Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1894-04-19

What, he was going to be beatenl
For he felt sure il that continued he
would soeu be hopelesSly angry and
speak in spite Of himself
Cost what il might he must invent
! something to overcome the silence OF
the obstinate woman
All at once a quiet laugh shook him,
and, dropping his shuttle, he rose A
rich idea struck him, He had found
the road to victory. 1t led into the
room and straight to the cupboard.
He took down from one of the
shelves a liquor glass, which he placed
on the table with some unnecessary
noise; then, with n decided step, he
walked to the other, and from the
deepest recess of the highest shelf
brought carefully sealed bottle,
placed It between his knees, loudly
scratched away the wax, aud made
the cork pop out with an angry ex-
plosion
1t was precious bottle of choice
"Calvados,' kept in strict reserve to
celbrate the return OF the young sailor
ing that the father should look az the
bottle, even to see il it were improving
with age; therefore the noise of the
uncorking struck her heart like the
near sound of pistol shot
Nevertheless she sat unhlnchlngIy,
sphinx of Immortality, even when he
/ illed his glass with the bubbling IL
uuor aud, tasting it with a smack,
murmurcd TO himself with a grunt of
pleasure.
The good man was terribly disap-
pointed at the failure of his stratagem
He returned TO his nets. puzzling his
poor old head, which was more accus-
toned TO plan decoys for fishes than
to search for ruseS 10 overcome the
eaprccs of women
Hours of the same obstinate silence
followed, but at last the good man en-
tered the room.
"lle can't bear It any longer he's
going to speak" thought the wife, de.
lighted at the idea of her conquest.
But instead of speaking or even look
ing at her he went directly TO the
high cupboard Mounting footstool
he began 10 search carefully with the
close attention OF one who had lost
something very precious One by one
he brought down piles of sheets and
towels and placed them on the bed.
There were bits OF china bought at
fairs foreign curioslties by the sailor
boy, the elder son now sleeping for
over In distant China, another blue
box In which was carefully preserved
the bridal veil of the now aged won.
an embroidered by her youthful fin.
gers
Ills wife could not help feeling Of
| disturbance at first, which increased
! into anxiety that made her follow his
| movements with close but secret
! watchtulness. As his eagerness In
searching became more intense so her
curiosity mounted to the nsupporta-
bile point
Having completely scrutinized every
| corner and object in the second cup
/ board. he lighted candle. and setting
| the candlestiCk on the tiles threw him
| self down and began to peer under
| the bed
That was too much for the poor
woman's power Of control Her oh,
stinacy melted before the fire of her
curiosity, and, yanquished she asked:
what Ia all the world are you
looking for, my MANI"
Jumping to his feet he burst into
hard laugh that shook the old hut and
answered:
"Fd often told you you'd lose or
wear It out some day, but now that
I've found It, take care Of II for the
future. After all, faint worth while
10 lose onc's"-and, being given to
gesture. he touched with his thumb
the tip of his tongue to indicate that
Of his wife, the use Of which he had
IN ssed SO much during the long, long
day--Adapted from the French by
Bally Blake.