The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-04-27
WOMAN'S IMPULSIVE FORGET,
FULNESS.

II am very sure, if I had it to do
over again, I would not marry" "
The only person who could possibly
find pleasure in those words would be
q sour old maid, a crusty old bachelor,
or the individual who uttered them.
l was neither the one o the other.
The one person who could find the
least pleasure in them was the indi
vidusl who was married to the person
uttering them.
I was that individual.
My wife was the speaker.
my love-" l said gently, as was my
wont on occasions of domestic disturb
ance, 81 think you don't really mean
that"
What you think and what I know
are entirely different matters" she re
sponded, as l observed a small hectic
spot on the end of her nose, a feminine
storm signal to be needed.
Granted, my love-" I bowed, but
you shouldn't tell everything you
know"
THAT isn't everything" and there
was a knife edge in the short hard
laugh which followed it.
This was not the first time my wife
had sought to kindle the fires OF jeal.
ously in her husbands bosom. Nor
was it the first time she had failed.
One can't exactly explain why, but it
is q well known matrimonial fact that
both parties to a marriage cannot be
jealous. In this instance my wite's
husband was not the jealous one.
My darling" l smiled, 1.-The com
prehensiveness Of you knowledge sur
prises and delights me-. At the same
time I must still contend that when
you say what you said a few moments
ago you do not really mean it,"
The small hectic spot flashed out and
lighted up my wife's face.
II think l know what l am talking
about" she said with a fIrt of the
handsome silk skirt I had given her
only three days ago.
What you think and what I know
are entirely different matters" 1 re
piled, folio wing the original as nearly
as 1 could.
She had evidently heard the words
before and their force compelled her to
silence.
Consider a moment what you have
said," 1 continued, land you will, as a
sensible woman, see that your hus-
band, as usual, is right"
Il don't see why a woman's husband
is the only one of them who should al
ways be right she snapped, and the
hectic spot again flashed out across the
gulf between us.
l had not come prepared to argue
any difficult propositions OF that ma
ture, and at one began to sheer of
into safer waters.
THAT is merely begging the quee
tion," / said with an cir of superiority
which l had acquired from some years
of practice as a husband. What you
said was that if you had it to do over
again you wouldn't marry"
And I wouldn't" she replied with
renewed vigor; II tell you 1 wouldn't.
a woman doesn't know what she is
getting into, and when she has dis
covered she can't get out of it,"
"But you seem to forget n thing,
my love-" I said soothingly, for
wouldn't have hurt my wife's feelings
for the world.
'Forget7 Forget7" she answered in g
tone which was of anger rather than OF
bitterness, l was glad to observe, How
can 1 forgetH"
81 don't really see myself, I smiled.
"but you have"
Il have for gotten nothing" and she
pincbed our large tom cats tail so ma
Liciously that the old gent arose with
hurried dignity and walked out of the
room.
But you have, my dear" I insisted.
"You have entirely forgotten that you
were a widow when / married you"
Whereupon, with a toss of her
shapely and pretty head, my wife arose
and went out after the cat, leaving
her husband quite alone-and sad
W. J. hampton, in New York Sun.