The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-04
"A Michigan Avenue Story.

Several weeks ago the imp of un-
rest invaded the placid precincts of
Martin Twinkleton's mansion on Mich
igan avenue. The servants, those
keen-eycd judges of family morality,
were the first to notice its presence.
From a pleasant, good-natured gentle
man, who had a ready greeting for
everybody, Mr. TwinkletOn had sud
denly changed into a grur and grumpy
individual, who scowled at the house
maid and swore at the cook and coach
man. Mrs. Twinkleton, the wife of
twelve months, whose happiness IN
marriage had been the comment OF
the noighborhood. seemed to have lost
all spirit. The roses were fast fading
from her cheeks. the merry sparkle
had left her eyes and lines of corrod-
ing care were forming round her shape
ly mouth. Husband and wife, who
formerly took so much pride in their
home, began to neglect the ordinary
conventionalities of society. Mrs.
Twinkleton refused to see callers, pre-
ferring to sit moping in her boudolr'
and Mr.. Twinkleton, who was former
ly the soul of hospitality, treated OLD
friends coolly and was only himself at
the club.
II guess it is the same old story"
was the remark passed by Peter NC
Ginness, the obstinate old bachelor VINO
was wont to be a welcome guest, and
naturally resented the change in the
Twinkleton household. THE glamor
has gone from both. They have found
out their mutual shortcomings and are
having q short spell of matrimonial
misunderstanding"
The servants confessed themselves
unable to fathom the cause of the
change SO far as they had been able
to discover there had been no quarrel
between husband and wife. who were
still studiously polite to each other. The
coachman who drove Mr.. Twinkleton
down to business in the morning ana
returned with him in the evening had
heard no hint of financial troubles, or,
what was still more bewilderinE, any
suggestion that his employer was sub
ject to embarrassing alliances. On the
other hand, the demeanor of Mrs.
TwinkletOn, with the exception of htS
Of melancholy in the solitude of her
private room, was ladylikc and proper
III every respect.
What. then. was the secret of this
troubled household? What was the
wedge Of discomfort that was driving
Mr.. and Mrs. Twinllleton so widely
apart?
ITO my mind" said Mary Ann the
cook, at the usual matutinal confer
enCc on the subject. Its nothing but
midsummer madness. l know lots of
people who turn queer in hot weather
and come all right again in the fall.
Why. there wasn't a nicer man any,
where than Mr. Twinkleton before the
hot spell set in, and as for Mrs. Twin
kleton-God bless her-why, she was
just too sweet for anything. That's it,
you may be sure; it's the weather"
Weather be hanged!' said Giles, the
COachman. '"The boss is all right
downtown. / see him laughing ant
joking with the best of them after he
gets through cussing me, which Tn
not going to stand much longer unless
It's mended. Weather nothing,
guess they've had a row. just like the
rest of folks, and are too proud TO
kiss and make up"
"Oh I'm sure they have had moth
ing Of the kind, you horrid man.
Chimed in Mary, the sentimental house
maid. "Why, there never was such a
loving couple, and even now they arc
sweetly civil if they are cold and un-
happy. l think it is the green eyed
monster. | was reading one of Dora
Thorne's books that this ambitious
beast comes into a house secretly and
destroys it's peace of mind without any
invitation whatever. Besides, | know
Mr.. Twinkleton is jealous"
rs that so, Miss SHARPE" grunted
Giles. the skeptiC. "Maybe YOU viii
tell us how
There's the same look in his face"
returned Mary, with a slight blush.
What same loOk?"
"Oh, you know, stupid,' explained
Mary, blushing deeper; gust as if he
were afraid he We're triIed WITH
she means" added the cook. with
a significant glance at the COaChman
for whom she mad tender but secret
Thomas the milkman, when he catches
her flirting with the red-faCed butch
er's boy
Mary laughed and ran away ana ar
ter a brief chat, raised by this nrw
phase Of the question, the cook and
scullcry maid, as we'll as the cOachman
and Thomas, the handy man, thought
that perhaps the girl was right and
that the grean-eyed monster was Ia
blame for the changed condition of
affairs in the TWinklGIon household.