The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-04-06
A SOCIETY COUPLE.


They had agreed to differ about
it,. Husbands and wives who agree
without differing are a trife ole
fashioned and grumpy nowadays.
Husbands and wives who differ with
out agreeing are also somewhat be-
hind these times when a certain
calm independence is the fashion,
able keynote Of marital existence,
and Mr.. and Mrs. Butler were emf
nently up to date.
The first two years of their mar
ried Life had been spent practically
out of the world in consequence of
the state of health of Mr.. Butler S
father. Then had come their success
sion to the property and period of
etirement-they were trife old
fashioned in those days, it will be
seen-and then they had launched
out into the world of society. They
went with the stream with that en-
.thusiasm which not infrequently at
tends new experiences. She was an
extremely pretty and dainty little
personage, with charming wit, and a
very few weeks Of social life put
quite an extraordinary polish on her.
Ha was good looking, too, not par
ticularly clever, but quite capable of
following the lead set him by his
fellows and CHEEKY and good natured
withal There was plenty of money.
They became immensely popular
and found a thoroughAgoing society
life altogether delightful.
The head Of each was little turn
ed perhaps by the end of their first
season. They had become SO very
modern. But neither could have said
how the idea first suggested itself to
him or her that their relations with
one another needed shortening up.
They did not discuss the subject.
Neither was aware, indeed, that it
had presented itself to the other. But
each was secretly convinced that the
old 'sspoony' relations would not
do. It was ridiculous to care for the
society of your husband or wife. It
wa" the thing" to live independent
Hven,
Independent lives, however, are
not always, 1t appears. to be achiev-
ed at a word by two wholesome
minded young people living in the
Same house and sharing the same
round of pleasures. Della Butler
was q coqnette, but there was a
touch Of delicate haughtiness in her
and she was incapable Of vulgar
Irritation. Also George Butler would
have been incapable Of jealousy
where she was concerned. old fash
Aoned traits in each which limited
That their regeneration was not
complete. So that when at last
tangible subject of dispute presented
itself husband and wife alike jump
ed at It with avidity.
The subject in question was thor
oughly up to date, which was as it
should be. At first, it cost Mr.
Butler pang to orealize that the side
he had accidentally adopted was
that behind the times. But he had
an obstinate fiber in him, so he nail
Ell his colors to the mast like man.
The moot point was the bicycle
craze. He would have none of it,
in any shape or form; he derided it
where men were concerned; for
women he declared it not unsuita-
ble-he knew his age better than
that-but, what was far worse, IL
diculously unbecoming. Mrs. Bull
Ter, on the other hand, threw herself
into the movement heart and soul.
Her bicycle was for her the center
of the universe. Nothing could
have been better. The husband and
wife agreed to differ, as has been
said, in most approved fashion, and
for the rest of the season they hard
ly met.
Fo1 people who had arrived at SO
desirable an understanding, how
ever, they were arguing the ques-
ton rather hotly as they sat over
the dinner table on q certain even
ing IN February. They were tete-a-
tete, state of things which each
felt to be highly ridiculous. They
had come down for the hunting
that is to say, Mr.. Butler intended
to hunt; Mrs. Butler no longer fol-
lowed the hounds, since it is not as
vet feasible to do so on bicycle.
And there was to be an unavoidable
6ntsrval of two days before their
house would be full.
Where does the fun come in9"
Mr. Butler was demanding indig-
11antly; "tha.'s what / can't make
out! Of course, one wouldn't care
about the thing being dangerous if
the game was worth the candle.
Lady Butler was drawing patterns
on the tahlecloth with her dessert
fork.