jn'
sah suffered her discontents with more than
the ordinary patience OF an exemplary nus
band.
AS wears went on Josiah philosophicslIy
gave up wishing tor an heir, seeing has Do
rothy had grown portly and middle aged.
He subscribed largely to various charities,
not having legitimate outlet for his human
kindness philoprogenltiye organ I'M
PEELED him toward children 5 hospitals. W by,
said he, should not his generation benefit by
his benevolence instead of they that were to
come alter
Mrs. Dobbs did not, however, view such
matters with equanimity. Seeing the undue
and unweIcome number Of olive branches
round about other peoples tables she re.
sented Natures cruelty to herself She
therefore trowned persiStenuy on JOSiah's
philanthropic schemes for other peoples
children, His benevolence toward orphans
foundlings, and waits and strsys was . never
ceasing cause Of argument and modification
to her. Yet she did not suffer any loss per
sonally from these charitable deeds, Not a
wish remained ungranted, and cheques were
forthcoming with cheerful readiness when
required She had her carriage, her ser
wants, her milliners and her pleasures "a she
listed. Josiah erected a miniature Crystal
Palace in his garden, because she wished to
have bananas growing. He took her to
Egypt one winter, and nearly died OF sea.
sickness by the way, because she had been
reading Eastern rOmances and yearned for
Oriental glitter. Nothing that money could
obtain was denied her. Only she had no
children.
For long time now Mrs. Dobb- had dis.
played no extraordinary caprice. Josiah was
sailing along in wonderfully smooth matri-
monisl waters But the lady's frequent ab-
selce Of mind and contemplative mien
might have convinced a more sophisticated
man that mischief was brewing. In truth,
Mrs. DOOOs was slowly Matching a scheme
which she ielt sure would run counter to Jo-
siah's wishes. This lent An additional 2ast
to her plan. She considered il a Tetributive
scheme. She would fight Josiah on his own
ground with his own favorite weapon of be-
nevolence.
Pm going to adopt a child, Josiah. Now
It's no use contradicting me, because | won't
listen,' said the lady one evening over de--
sert
She spoke aggressiyely, cracking the shell
OF walnut with decision. She had peevisn-
ly found fault with the fish and the salad, and
had slapped her pug for no earthly reason.
III Josiah had been rather less slow he would
have opined that storm was brewing
Inere was silence tor minute after Mrs.
Dobbs had opened fire.
length.
IA child - remarked Josiah, droppine
MS lat chin into his shirt, My love, that
consideration"
Mrs. Dobbs tossed her head ominously.
Every men OF lace In her cap seemed sud
denly to have acquired starch, while the gill
ornaments thereon sclntillated fiercely
When say thing / mean it, a. YOU
know, Josiah. l have considered that YOU
indulge your hobbies without restraint. 1t
is high time my beneyOlence found some.
thing to occupy it"
Josiah drank up his wine slowly. When
ne spoke again 1t was in a suOdued tone
Dorothy, my DEAR how often have re-
minded you in the past threo years that ynur
poor sister-leit a Child. As | have said be.
lore, IT Is your clear duty to"
MIR. Dobbs !" The lady rose and sv,n,
her piack satin skirts to the door Here she
paused 10 add " ! repeat, | remember no
sister. A disgraceiul marriage severed ali
connection OF birth, ! beg that YOU Will
again"
Perhaps the episode alluded to was well
remembered OF Josiah, for he sighed several
times In his after dinner solitude He
knew the madcap girl he had sheltered tor
many years beneath his root was dead, but
ne knew, too, that her child lived, and ne
would iain have cherished it for the mother.
sake '''
In the course OF the evening Mrs. Dobbs
resumed the question of adoption. Josiah
was peaceable man, and he loved his wife
nut this last Whlm was serious one, and
lies.
"l'm going to advertise at once" sh,
DR.. Dobbs looked very blank.
1 should advise you to try some oths
plan that would give less publicity TO In
matter" he said mildly. "Thst woul,
bring any amount OF heggars and inposter
about you"
Mrs. Dobbs looked over her orowol worI
in an in jured way.
I" There you are again, Josiah always try
Ing TO oppose me and make my life msei
able. i declare you contradict me ever
morning and evening about something
Haven't told You before what a lonely hi
lead It's all very well for you, who &,
away TO the city every day and enjoy yOur
self making money. You are just like al
men-you are selfish TO the core" With thi,
final female platitude, Mrs Dobbs began tC
whimper. Mr.. Dobbs felt guilty OF heinous