Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-11-15
A MODERN PETRUCHIO.

remembered him passing back ana FORTH
between his room, and chapel, and recitatjo on
at college There was always the same seri
Gus, injured look, look in which, to those
who knew him best, who understood his ec
centric views and absurd methods, there was
something comical.
He had been devoted to the stage When
a new company came to town he would be-
found among its audiences from the first to-
the last. He would rather see a bad play
than no play at all; and when he was not at
the theatre, he read plays. Notwithstanding
his peculiarities, all of his set loved him. He
was Kind hearted, impulsive, generous. His
face was a mirror for his feelings, and no one.
ever saw it reflect aught except what was
ingenious. This was the man l had parted.
from, five years before, upon leaving college
Now he was new mana new man, and.
yet the same old Peter Brown. He was.
married. He had just entertained me at.
dinner. The wife, a decided looking little
woman, sat at the board, plainly its mistress.
There was no wine; and when we left the,
table, we all left it together, and without a
suspicion of the odor of tobacco
We had chatted perhaps half an hour in
the drawing room, when Peter rose and, sig
mailing me to follow him, led the way up
three flights of stairs to little chamber with
but one window. All the furniture it con-
tanned was two easy chairs, a table, and a
cupboard hanging against the wall. The
door closed, Peter drew long sigh. Then
he went to the cupboard and took out a
bottle, some glasses, and box of cigars
''Come, Peter" said, lighting weed he
gave me, and throwing myself back in the
cushions, ''tell me all about it."
"About what?"
81 see that conviviality is restricted in
your house. l am curious to know whyn
His expression was sad
MADAM objects?" queried.
MADAM objects" He cast a rueful glance
around the apartment.
"And like a good husband you submit"
eyes; 1 submit"
'And gracefully"
There was some hesitation.
"My submission was not exactly graceful,
originally"
"Well tell me about it."
He lit his cigar and began to relate an at
tempt which for originality and ingenuity
had never been equaled by any of his ex-
tremely remarkable freaks while in college
You remember how fond used to be of the
theatre? Well, I've got over that, but it took
a terrible experience to cure me- Of all the
plays ever put on the stage my favorite used
to be 1.-THE Tanning of the Shrew" To me,
Petruchio's method of curing his wifes tenn
per, by feigning to be more violent than she,
was model of cleverness, and before was
old enough to have wife I vowed that, if
she should be shrew, would be a Petruchio
I first met my wife at a tennis party. She
was my partner, and looked very pretty in a
loose tennis jacket, a striped shirt, and a
jaunty cap. With me it was one of those
cases when, a mans heart flies right out of his
bosom like tennis ball from a racket and
lights on the girl We played very well to-
gether, and were neck and neck with our op-
ponents near the end of the game, when a
foul ball was served to my partner, which she
sent back.
'Thats FOUL" I exclaimed
"What do you mean?' she asked, sharply.
SIT fell out of the court"
''No such thing"
81 beg PARDON" I replied, politely; sit
looked SO to me-"
''I'l be obliged if you'll play your own
game and let me play mine" she returned
angrily
81 beg pardon" I touched my cap apollo
8eulcally ana lne game Wenu on.
There was something about the barefaced
assurance and dictatorial manner of the pro-
ceeding that attracted my attention. Some
how became dazzled by the girls angry
eyes, could see nothing but pretty face,
a petite figure, striped shirt and jaunty
cap. I went away from the tennis party with
the little termagant buzzing about in my
thoughts like a humble bee among the holly
fof
house; quarreled with her at my first call
made it up on the second by retracting every
thing I had said found myself cut by her a
few days after; apologized for something
had not done; tried in every way 1 could
think of to please her, and finally found my
self madly in love with q girl who promised,
if | should win her, to make my life pande-
monium.
went on trip to be gone month, to try
and forget her, but returned in a week thor
oughly convinced that couldn't get on with
out her. I proposed. She would probably
have refused me had not her father told her
that he wouldn't have man for son-in-law
who "Ianguished under such a theatrical
drawl." That settled it, / was accepted.
There was nothing for me but life OF
misery with q stubborn, quarrelsome woman.
Nv NA@e-'A ~ON--eA
live in peace with her unless he could break
her. But could | do this2 l thought of Petru-
chic, and sat down and read over 1.-The Tam
ing Of the ShrewH for the hundredth time.
noticed that Petruchio first got the lady into
his power and then commenced his training.
Iresolyed to be married at once
The next day l went to my lady love and
told hep that, owing to business engagements
which would require my absence, it would Re
impossible for me to claim, her within year.
She informed me that, unless could find it
convenient to claim her the next week,
could look elsewhere for partner. had
scored one point. accepted the terms and
we were married.
We went through the honeymoon pleas
emily, for I determined not to cross her In
anything, waiting till we should be comfort
ably settled at home ir the house her father
had given her, in the same street in which he
lived, and only few blocks away. Then
proposed to commence modern instance OF
the tanning of shrew.
The honeymoon ended and we arrived at
home T had hired the cook myself and by