Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-08-29
MRS. CODDLENANS OTHER
FAILING.

| Mr.. Matthias COddleman certainly seem.
ed TO be very matter Of fact and good
young man, for he regularly attended TO
| his business, and was, moreover, the super
iutendent of a Sunday school in the town
where he lived. He was nevertheless pos
sessed of a romance, and a very substau.
tial romance it was, weighing | should
think, nearly two hundred pounds for Mr..
Matthias was married.
This is how it came about. Some two
years before the time at which l write, he
had taken his summer outing at one of the
popular seaside resorts, and there had met
for the first time the future Mrs. Coddle
man. Eta Sayles, as she was then, was a
plump and pretty maiden, under the charge
of an old aunt, her father being dead, and
her mother and only sister in Europe.
Etta's aunt had but one failing, and that
was the Patagonian savages On learning
of the deeply religious nature of Mr.. Mat
thias, this estimable gentlewoman pounced
upon him forthwith and so much was she
| Interested in discussing with him plans for
the conversion of these heathen, that she
never perceived the conversion of Eta, as
effected by love and Mr.. Coddleman, till it
was too late. AS Mrs. Sayles was great
| invalid and had gone to Europe for her
health, it seemed useless to wait for her re-
turn. So after much letter writing and
discussion it was decided that the young
| couple should be married, and they were
the next spring.
They had now been man and wife for
more than year, and thus far nothing had
occurred to mar their tranquility. Indeed,
there was no reason why there should, for
Mrs. Matthias believed her husband TO be
perfection, and Mr.. Matthias returned the
! Loo f.
tied that belief, for she had but two fail.
ings; one failing of eyesight, and the
other a most inordinately jealous disposi-
ton. OF the first of these failings her hus.
band was aware; of the second he knew
nothing, because he was such thoroughly
good young man that even his jealous wife
could find nothing to carp at.
The day of the 10th of July, 1875, was
noted for two things the arrival of Mr..
Coddleman's sister-in-law from Europe and
the arrival of the green. eyed monster,
jealousy, in his household
Shortly before the time of which write,
Mrs Sayles had died abroad, and her daugh
ter was now returning to live with her
married sister. The day in question open
ed auspicously enough, for, though sultry,
it was very beautiful AS Mr.. and Mrs.
CoddlemaU rode into town that morning,
he to his business and she to meet her sis
ter, no pair of turtle doves could have been
more devoted. Before the train had pro-
ceeded far on its way, however, an acci-
dent occurred to rufile the compUsure of
Mrs Matthias, and this was the loss of her
glasses
"Oh, Matt !" she cried, when she had
discovered the fact, 81 have left my glasses
behind me at home what shall do Why,
| should not know my sister without them
unless she was within three feet of me-"
well, my love" replied he, 'it strikes
me that as you can't find her without them,
and can't 90 back to get them, the best
thing will be for you to wait at the station
and let her find YOU
His wife agreed with him in this, and so
the matter ended.
All through the heat of the day Mr.. Cod
dleman toiled at his desk, stopping occa-
sionally TO wonder how he should like his
sister-in- law, whom he had never met, and
whether she had yet found his wife. When
four O'Clock came he arose from his work
and sought the railway station with Joy.
All the trouble of that unfortunate af-
ternoon arose from his extravaganza, for
as he knew the common car would be both
hot and crowded, he determined to treat
himself to the luxury of drawing room
seat.
Entering the first of the coaches he found
it full, and passing through it, secured one
of the two remaining chairs in the forward
car. He had scarcely settled himself when,
just as the train started the porter showed
a lady, laden with many bags and bundles,
to the remaining seat. Just then the car
gave a lurch, and before she could seat her
self her baggage flew in every direction
As the porter had meantime disappeared,
Matthias came to the rescue and collected
her scattered belongings.
80 kind of you," she murmured, as she
sank back in her seat with a sigh of COM
fort.
'Not at all, he replied, "but you should
have some one to assist you with these bun
dles-they are too heavy for you to carry"
81 was expecting some one to help me-"
she returned, 'but was disappointed. AT
ter a moment she continued, II do not
know this part of the country, and il /
would not be asking too much, should be
so much obliged if you would give me some
information about reaching my destina-
ton"
He hastened to assure her that, far from
troubling him, he should esteem it a great
honor TO be of any service to her, and
begged that she would tell him where she
was going.
"Why, to be sure," she replied, "the
place is, isl declare / have forgotten the
name. But have it on a card in my
pocketbook, which is in my little bag-no,
not that one," as he picked up a brown
travelling case, ''the one nearest you. All,
thanks. Why /" she cried, as she opened
it, 1.-THE card is not here after all. l must
have lost it but can remember the name,
guess. Let me see, Bell, Bell, Bell
vile that's it, | think. Is there such
place Z"
Mr. Coddleman said that there was, and
told her Furthermore that she must change
at the next station, and that he himself
would put her on the other train.
Mr.. Coddleman was by nature retiring,
but the lonely position of the lady and her
trust in him inspired him with the idea that |
ne must make himself agreeable in which |
he succeeded so well that it seemed but |
moment before the junction was reached. |
ooh, really this is too much !" she ex-
postuated, as he loaded himself with her |
baggage 81 can't think of allowing you to
carry all of it,"
"Do not speak of it, madam it is moth |
ing at ALL, =" he painted from beneath his |
load of bags and shawl-straps.
They had crossed the station and board |
ed the other train, when Mr.. Coddleman, |
happening TO turn, saw his wife standing |
on the platform of the car he had just left, |
with hard, cold look on her face that |
BODIED no good for him.
He was aghast she had seen part but |
not all, and evidently thought he was going |
off with a strange woman He must hasten !
back to explain her mistake. But first he |
must get rid of his load and likewise of .
the lady. He therefore hurried after her,
found her seat, aud excused himself as
quickly as possible but before he could
leave the train, it was in motion and by
the time he reached the platform, il was
moving at good rate of speed.
Mr. Coddleman was inclined TO be stout
and, moreover, was much hurried, and this
fact, coupled with an absolute ignorance of |
the laws of moving bodies, may account
for his jumping with both feet together,
and in the opposite direction from which
the train was moving. The result of this
manmuvTe was a complicated series of SOM
ersaults, which landed him in a heap on the |
floor of the station, from which he gather
cd himself up just in time 70 see his own
train disappear in the distance. This in |
volved three hours wait, during which he |
meditated on the events of the afternoon |
and the reception that awaited him at home. |
1t was after ten at night when he at last,
weary and worn, reached his house. 1t |
took him little while 10 summon up cour-
age to enter.
In the parlor sat his wife, bolt upright in
a chair by the table, reading the family BIZ |
ble-an ominous sign.
MY dear, he faltered, in his meekest
tones, ~ missed my train, and have just