Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-08


FITTING BELL SKIRT Is OF STRIPED cool
Written for The Evening Star
THE WIFE OF THE CHIEF.
Official Courtesies Almost Cause Domestic
Unhappiuess.
COON AFTER THE COMING IN OF THIS
~ administration Mr.. Fulmer was made chief
Of division in one Of the executive depart
ments. The March day on which he left the
desk he had occupied az an humble clerk and
arose to the grandeur of chief was the brightest
day he had ever known-not excepting his we'd
ding day. Then. beneath the OVERLOOKING joy
of the young bridegroom, an underlined
doubt that he nigh. not find himself equal to
his happiness and his bride. But Mr.. Fulmcr
was sure that he would be found equal to any
thing he might have to encounter in the chief
dom to which he had been called.
But jealousy on the part Of Mrs. Fu!msr was
not one of the emergencies for which he was
prepared.
How had the soil Of Mrs. Fulmer's mind been
prepared to bring forth such a growth OF
misery from q tiny seedling2
One afternoon In the previous summer Mr..
Fulmer came home from the Office half an
hour later than usual Mrs. Fulmer met him
at the door.
"What makes you 30 late2'
ooh. nothing In particular" Mrs. Fulmer
noticed that he set his lunch basket down very
gently on the shelf of the hat rack.
What have you got there?" she asked.
"Eggsf"
"What for? What do you want to plant2"
Mrs Fulmer laid hold Of the basket; her hus-
band tried to prevent her, but she unfastencd
and 1iacoyera1 fiYv n
"a forget-me-not How did you happen to
| buy that? IL it for ms2''
"No goosfe; fits for me-
''Where did you buy it?"
~ didn't buy it,
"How did you get it, then? Was it given to
your
"Plsase get trowel-thsrs's good woman,
and don't ask foolish question:
Mrs. Fulmer found the trowel. In the mean
time Mr.. Fulmer had taken the basket and a
| glass Of water into the front yard, aud when
Mrs. Fulmer appeared was taking the little root
carefully out Of the basket. He took the trowsl,
dug hole, put the tiny plant into 1t and poured
sone water over its roots. He then filed in
the earth and pressed 1t down. When he had
finished he arose with the trowel in his hand
and was confronted by Mrs. Fulmer, who stood
on the doorstep watching the proceedings. Dark
suspicious had gathered in her mind a. she saw
his tender care Of the little flower and noted
| the soft pats he had bestowed about 1t. There
| was severity in her tone and In her eyes as she
demanded:
She WAS standing on the highest Step and he
was on the ground in front of her. This gave
| her physical and moral advantage and Mrs
Fulmsr realized it. Mr.. Fulmer felt 1t also and
| was little embarrassed. His first glance did
not meet his wife's eye quite frankly, which she
| noted. But he recovered his assurance, took off
his hat and replied:
Miss Chrismond, Mrs. Fulner. Are you
| satisfied now?"
| Mrs. Fulmer turned and went into the dining
| room. She know that Miss Chrismond was a
copyist who occupied desk near MIR. Fulmers
Mr.. Fulmer followed her, after washing his
hands, and dinner was begun in silence. Then
Mr.. Fulmer began to talk and his wife made
| brief replies. Nothing more was said about the
| forget-me-not, but q great deal more was
| thought. Whenever Mrs. Fulmer went to the
front door that flower was the first thing she
saw. It grew luxuriantly and it fascinated her.
vision of two desks in the department WAS
| often with her as the summer went by and
| passed into autumn. She made 1t convenient TO
visit Mr.. Fulmer at his office oftener than she
had done before, but she always found him hard
| at work and the fair head Of Miss Chrismond
| bent thoughtfully over her writing. So her
suspicious we're gradually quieted and winter
drove them away. But Jealousy, once con-
| ceived, never dies.
| There was no prouder woman In Washington
| than Ms. Fulmsr when her husband was ap-
| pointed chief Of his di vision She was q true
| wife, and as her husband she had always been
proud Of him, but now that he was officer Of
| the government she knew that she had o real,
tangible ground for pride-one which no ono
could question. But as her pride grew strong
30 did her fears. To what dangers, political
and moral, to what batteries, to what cajoleries
might he not be exposed2 What made Mrs.
Fulmsr think 80 soon Of women? Was she not
| q woman? In an evil moment she Remembered
Miss Chrismond and the forgetme-not. There
| were q good many women in that division, and
every one Of them would now have Q special
| reason for being a. agreeable to him - possi-
Bile, for was he not In . way their master? And
be is 30 easily pleased. 50 easily fattered. And
there was that Miss Chrtmond OF course he
would favor her. Why he should do so Mrs.
Fulmer did not stop to explain to herself. Per-
and soft and had curly light brown hair.
It was with An underlined purpose Of being q
little more watchful that Mrs. Fulmer went
into her husbands office on the day when he
| entered upon his new dignitiss and enoIumsnts
o. chief Of the division. She happened to come
into the room just as he was going through the
formality Of receiving the Congratulations OF
| his official force Unobserved she sank into an
easy chair near the door and proudly watched
him as, with . pleasant and condescending
they came up to greet him. Dear me! isn't he
proud and happy" thought she. And then,
after long look at all the male clerks in the
room came the decided verdict, HE il GER
tainly the best looking man OF them all-dsar
old fellowf' Just then slight little woman
with curling light hair and bright brown eyes
advanced toward Mr.. Fulmer. Mrs. Fulmer
started and almost held her breath MIR. Full
mer bowed politely, smiled blandly and held
out his hand
"Ah, Miss Chrismond. you here2 hadn't no
ticed you before-thousht You were absent To-
day."
$50 was, Mr.. Fulmer. Just came in-jus,
In time to see you installed as our chief.
Mother was sick, and had 10 stay With her,"
mo excuses accepted, Miss chrismond. ]
shall be very severe you are not prompt and
faithful Neither the Office nor can spare
Miss Chrismond." She had her back 70 Mrs