Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-03


From the BrraIo Express
Why, Milly.' said a young west side
wife to another young west side wifc the
other day. how'd you burn that great
black spot on the parlor carpet?"
1T was an accident replied Miny.
TOO bad. ism it?'
NO and Milly's face took on a queer
expression. Il don't think it is too bad VI
think it's the best thing that has happened
since 1 was married, or before either for
that matter.
Milly's friend pondered for a minute
WELL she then declared, II can't for
the life of me see how 1t is a good thing to
have great hole burned in a parlor car
pet, especially when 1 don't think you can
afford new one any better than Fred and
/ cam
1t was then Milly's turn to ponder She
finally said: I'VE can't afford to buy a new
carpet, and that hole is in such a bad place
that 1 will have to plan good deal before
find way to cover it up. But, for all
that. 1 think that that is the luckiest and
best thing that has happened to me since
was n arried."
Milly's fried drew off her gloves pulled
couple of cushions about, so that she was
perfectly at ease, and said, imperatively:
Tell me-"
Milly blushed bit and then said: well.
suppose 1 might as well. now that 1
have spoken about it as 1 have" She hest
tated. as If at loss to know how to begin
her story, and then plunged boldly in like
this: Jack and 1 have been married for
six years, and never Until last night had
a quarrel which could be dignifed by the
name
There have been plenty of little spats, of
course, but never any out-and-out quarrel.
Last night We did have one. It's no need
telling what ii was about. 1t began shortly
after dinner and after the babies were in
bed. 1t was pretty bad at the start but in
half an hour we were saying perfectly aw-
full things to each other felt that / hated
Jack. and 1 know from the way that he
looked at me that he felt that he hated me.
Things went from bad to worse and
finally, about $50, Jack got up vowed that
he was going down town and that he didn't
care whether he ever came back or not. L
told him that L wasn't particular, either,
and he banged out into the hall, threw his
overcoat around him and grabbed up the
first hat ne could find. Then he came back
into the parlor and l said something else
mean and he said something that was so
awful that / can't think of 1t.
Then he started toward the door. Now,
as long as we have been married, Jack has
never gone away from the house without
kissing me goodbye. l stood over there by
the door, waiting to see what he would do
vowed mentally that if he didn't try to
make up before he went away 1 would go
straight home to mother and never come
back again. 1 wanted to cry, but wouldn't
give in, and kept saying mean things to
Jack and he, enraged beyond endurance;
paid me back with interest. l gave him
one particularly exasperating shot and he
made another break for the door. He said
mat ne would never, never come back, and
think he half meant it, or thought he did
Il stood looking at him with a mean
smile on my face all the time. trying ever
so hard to keep the tears back. Jack hest
tated again. He didn't want to 60. / gave
MIN no encouragement to stay and he bit
his lips said something under his breath
and gave leap for the hall
Wen, his feet struck where that burned
spot Is. Somebody had dropped a parlor
match there, and of course his stepping on
II hghted 1t. 1t cracked loudly and Jack
gave little start of surprise and the most
ludicrous look of fright came over his face
II was so funny that / laughed And the
next thing knew Jack had me in his arms
and we let the carpet burn until 1t burned
out And that's the reason why I am so
thankful that the parlor match happened
to burn that hole in my carpet"