Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-10-26
FLYING WORDS.

Helen johnson sat in her pleasant morn.
Ing room sewing on some dainty fine linen,
grieyed, troubled look in her blue eyes
and a suggestive tremble about her lips
She had handsome young husband. low
ing and attentive, but he possessed dispo-
sition annoyingly hasty and positive, and
as usual he had left her sore hearted and
distressed.
With half startled expression she rec
ognized his step in the hall and wondered
why he had returned for he had scarcely
had time To reach his place OF business
since he had gone out after breakfast.
"Helen, get me my notebook quickp he
exclaimed as he entered her presence, with
a cloud of annoyance on his face. Zone
would think that you might have seen IL
and saved me this trouble"
"Indeed, Frank, | have not seen II. Are
you quite sure that you left iti" the young
wife replied, with an effort to appear cheer
full.
"Surel What do you take me fori I guess
I'm not In my dotage just yet. i surely
left IL on the table directly before you.
Certainly you must have seen it." he de-
clared in quick, positive tones.
The color rushed in torrent to Helen's
face, and an angry gleam darkened ner eyes.
"Frank, il is unkind and ungentlemanly
for you to speak so to me. am confident
that have not seen your notebook"
This display of independence was some
thing new for the young wife. Generally
her eyes would fill with tears, and abe
would submissively endure his injustice,
and Frank arched his brows In astonish-
ment.
"Just as you said this morning that you
did not know where that last box of hand
kerchiefs was presume that you are still
In ignorance of its wheresboutsS"
"No, Frank, found it In a drawer of
your bookcase, just where you had placed
It," she responded, with a ring of triumph
In her voice and sparkle of victory In her
eyes.
"Oh, you did," Frank said sheepishly.
"Well, expect that you knew 1t was there
all the time. A man with his mind full of
business can't be expected to remember ev-
erything, but am sure that left my book
ON that identical table, and you must have
seen It. It is barely possible that your
memory may be treacherous also. Will
you be 10 kind as to try to recall where
you have placed itH
Franks voice was tauntingly sarcastic,
iOT nO Whr ChdkilhSh az otC6uSC Ills
wife had got the better Of him about his
handkerchiefs, but he was too proud to
confess it.
Frank, you shall not insult me longer.
It is humiliating, and will not endure Il.
know nothing at all about your book, and
until you apologize you need not expect me
to be very gracious"
Helen finished her emphatic declaration
by taking up the morning paper and turn
Ing her attention to its columns OF news.
But, Helen, j say you must have"-
"That will dol Ii is not my habit to mis-
represent things" she interrupted, and with
insulted dignity she swept from the room.
"Well. I'll be blamed If she don't mean
I'll / was mistaken about those blasted
handkerchiefs, but know what I'm talk
ing about in this case. I'll just turn the
tables on her, and she must apologize be-
fore unbend. don't propose to let any
woman dictate to me, particularly when
am in the right will just tell her So"
And suiting the action To his words he
wrote these words on the margin Of the
paper lying on the table:
HELEN-I, too, have some demands to make.
When you find the notebook, | shall expect an
apology from you. FRANK.
Then tearing Off what he had written he
placed 1t in conspicuous place and left the
house.
Arriving at his business house he re-
moved his hat, and in so doing the missing
notebook fell out upon the floor. He stared
at 1t a moment in disgust, while he remem-
bered placing it there during the time he
hastily scanned the morning paper.
"Jerusalemi Haven't | made q fool OF
myselfi' he exclaimed in dismay. "Well,
Helen Is forgiviDg little girl. She will be
all right at dinner anyhow. i hope she
won't see that note / left her, for that
would settle the case"
The day passed with its usual business
routine, and as Frank made ready to re-
turn home he bethought himself Of a ring
that his wife had expressed a desire for,
and completely penitent he stopped on his
way and purchased it, hoping that it might
prove peace Offering and thus relieve him
from an apology.
"Hello, helloi' he cried briskly, very
much as If nothing had occurred, as he en-
tered the parlor where his wife was. "It's
been a scorcher, hasn't itf The hottest day
Of the season."
II have not suffered from the heat"
Helen replied coolly, without even looking
In his direction.
"Oh. you haven't Well, that Is good"
rranks voice was meek, ana ne smiled
gushingly.
''Say, Helen, you remember that ring
you saw at Rodgers'i Well, have bought
It for you this evening Hold ont your
hand, little girl, and let us see how 1t will
look"
"Thank you, Frank, but don't care for
It," she SAID quietly.
You don't care for itl Well, / like
thatp' he responded in surprise. "Why
don't you want the ring, Heleni"
"One reason is that | could not enjoy II
until find your notebook and offer you an
apology"
A world of irony scintillated from every
word, and Frank understood that there
was nothing for him but an open confes-
sion, If he should ever expect peace in his
home.
"Never mind the book, Helen. am
sorry | left that note. We will say no
more about it," be ventured evasively.
The matter cannot rest that way,
Frank. The book must be found" Helen
declared firmly.
"Helen. am going to ask for little va
cation, and we will take an outing. Yor
need 1t, and | am just worried TO death
with business. Ny mind is all worked up,
and cannot think of anything | ought to.
The fact is II found the book after left
you this morning"
"Oh, you didP'
Just that noncommittal expression from
Helen and nothing more