The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-03-28
HER BURGLAR.

1t was a rem arkable fact that when Mr..
Bagly came down to breakfast in huff
for the first time since their marriage
Mrs. \Bagly should also have appeared
upon the scene in the same undesirable
condition of mind. Things had gone so
decidedly wrong with him all the week
that he felt he could not withhold much
longer his Indignation at fate or what
ever it was that had proved sufficiently in
terested in his affairs in general, and him
self in particular, to be guilty of having
caused to happen an innumerable number
of events calculated to vex and annoy
him.
He hoped that fate or whatever it was
derived the required amount OF pleasure
from tn, fact of his being vexed and an
noyed. For himself, he would have ex-
perienced an Unreasonable amount of re-
lief could he have been granted the privi-
lege of breaking down, trampling upon
and entirely destroying everything break,
able and destroyable in the house.
Mrs. Bagly's anger was no less real
and intense, albeit more conventional
Her feelings had been wrought upon to
such an extent by household trou bles that
she felt she must have satisfaction out of
some one, and who was the proper person
: if not her husband?
For what had she married him? She
was in that admirable frame of mind in
which she wish I'd some one would try to
pet her, that she might have the delicious
pleasure of refusing to be petted. She saw
Mr. Bagly was angry, but did not care.
What right had he to be SO when she vast
Ladies first always.
Mr.. Bagly perceived there was some
thing unusual in the manner of his wife.
but would not condescend to investigate.
He must be inquired into now. He glared
savagely at everything on the table in turn
and chewed his food very much aftef the
manner of camel, under tbs impression
that it made him look ferc7.
He did not deign to taste his tea, but
swallowed a quantity, which, of course,
burned his mouth and added new heat to
choler. He did not care to open HOSTILE
ties, but waited to be reused. Then he
would overwhelm her petty passion with
the very immensely of his own. He would
Law bare the tragic side of his nature, If
she stirred him up, and he hoped she might.
Mrs Bagly was impatient to begin. She
was afraid she might forget some Of the
things she wanted to say.
"James!" she said firmly.
James stared at her with fixed, stony
kind of stare.
flames, would like to know what your
intentions are with regard to Jams"
ssMrs. Bagly," he replied, with the
calmness usually preceding storm. e'I
am not aware that ever entertained any
intentions in any way connected with or
concerning Jane"
Mrs BagIy drew a long breath and
closed her mouth firmly, as if storing air
for siege.
'ssI am quite prepared to hear it. To tell
the truth, expected it. -
"May I, then, inquire, madam, as you
know so clearly what my answer would
be, the reason you asked?"
She was not at all discomposed by this
brilliant sally, but replied indifferently.
because thought you might possibly
be interested in the result. "
1.-THE result, madam? The result OF
what, pray?"
"Of James leaving"
'tAnd why is she leavin ~
because she has no choice. Because /
have put up with her insolence as long as
I shall Mr.. Bagly! Because, however
much you may slight me and my wishes,
do not intend to submit to impudence
from servant, Mr.. Baglyl I shall not
endure it one day longer. l shall pay her
off this morning and let her go. shall
indeed, Mr.. Baglyl'
Mr.. Bagly sat and gazed at her during
this little feminine TRADE with look of
deep ommiseration And this was ALL
This was the molehill of grief that had
dared to stand in front of his Olympus of
troubled Bah! He vaguely remembered
hearing of this trifing matter before. 1t
was nothing -nothingl
"Mrs. Bagly," he said, thinking the
time had come to be aroused, "look at
mel''
She did so, but did not seem to be deep
ly impressed with what she saw.
'Mr. Bagly, unless you send another
girl here before dinner, there will be none
prepared for you. / am determined Jane
shall go, if we never have another dinnerl'
'tMadam, have Suffered have suf-
ered!" he began, with great solemnity.
elbow much you cannot know-you can
not understand. I have shielded you from
the knowledge. I am daily and hourly
plagued with business difficulties of the
most trying kind. And in the midst of
these diff culties," his voice rose high with
indignation, "what do hear? A wrangle
about cook? What have I to do with
your Jane, and your dinner, aud your
what not? tt would make no difference to
me if all the cooks that ever spoiled
meal were in the bottom of the Red sea! ~
Mrs. Bagly, while highly amused at
the way in which he tried to assume the
character of a martyr in the beginning of
this address, became cornered when he
showed such recklessness with regard to
the cook.
He was not man to look lightly upon
anything pertaining to his food. Quite
the contrary Thinking she had gone too
far, she became conciliatory.
II am sure, James. would not have
troub led you if"--
''Oh, dare say'' he replied sarcastic
ally. "You would have spared me if you
could, no doubt"
''But 1 coulin'tr' she said, firing up
again. ~ don't see what difference it
makes anyway. If you are not able to
carry on your business, what have you
got business for?'
"Exactly. What have l a business for?
Oh, certainly, what have I a business for?
will tell you, madam. It is to enable
me to hire cook for YOU"
la uyoe xyarvr 90 YY, oof In, tbic doo1 ti0n