The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-08-03
RUTH DALTON.


Why Max Left Home, and How His Will
Finally Obtained the Victory Over His
Appetite.
All the village folk liked to stop and
look into the window of Ruth Gray's
millinery store. Ruth had been sue
.cessful, by modest construction Of
the term successful, and when she be-
came Mrs. Max Dalton she was glad
and proud to welcome Max and his
mother to her own little home, the
contest cottage in Client.
1t was the first anniversary of Ruth's
wedding day. Ruth looked over the
table critically. She had taken great
pains to have every thing exactly as
Max liked it. and Max was quite an
eplcure. Mrs. Dalton, the elder, sat
in the bay-window of the little sitting
room watching for her "boy," as she
fondly called him.
what can have detained MAXI"
asked Ruth, putting her head in at
the door. Il begged him to be punctual
to-day whatever happened"
But as she spoke the sitting-room
door opened and Max Dalton stag
gered into the room, his hair dishev-
eled, his eyes dull, a maudlin smile on
his lips. ''Y'r mos otedient, ladies'"
he murmured, with poor attempt at
POPULARITY; "hope l haven't KEEP the
party waiting. Y see. l met an OF
fren' down here an ad to drink is
'elth, bein' our wed n 'niversary."
His feet came in contact with the
rug. and he gave sudden lurch for
ward, falling against his wife, and
from her to a large armchair. She
shrank back from his touch, her face,
from which all the girlish bloom had
suddenly faded, white with disgust
and horror.
Don't touch metz she gasped,
don't come near mellow dare you
how dare you come near me-when
you are-like thisp"
Ruth, Ruth!' whispered Mrs. Dali
ton, don't make him angry; he will
not bear it now; don't say any thing
more, beg of you"
Ruth turned upon her mother-in-
law with anger blazing in her eyes.
''Indeedr" she retorted, II had sup
posed drunkenness was u crime, not Il
virtue. l had thought it was worse
to commit sin, fault if you will.
than to speak of it. 1t seems was
mistaken. Will you kindly indicate
what you would consider q proper
form of address in such case. |
must plead ineXperience in such mat
tiers as an excuse for my Mistakes"
She was excited, irritated, the
words came from her lips without pre-
meditation, her heart beat so she could
hardly stand.
Max Dalton reused little from his
reclining position in the easy chair
and sat staring stupidity at the faces of
the two women. He only half COM
pretended what they were saying, but
felt that his shortcomings were in some
way the cause of it.
Don't speak to my mother like
that" he stammered out; Il won't
have it-d'ye hear?'
His wife's anger rose higher Gre
ally" she replied, red spot glowing
now in either cheek like burning
flame. Twill you tell me by what
right l am forbidden to speak in my
own house?"
Max had never seer his wife angry
before. Into the dulled senses of the
drunken brain a keener realization
began to dawn.
"You mean," he stammered, with
an assumption of drunken dignity.
"that this house is yours. eh?"
"Yes!" in the heat of her anger the
words flashed out involuntarily. Yes,
it is. or aOas."
"P'raps," he mumbled, brokenly,
you'd like to live here alone again,
eh?"
81 certainly should il I can not be
allowed the privilege of eY ressing my
opinions otherwise" sho answered,
haughtily.
Her husband rose and took his hat
from the floor where it had fallen. He
was sober enough new to walk and
talk steadily.
Goodbye, mother" he said; give
been turned out, you see. This is a
specimen of the now dispensation,
when women rule. I might have
known how it would be when l &C
cepted home at her hands. But I'm
not man to cringe and whine for any
woman's favor. even when that wom-
ans my own wife; goodbye"
"Oh, my boy!" cried his mother,
with outstretched, supplicating hands,
''come back! forgive your wife-be
magnanimous. Oh! Ruth" she