The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-04-04
BENELENA'S PRATrLE.

mat woman positively fatigueS me
every time l look at her. remarked
the girl in the taffeta shirt waist, who
carried about with her a faint subtle
odor of violets, to the girl in the Law
ender dress. Her companion turned
quickly.
''Oh, poor Mrs Green" she said with
little laugh. / always had an idea
she was an object of pity rather than
of contempt. What is her particular
offense against your"
Nothing" admitted the girl in the
taffeta waist sulkily She hasn't done
anything to me, but 1 can complain of,
but when l see how she neglects her
husband and coddles that imbecile boy
of hers it actually makes me sick
Her companion smiled peculiarly. Il
don't think any of us can mend mat
ters by fretting over other peoples
faults she remarked philosophically.
This may sound selfish, / konw, but
it has been brought home to me
through long experience"
Her companion gave contemptuous
little sniff. I'D like to know just what
vast and varied experience you've ever
had, Doris Weston; why, your not even
married.
The girl in the taffeta waist had been
married just month, and already felt
vast deal of Importance was cast
upon her.
That doesn't make a bit of differ
ence,' replied the girl in the lavender
dress, who was engaged. What one
really needs is an observant disposition
and the ability to make use of such a
disposition. I'll admit that Mrs Green
is all you say she is-selfsh to her
hearts core, yet getting angry at her
won't mend matters. We can't make
people to order: why, we can't even
perfect ourselves. I've long ago given
up the altruistic idea of the final per-
lection of man and the complete re-
visal of the existing state of affairs,
because while it is all very beautiful,
in practice it isn't feasible. So, when
I see people blind in their own conceit
and egotism and will not follow out my
pet ideals (for that is what I call them)
L simply shrug my shoulders over their
perverseness and let them gang their
ain gait In the meantime 1 live my
life to the best of my ability, doing all
the good that l can without worrying
of Others" and having finished her lit
tie homily the girl in the lavender dress
looks up and sees at the door tall
op-shouldered boy of perhaps Is or
II, who stands blinking on the thresh
old Presently he catches sight of Mrs.
Green and shambles awkwardly to-
ward her.
Mammals precious" says that lady,
dropping her book and holding out her
hand to her young hopeful; has he
finished his lessons?" anxiously.
Mop replies the precious, land
amt going to either. Got a head
ache"
oh dear me-" walls the worthy
matron, I'VE must see the doctor at
once. You do look flushed. I do hope
you're not going to get brain fever"
She arises as she speaks. her book
falling unheeded to the floor, and takes
her young hopeful by the hand, but
that young man knows what he is
about and hangs back.
Il amt going" he says sullenly. Il
hate doctors and you're always chasing
after them, same as you're always hav-
ing me crammed with old dry bones
ing to do me any good. When / grow
up I'm going to be a prize-fghter.
"Oh, Reggie, darling" in mild sur
prise, you know mamma wants you to
be a DOCTOR
Reggie dearest gave a fiendish grin of
delight. Yep. I'd as soon be a doctor
as anything else because when l am
one 1 can cut up all the people l don't
likel" and amidst his mothers mild
protestations Reginald was led away.
rs it any wonder that I haven't an
ounce of patience with that woman"
asked the girl in the taffeta waist,
when Reggie mad his mother were safe
ly out of hearing.
Il know it's hard admitted the girl
in the lavender dress. sympathetically.
Everyone knows that woman is a
slave to the caprices of that tyrant boy.
All the world and his wife knows that
the Greens are in very straitened cir
cumstanceS, yet she goes into all sorts
of unheard- of eXtravagan for him and
then prides herself that she is econo-
MIXING. She told me the other day that
Reggie was too sensitive to be put
through his PAGES at the public schools,
and so has to be cOddled at one of the
highest priced private institutions in
the city; but that isn't all: after he had
been there a week his doting mamma
made the startling discovery that he
was too delicate to walk to and from
the school, and so has to ride while his
poor father tolls all day and half the
night in the office earning the money
without even a word of thanks or en-
emf froY OF of xx-I,:l Ito
his wife makes no secret of the fact
that she doesn't care a pin about him.
and only stays with him because he can
give her a living" and the girl in the
lavender dress stopped for sheer want
of breath.
There's more than one husband in
this house that needs our pity re-
marked the girl in the taffeta waist
Nov there's Mr.. Marigold, for in
stance, whose wife is a crank on relig-
ion, poor mani" with a comical little
sigh; "she drags him to church three
times on Sunday and as many times
during the week, and he never utters a
word of protest"
Perhaps he don't dare to-" remarked
the girl in the lavender dress; II be-
lieve in spite of his wifes outwardly
suave manner that he is dreadfully
henpecked."
well, all can say is that haven't
a particle of respect for a man who will
allow his wife to run him.
Maybe you'd rather he ran you" re-
marked her companion maliciously.
1T shouldn't be a case of running on
either side" remarked the girl in the
taffeta waist. Now Harry and /"
but whatever disclosure she was about
to make was cut short by the appear