Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1899-08-04
THO CUP
coFFee.
How o Wife Strove to Hold Her Hus-
band From the Influence Of
Another Woman.

| X Another woman. Y
xoxoxoxoxo*oxo
My husband, when he breakfasts ut
home, is in the habit of taking coffee
at table-however, emitting to smoke
with it. You see. 1t is Of moment that
his mouth and mustache should be I'M
tainted with tobacco when he makes
his afternoon calls.
This morning the servant displayed
some slight awkwardness in filling his
cup, and the amber liquid overlooked.
"Was any one ever more clumsyT
he said. "You fool! You idiot! Take
it awayw
And then he gave the table such a
thump that the. buffers carelessness
was but augmented, an inundatlOn of
coffee followed, not only into TIE sau-
Ger, but upon the cloth as well.
The man nimbly repaired the dam
age done and made good his escape.
Paul bit his lips, but said nothing fur
ther. However, realized that he was
intensely annoyed.
Now, Paul is or rather was until re-
Gently stranger to all such impulsive
actions. Ms nature was adverse to
any ado or quick wOrds-in point Of
fact. to anything that could be likened
to a scene. But this gentleman, al
ways so well poised. courteous and
thoughtful Of his bearing, must have
been seriously troubled over some
thing to have thus forgot himself to
such degree.
After a few moments Of embarrass-
ed silence he took a cigar from his
case, cut off the point and just as he
was about to smoke 1t said:
"You do not object, Cecile"
"Oh, no! Not in the slightest, Paul!
You must know that"
assure you said those words with
out any Interior motive. But 1t SEEM
ed that Paul thought to the contrary,
for he sharply retorted:
1T is waste Of time for you to take
on a martyrs air when you answer my
question. can just as easily smoke
outside or elsewhere, at houses where
tobacco does not incommode the in
mates. Well, do we have tears now"
Indeed, they were very near, but l
tried to force them back to keep them
out of sight until would be alone.
Paul." said as tenderly as could,
do not be angry with me. In reality
you have naught to complain Of, and
moreover have done nothing to you.
Now, why get. SO excited and cause me
such pain"
My husband frowned slightly, then
extended his hand and kissed mine
that had at once placed in his.
you are right, Cecile. beg your
pardon. think am little nervous
today. We have some very intricate
business to attend to at the mills"
He was about to continue the lie,
but I interrupted him.
Forget business for the time. For
get the overturned coffeecup. l ask
your attention for few moments.
Let me have 1t with good grace.
Surely you have little time today to
give to your wife. my dear husband"
Butch, certainly, certainly
He twirled his cigar between his fin
gers. He wanted to rise, to 60 away.
to flee from the explanation that he
foresaw, but there was no way open
to him My request was such nat
ural one. He could only avoid 1t by
losing his temper again, and for the
time being that prerOgative had been
AT first" said, edo smoke"
held the flaming match toward him.
He lighted his cigar
Butt have so little leisure" he
said. "WarLlein'-
"Let Werklein walt for you," l said
"He Is accustomed to.it. Indeed, Paul,
you. cannot reproach me for misem-
ploylng your spare moments? real
ly must speak to you today"
"Wery well, my dear" he said. Il
will listen"
Then his whole cOuntenance chang
ed anew aud grew firm and decisive.
I felt that this being, who belonged to
me, with whose disposition l was so
well acquainted, whom l adored In
spite of all and who loved me, was
by the will of another wO-
man. Which will prove the strongest
hers or mine?
And then | strove to'win.
put my hand ON his wrist. The
stiffened and resisted my light
pressure. All. there was once time
and not so dong agc-when they al
ways trembled at my touch! And they
too, remembered tho sc old days not
the hos tile will Of anoth-
er, for they ielded Ii title by little until
his hand was in mint.A