Wichita eagle., 1889-10-25
''Taie rc.asay,n / Repeated.

| lowed by as sudden a fash of lightning In the
eyes. Had delayed a moment the storm
would have burst. But didn't delay.
went out and shut the door after me.
went directly to my club. Taking my old
seat in the dining room ordered a good din
ner and bottle Of wine. felt that thus far
all had gone as could be expected. The ball
was opened. Ny wife was at home and nc
dinner. l was at the club with plenty to eat
and bottle Of excellent Chateau Margaux.
By the time had drained the last glass felt
quite equal to the remainder of the ordeal
before me, and resolved firmly not to depart
one iota from my model Petruchio Having
finished my dinner and tossed off q pony of
brandy to put a capper on my courage, I re-
turned to my work. l was surprised to find
my wife quite calm. She was ready to 20
with me to her fathers She quietly took
my arm and we walked slowly up the street.
1t was about dusk. The full moon, rising,
stood in the east large and round
"How large the moon looks, " she remarked
ut is full tonight, think"
'The moon?"
Eyes, the moon. I said the moon"
''It's the sun. The moon never shines at
this time of day"
Ou, Is ibs 11ST tOlc Qluu COuVlC>
ton.
Il tell you that's the sum-" / clustered
"Do you mean to contradict mel"
There was an oininous pause.
ooh, no; wouldn't think Of contradicting
Euch an astronomical prodigy. "Of course
it's the SUM-" Her tone made me crawl
Then l say it's the moon"
do you2 knew when married you that
you weren't bright, but supposed you could
at least tell the sun from the moon"
The conversation terminated at this point.
l was not getting on, and was glad when, a
few moments later, we reached her fathers
house We were received with open arms, Of
course. "How well you both lookl" and
did you find everything comfortable at
homer and ''Was the dinner nicely serveda'
You must be like two kittens on feather
pillow" l think this last remark, made by
Mrs Browns little brother, contained trace
of irony.
Two cats, thought.
No sooner were their greetings over, and
we had kissed and been kissed all round, than
my wife and her mother disappeared.
Whats that" asked myself.
From the dining room, separated from
where we were only by a door, heard my
wife's voice mingling with the clatter of
dishes on hard mahogany.
l leaned back in my chair trifle discour-
aged The starvation part of my plan was
surely failure. But then hadn't counted
much on that.
Mrs. Brown spent the whole evening in the
dining room and then sent me word that she
would remain all night with her mother.
III, hot hnI
of WINGED There was nothing for me to
do but go home alone. I did SO and went to
hopeful than had been since the
commencement Of hostilities
The next evening when I returned from
business found my wife at nome and in the
hands of dressmaker. She had been pro-
vided with an elaborate trousseau; but one
Dress designed to be worn on her reception
days, had been left unfinished. She was
standing before the mirror in the gown, the
skirt of which the dressmaker was arranging
to hang more evenly. l advanced and took
the fabric between my thumb and finger.
what rotten stuff is thisf" asked.
''It's silk, SIR" faltered the dressmaker.
"Silkl This silk"
Costly silk, SIR"
"It's base imitation A mixture of poor
silk and cotton. And thisa"
Lace, SIR"
'Do you tell me this is lacel My wife shall
wear no such stuff. She must be dressed as
becomes her matchless beauty"
My wife stood staring at me in mute won
der. Was it fear or anger that first blanched
her cheek and then flushed it hot as fret I
shuddered at the first word she should speak.
But it was not spoken. Reckoning to the
iressmaker to follow her, she strobe out Of
the room, and passing into the adjoining
chamber locked the door.
| descended to the dining room It was
dinner time and l was very hungry. I
waited for an hour for my wife to come down
and dine. / waited in vain. At last l resolved
10 dine alone.
Get me bottle of wine, Jane said to
The maid.
Madam has 1t under lock and key,
,irn
need not report to you the familiar little
word used to express my displeasure. l took
nv hat and went to the club and dined there.
sat alone at my table thinking over the
situation. 1t had been the morning and was
low the evening of the second day, and some
low l didn't feel that it was good.
went home at II midnight 1 was tired
md sleepy, but purposely delayed 50 that my
wife might have time to think-to arrive at
he conclusion that she must sooner or later
ome to me vsnquished and beg for terms
Then l proposed to take her to my arms, ex-
lain my strange conduct and bid her be a
Iutiful wife, whereupon all such evidences of
nv diSpleasure would be avoided in future.
When went upstairs found our bedroom
oor locked and bolted. had especially ar
anged it myself for safety against burglars,
nd knew couldn't force il. l must either
'eg TO be let in or stay out The former
would be fatal; the latter did. l went to
mother room. 1t was locked. / tried an
ther and another; all were locked. / aroused
be servants and demanded the keys They
we're al, in madam's possession. l went down |
nto tho library. had turned out the lights
5hen went UP, and it was pitchy dark l |
tumbl,d over the coal scuttle and fell, strik- |
nc my head on a sharp corner of the mantel. |
'hrowihg myself onto sofa l caught the /
ow Of blood in my handkerchief. I laid
wake all night and fell asleep after day
ght.
was awakened by my wife in the morn /
NJ opening the library windows. l saw the |
loodv handkerchief tying on the floor, and /
aught i. up in time &c prevent her perceiv- /
ng it
Did you rest well, my dearr she asked.
There was a meditation in her voice which
dreaded more than harshnesS 1t maddened |
ne. was really angry now, and il required
10 acting to play my part. Without noticing
Ter l arose and went upstairs and made my
oilet Then passed down and out Of the
ouse to get my breakfast at the club.
As sat eating my chop and slipping my
oaee-of double strength required it'll