Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1893-05-03

and so she spent an extra half-hour
in deciding whether she should
have tan or pearl grey for her new
kid gloves, and whether she looked
better in hat trimmed with sweet
brier or simple field daisies.
I'm little late, I'm afraid"
she said, as she entered the dining
room, where Mr.. c. was pacing up
and down like the proverbial Gagged
lion" of romance.
Late madam! should say
you were!' retorted her husband,
in tone which fairly made Mrs.
Cameron start. Its half-past six,
if it's a second! But | suppose
you think my time is of no value"
"Clarence.m
I've borne this long enough
went on the indignant husband.
And | give you fair notice THAT !
shall bear it no longer. jane" to
the girl, bring in the dinner at
once, and tomorrow let it be served
at six, punctually, whether your
mistress is here or mott"
"Yes, sir" said Jane, and she dis
appeared, grinning, into the kitch-
| ell.
Mrs. Cameron sat down, crimson
to the very roots of her hair.
Clarence" she said, with diff
Guilty controlling her voice, lis it
necessary to thus insult me before
the servants"
"Yes, madam, it is. If a wife dos
emit comprehend her duty, it is high
time she should be made to do so.
I'll trouble you for cup of coffee. -"
Mrs. Cameron was mortified,
stunned-dazed. She was entirely
unused to this style of domestic re-
proof. Almost before the dessert
with which Mr.. c. found plenty
of fault, intimating that it would
be better if his wife remained at
home to attend to household mat
ters a little more. instead of 0ad-
ding abroad the whole time the
door bell sounded.
Its dear mamma and Aunt Liz
zie come to spend the evening"
said Nina, Jumping up.
"Confound 'em ALL roared Mr..
Cameron. shifting the table with
his fists, cant | have a quiet even
ing once in a while?'
IL told them you would take
us all to the theatre tonight" hes
itated Nina, the color coming and
going changefully on her face.
Indeed! May | ask, madam,
who authorized you to make that
statement?" crisply queried her
husband. Am | mere puppet in
your hands, and am | supposed to
have no will or desire of my own?"
"But you will 60, won't you,
Clarence?" faltered poor Nina.
mo, madam, | will not" said
Mr.. Cameron, rising and looking
around for his hat. Il purpose to
spend the evening quietly at my
club"
And he bolted out of the room,
nearly falling over his mother-in-
law in the passage, and muttering
to himself:
"By Jove! if I'd stayed another
minute those tears would have
conquered me. Poor little Nina
1t was past twelve before he re-
turned. Never, in all the expert
ence of their married life, had he
been so late before.
Sitting up, eh?" said he savage
ly. Now, Mrs. Cameron, mean
to put an end, once for all, to this
sort of thing
81 was so anxious about you,
Clarence pleaded poor Nina.
"Anxious!" sneeringly repeated
he. "Do you suppose John Markan
allows his wife to sit up for him?"
"Oh, Clarence, wouldn't have
you like John Markan for the
worldw exclaimed Nina, bursting
into tears.
"Wouldn't your said he, the
faintest suspicion of smile glim-
mering under the ends of his nous
tache. Nov, l thoughtit would be
charming to be a little afraid of
ones husband, and you know 'su-
gar and spice and all that's nice
grows insipid."