The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-02-15
A LESSON FOR HUSBANDS.
How Mrs. Peyeril Merrion Got
Square by Chance for a
Good Scolding.

81 tell you, Mrs. Merton, 1 am not GO
ing to stand i'll"
Mr.. Peveril Merton was short and
stout, with small hazel eyes, a ruddy
complexion and q mustache the color Of
hay. Dignity, or ever its assumption,
suits some men: it didn't suit Mr.. Pew
eril Merton. y
Dear me, Peveril, I'm sure you're
making a great fuss about nothing"
said Mrs. Merton, with an impatient
toss Of her head.
She was as unlike her husband as pos
sible-a phenomenon you often come
across in married couples, where, in
stead Of .slike loving like" the strong
est practicable contrasts develop them
selves. Fanny Merton was slight and
rather tall, with mischievous blue eyes,
a complexion like freshly opened apple
blossoms and hair of the shining dark
brown that is almost black.
sYou danced with George Harland
five times, Mrs. Merrion," said the in
dignant husband.
"Only three times, Peveril. Only three
times and a promenade" pleaded Mrs.
Merrion. And what is a O woman
to do when a gentleman asks her to
dance? Am / to make a courtesy and
say, No, I thank you, my husband isn't
willing"
Nonsense, Mrs. Merrion.n
"Just what ! think myself-the abb
surdest nonsense in the world" demure-
ly assented Mrs. Merrion, arranging a
sprig of geranium in her belt.
Sand your old lover, too. Don't think
I am ignorant of your past life, Mrs.
Merrion, . growled her husband.
"Well, my dear, how is the poor man
to help that"
"But a married woman, Fanny. Have
you no respect for public opinion?"
'Dear me- cried out the tormented
little woman, zone would think / had
broken one of the laws of the land!
What have / done, after all? Waltzed
three times with Mr.. Harland in a public
ball room, and let him take me down to
support"
"You have-firted with him. You, a
married woman, Mrs. Merrion, with
your husband standing by scarcely able
to believe the evidence of his own eyes!"
.But it isn't half so bad as it would
have been if my husband hadn't been
standing by, is itl"
Fanny, will you be serious?"
81 am as serious as | car be, Peveril,
unless / burst into tearsi If you want
me to cry, I'll do my best in that line. /
suppose you never hirt?"
81, Mrs. Merrion?"
Fanny went out Of the room and closed
the door behind her with a degree of
emphasis that almost amounted to a
bang.
Its too bad!" said she to herself, as,
safe behind the shelter of the damask
curtains, she watched her husband strut
down the street, his hat shining like
satin, his silk umbrella buttoned up
trinity, and his very boot heels redolent
Of snug, middle aged responsibility.
"He's getting to be a perfect Othellol
AndI won't endure it'll"
So to relieve her overcharged feelings
and quiet the electric current of nervous
agitation Fanny put on her hat and went
down town shopping.
AS it Glanced she was detained longer
than she had anticipated, and the weather
was settling down into a rainy dusk just
as she came opposite the house of an old
schoolmate, now married and settled
like herself.
.Goodi" quoted Mrs. Fanny to herself.
"Tll 60 in and borrow q hood and water.
proof cloak from Rosie GILES, and then
it's only a couple of blocks to the cars,
and ! shall be home in a quarter of an
hour"
Rosie lent the hood and waterproof
cloak with ready good humor. and her
self assisted in the tying of an Anticipated
blue veil over Mrs. Merrion's blooming
face.
II declare, Fanny" cried she, laugh
ing, you're transformed into a pretty
incognita. don't think YOU own hus
band would know you in this guise."
"Perhaps not" said Fanny. "But
must hurry home. Only see how darl
it is growing"
"Shall ! send q servant with your
"Nonsense. AS If I was afraid"
And Fanny Merrion ran laughing dowr
the steps.
AS she entered the car, closely veiiee
and wrapped in the dark folds of ths
waterproof cloak, O short. stout gentle
man rose to give her his seat, and will
an inward smile Mrs. Merton recog
nized her lord and master.
She accepted the civility with a mutt
nod-there was something in the com
icality of the situation that impelled he
to keep up the disguise.
Were acting a little bit of romano
in real life,n said she to herself. How
near and yet how fart Husband AM
wife-yet for the time being perfec
strangers to each other.
"I'l get out the block this side 0
home, and then, if run all the way,
can perhaps get there before Peveri
does, and thereby escape q lecture o yart
long about the 'propriety Of marriet
ladies being out after dark To hea
the blessed man talk enc would suppos
that nothing in the world wa imprope
for unmarried ladies'"
She beckoned to the conductor-the ca