Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-12-03
CHAPTER I

ranging two dinner parties. "She will
be III her element that evening. Int
what are we to do with Mr. Marsdenp,
Isn't it rather the custom to invite
a husband with his wife? He might
even expect to be included, " said John
Leslie. do you know, I'm glad we
came to Putney. Spring is lovely in the
garden. "
Never mind spring just now" as
Leslie threatened an exit to the lawn.
You might have some consideration
for an afflicted hostess and give vour
mind to the Marsden problem. -
1t was Marsden brought spring into
my mind" And Leslie sat down with
that expression of resignation ON his
face peculiar to husbands consulted on
domestic affairs. "He was telling me
this morning in the train that he had
just finished table of trees in the order
of their budding, sort of spring priori
ty list. His love for statistics is amaz-
ing
He is getting to be known on the
train. The men keep their eyes on him
and bolt into thirds to escape. He gave
morning on the influenza death rate
lately, and that kind of thing spreads.
But he's not bad fellow for all
that" concluded Leslie. Hes perfect
ly straight in business and that is say
ing something. l rather enjoy half an
hour with him..
Very likely you do" said his wife
with Impotence, because your mind
has squint and you get amusement
out of odd people, but every one has not
your taste for the tiresome. He is
enough to devastate dinner table. Do
you remember that escapade of his last
year?'
You mean when he corrected you
about the American passage and gave
the sailings of the Atlantic liners since
80" And Leslie lay back to enjoy
the past, lit seemed to me most in
structive, and every one gave up con-
versation to listen
Because no one could do anything
else with that voice booming through
the room. 1 can still hear him, The
Columbia, 6 days, hours, 3 minutes ,
Then rose and delivered the table. -
1T was only human to be little
nettled by his accuracy, but you ought
not to have retreated so soon, for he
gave the express trains of England a
little later and limited at the American
lines. One might almost call such u
memory genius.
(Which is often another name for i'd
iocy. Some one was telling me yester-
day that quiet, steady men rush out of
the room at the sound of his voice and
their wives have to tell all sorts OF
falsehoods.
"Trixy is one Of my oldest and dear
est friends, and it would be a shame to
pass her over, but will not have her
husband on any account.
perhaps you are right as hostess.
1t is little hard for a frivolous circle
to live up to Marsden, and l hear that
he has got up the temperatures of the
health resorts. It's large subject and
lends itself to detail"
ut will not be given in this house
What Trixy must endure with that
mani He's simply possessed by a didac-
tic devil and ought never to have mar
ried. Statistics don't amount to cruel
ty, suppose, as a ground of divorceT'
Hardly as yet By and by incompat-
ibility in politics or fiction will be ad-
mitted. But how do you know that Mrs.
Marsden does not appreciate her hus-
band? You never can tell what woman
sees i'll a man. Perhaps this woman
hungers for statistics as make weight.
She is very amusing, but tribe snail
low, don't you Think"
"She used to be the brightest and
most charming girl in our set, and
have always believed that she was mar
ried to Mr.. Marsden by her people.
Trixy has $500 year settled on her, and
they were afraid of fortune hunters.
Mothers are apt to feel that a girl Ii
safe with q man of the Marsden type
and that nothing more can be desired.
perhaps they are not far wrong.
Marsden is not a romantic hgure, aho
he is scarcely what you would cal!
brilliant raconteur, but he serves hi
wife like a slave, and he will never gave
her a sore heart.
do you think it nothing, John, tha
a woman with ideals should be tied u
bore all her days? What a contras
between her brother and her husband
for instancel Godfrey is decidedly one o.
the most charming men l ever met
HE has a nice tenor voice, l grant
and his drawing room comedies ar
yery amusing. OF course no one believes
a word he says, and think that he ha
never got a discharge from his las
bankruptcy. But you can't expect per
lection. Character seems to osclllate DC
tween dullness and dishonesty.
Don't talk nonsense for the sake o
ALTERATION, John. Trixy's brother wa
never intended for business. he ough
to have been writer, and know n
was asked to join the staff of The Boom
eller. Happy thought! I'll ask nm n,
come with his sister instead OF MI
Marsden.
And this was the note:
MY DEAR TRIxY-We are making up uii
ner party for the evening OF June :, ae
o'clock, and we simply cannot go on wlnos
YOU and Mr.. Marsden. Write instantly 10 sa
you accept II is an age since we seen -"
and my husband is absolutely ueVo'ou ,inu,
Marsden He was telling me ohIy 20;
ago that one reason why he goes Dy lh s,o 90,
Is to get the benefit of your husDahS 80. G
versation. With much love- yours 49, aS1 ~,
10y - chat Mr. Mar