Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-06-27
WIFE VS.. HUSBAND.
BY S. b.

81 tell you, Mrs. Merrion, am not
going to stand it,"
Mr. Peveril Merton, was short and
stout, with small, hazel eyes, a ruddy
complexion, with a mustache the color
of hay. Dignity, or even its assump-
ton, suits some men it didn't suit Mr..
Peveril Merton.
"Dear me, Peveril, I'm sure you'r
making a great fuss about nothing"
said Mrs. Merrion, with an impatient
toss Of her head.
She was as unlike her husband as
possible-a phenomenon you often come
across In married couples, where, instead
of 'hke loving like" the strongest prac-
ticable contrasts develop themselves.
Fanny Merton was slight, and rather
tall, with mischievous blue eyes, COM
plexion like freshly opened apple bios
SONS, and hair of the shining, dark
brown that is almost black.
"You danced with George Harland
five times, Mrs Merrion," said the in
dignant husband
"Only three times, Peveril. Only
three times and promenade" plead
ed Mrs. Merton. "And what is poor
woman to do when a gentleman asks
her to dance Am / to make a courte-
sy and say, No [ thank you sir; my
husband isn't willing ?''
Nonsense, Mrs. Merton"
@'Just what I think myself-the ab-
surdest nonsense In the world" de-
murely assented Mrs. Merton, arrang-
ing Sprig of geranium In her belt.
"And your old lover, too. Don't
think | am ignorant of your past life,
Mrs Merrion," growled her husband
"Well, my dear, how is the poor man
to help that ?'
s'But married woman. Fanny? Have
you no respect for public opinion %
Dear me" cried out the tormented
little woman, zone would think that
had broken one of the laws of the land !!
What have [ done after ALL Waltzed
three times with Mr. Harland in pub
lie ball room and let him take me down
TO supper -
"You have-firted with him. You.
a married woman. Mrs Merton, with
your husband standing by, scarcely able
to believe the evidence ofhis own eyes. !"
"But it is't half so bad as it would
have been if my husband hadn't been
standing by, is 1t -
Fanny, will you be serious ?''
Il am as serious as | can can be, Pew
eril, unless / burst into tears. If you
want me to cry I'll do my best in that
line. | suppose you never f1irt p
Il, Mrs. Merton p
Fanny went out of the room and
closed the door behind her with de-
gree Of emphasis that almost amounted
to bang.
cts too bad p said she to herself, as,
safe behind the shelter of the damask
curtains, she watched her husband
strut down the street, his hat shining
like satin, bis silk umbrella buttoned up
trinity, and his very boot-heels redo
lent Of snug, middle aged responsibility.
sfHe's getting to be a perfect Othello
AID | won't endure 1t ~
So, to relieve her overcharged feelings
and quiet the electric current of ner-
vous agitation, Fanny put on her hat
and went down town shopping.
As it CHANGED, she was detained long
er than she had anticipated, and the
weather was settling down into rainy
dusk just as she came opposite the
house of an old school-mate, now mar
ried and settled like herself.
''Good p quoted Mrs. Fanny, to her
self ''I'll 60 in and borrow a hood and
water proof cloak from Rosie GILES,
and then IFS only couple of blocks to
the cars-and l shall be home in a
quarter of al hour"
Rosie lent the hood and water proof
cloak with ready good humor, and her
selfassiste ed in the tying of an antiquated
blue veil over Mrs. Merrions blooming
face.
Il declare Fanny" cried she, laugh
ing, you're transformed into pretty
incognita. / don't think your own hus-
band would knowsyou in this guise."
'Perhaps not,' said Fanny, 'But /
must hurry home. Only see how dark
it is growing"
''Sdall [ send a servant with you ?"
Nonsense AS if was afraid p'
And Fanny Merton ran laughing
down the steps.
As she entered the car, closely yelled
and wrapped in the dark folds of the
water proof cloak, a short, stout gentle
man rose to give her a seat, and with
an inward smile, Mrs. Merton recognlz-
ed her lord and master.
She accepted the civilty with mute
nod-there was something IN the coml-
cality Of the situation that impelled hel
to keep up the disguise.
SSWe're acting a little bit of romance
In real life," said she 10 herself How
near and yet how far Husband and
wife-yet for the time being perfect
strangers to each other.
HI'll get out the block this side OF
home, and then, if / run all the way, ]
can, perhaps. get there before Peveril
does, and thereby escape lecture q
yard long about the spropriety' of mar
ried ladies being out after dark. &c
hear the blessed man talk, one would
suppose that nothing in the world was
improper for unmarried ladies'"
She beckoned to the conductor-the
car stopped.
She sprang out, but to her surprise
not to say dismay, Peveril Merton
stepped nimbly OLA after her.
s'Don't be in such, hurry, ma'am, u
said he in a low, insinuating voice Gal
low me to see you safe home. Pretty
girls shouldn't be out alone after dark