Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-11-29

Il tell you that's the sum-" l clustered.
"Do you mea to contradict mef'
There was an ominous pause.
''Oh, no; l wouldn't think of contradicting
such an astronomical prodigy "Of course
it's the sun" Her tone made me crawl
"Then say it's the moon"
'Do youi knew when married you that
you weren't fright, but supposed you could
at least tell the sun from the moon"
The CONVEX sation terminated at this point
was not getting on, and was glad when, a
few moments later, we reached her fathers
house We we're received with open arms, Of
course. "How well you both lookl' and
ibid you fad everything comfortable at
homer and Was the dinner nicely servedf'
"You must De like two kittens on a feather
pillow" l think this last remark, made by
Mrs Brown little brother, contained trace
OF irony.
Two cats, thought
No sooner we're their greetings over, and
we had kissed and been kissed all round, than
my wife and her mother disappeared.
Whats Il atTn asked myself.
From the dining room, separated from
where we were only by door, heard my
wife's voice mingling with the clatter of
dishes on han mahogany.
leaned back in my chair triie dscour-
aged The starvation part of my plan was
surely a failure. But then hadn't counted
much on thai
Mrs Brown spent the whole evening in the
dining room and then sent me word that she
would remain all night with her mother
This was an avenue that had not thought
OF. WINGED. There was nothing for me to
do but go home alone. l did so and went to
bed-less no peful than had been since the
commencement of hostilities.
The next evening when l returned from
business fond my wife at home and in the
hands of a dressmaksr. 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 70; ten stuff is thisin asked
Its silk, sir," faltered the dressmaker.
"Silki II is silkf'
costly silk, sir"
ats a bass imitation. mixture of poor
silk and cotton. And thisF
Lace sir"
DO you tell me this is lacei Ny wife shall
wear no such stuff. She must be dressed as
becomes her matches beauty"
Ny wife stood staring at me in mute won
der. Was 1t fear or anger that first blanched
her cheek AMI then flushed It hot as fret
shuddered al the first word she should speak
But it was not spoken. Reckoning to the
dressmaker % follow her, she strobe out of
the room, and passing into the adjoining
chamber locked the door.
/ descended TO the dining room 1t was
dinner time and | was very hungry.
waited for al hour for my wife to come down
and dine. waited in vain. At last resolved
to dine alone.
Get me bottle OF wine, Jane" l said to
the maid
Madam has it under lock and key,
sir"
need not report to you the familiar little
word used % express my displeasure. | took
my hat and vent TO the club and dined there
| sat alone at my table thinking over the
situation. !. had been the morning and was
now the evening OF the second day, and some
how didn't feel that 1t was good.
went home at IL midnight / was tired
and sleepy, tut purposely delayed SO that my
wife might have time to think-to arrive at
the conclusion that she must sooner or later
come to me vanquished and beg for terms
Then proposed TO take her 10 my arms, ex-
plain my stI angs conduct and bid her be a
dutiful wife, whereupon all such evidences OF
my displeasUre would be avoided in future.
When | went upstairs | found our bedroom
door locked and bolted. had especially ar
ranged it my self for safety against burglars,
and knew / couldn't force it. ! must either
beg TO be let in or stay out. The former
would be fatal; the latter did / went TO
another room 1t was locked / tried an
other and other; all were locked. i aroused
h. a,,I Id
were all in nladam's possession | went down
into the library. / had turned out the lights
when went up, and it was pitchy dark. |
stumbled over the coal scuttle and fell, strik-
ing my head on u sharp corner OF the mantel
Throwing myself onto sofa ! caught the
flow OF bloOd in my handkerchief | laid
awake all night and fell asleep after day
Light.
l was awakened by my wife in the morn
ing opening he library windows / saw the
bloody hand lying on the floor, and
caught it up in time o prevent her perceiv-
ing it.
Did you rest well, my dearF she asked
There was a modulation in her voice which
dreaded more than harshuess. II maddened
me. was really angry now, and 1t required
no acting to play my part. Without noticing
her arose and went upstairs and made my
toilet Their passed down and out of the
house to get my breakfast at the club
As l sat sating my chop and slipping my
cotee-of dJuble strength required i'll
made up my mind that before the day was
over i must sither conquer or be conquered.
had not thus far been emiDently successful,
but reasoned that women were weaker than
men, and II my wife felt the strain as did
she would not be able to bold out another
han
O'Clock resolved to take advantage of any
excuse To he violent, and be as violent as pos
sibls. As / opened the front door with nv
latch key saw my wife standing in the par
lor. She hal been out and had not vet re-
moved her hat and gloves ! remembered
Petruchio's attack on his wifes cap Here
was my chance.
What have you on your head = asked
harshly.
My bonnet, DEAR
1T doesn'. become your
confidently hoped that, to avert tine storm
she must See was brewing, she would at least
take of the obnoxious hat and Law il ON the
table. She lid no such thing, but stood re-
gardtng me with the same mute wonder as
during my former efforts. Again and again
demanded the hats removal, but received
nothing in reply but cold stare. At last.
WY ~ dAA Tue NiOleute L telI and a
good deal | lid not feel, raised nv stick.
and, sweeping it sidewise laid the hat. mass
OF velvet AMI feathers without form and void.
at the other end OF the room.
What followed was SO sudden, so unexpect-
ed, 50 singular, that never could distinctly
remember how II occurred At any rate. at
call from my wife, two men entered from
another room and seized me by the arms.
One was M own brother and the other INV
wifeis cousin
What i 1es this meanFs | asked dunn
founded
Take hin to the third story back ROOM
my wife said calmly to my captors I'VE
win keep him there till we know how the
disease turni. IL he isn't better tomorrow
we shall have to send him 10 an asylum"
Ny God the thought was insane
My dear, cried.
Take hin away"
MY dear. you don't mean - Arthur
Tom"
Don't mind what he says; he's not respon-
sible"
By this tine l was at the first landing.
struggled but it was Of no avail. Nv can
tors were be tn strong men and carried me TO
the third story