St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-06-14
An IdYlI of the Rail.

was fixed on them as soon as they, en-
tered. He wore an overcoat, slightly
traved, and heavy scowl; dlvested MINI
self of the former, revealing well worn
business suit underneath, but retained
the latter. adding muttered grow as
he dropped into his parlor chair and un-
folded his paper, totally oblivious OF his
companion She looked nervous and
angry. and the ladies in the car were
aware at a glance that her dress nad
been worn several times before, and that
her hat was one of last winter S, maze
over Her arms were laden with pack
ages which she dropped with a weary
sigh. ,,.,:s
"You might carry something she said
snappishlv, as she dropped into her chair
"I'm no pack mule, was the surIy
answer.
mo, not pack mule she retorted'
with a vicious emphasis on the adjective
that fully pointed her meaning.
"Well, since you've settled to your sat.
islaction that I'm a mule, perhaps youll
stop trying to drive me, )" he sneered.
The other passengers frightened up
and looked interested. One cynical look
ing man with bald head chuckled audi
bly,, and a plump lady opposite said In
stage whisper, Poor thing
The wife looked daggers at the hus-
band. Il never try to drive you, only a
fool tries to manage a mule"
"You tried hard enough to manage me
when you married me. #,
Yes. because | was a fool then,
snapped the wife
The bald.headed cynic became purplein
the face, and the plump lady gasped,
Dear me-
There was pair OF us, " retorted the
husband. and then buried himself in his
paper. The woman fdgeted awhile, then
settled into a sulen contemplation OF
the landscape. Yet neither OF them
should have lost the glamour Of life. lie
was a good.looking enough chap tall,
broad houldered and cean-limbed with
a deep set eye and firm, square chin. She
was more than good-looking; had 1t not
been for the frown that dishgured her
white forehead on which lay some pretty
little brown curs, and the disconnected,
unhappy curve of her red lips, she would
have been downright pretty.
Presently the woman turned with an
angry light in her brown eyes to the
man. III you can possibly spare a mo-
ment of your valuable time from that
newspaper. | wish you'd raise this win
dow bit" she said lit is sitting in this
car"
"Ill do nothing of the kind" lie an
swered shortly. ut is very comfortable
and don't propose to risk pneumonia
merely to crafty your whims. y
Brute she calculated, giving him
look OF supreme contempt, then turning
to the window she tugged at it till sh
succeeded in raising it, With mutteret
oath the man rose and deliberately shu
the window down with vicious snap.
Don't make show OF your vile tenn
per-" the defeated wife Kissed throug
her teeth. "I'll keep still and smother,
nothing else will keep your selfshnes
from making a scene"
"I'll have you know m master, so jus
make up your mind to that, madam
This window stays down-do you under
stand ?"
ooh, If we poor women only knee
what brutes men are before we MARI
them" sobbed the wife.
The bad-headed passenger choked
his handkerchief and the plump lac
wiped away a surreptitious tear as 81
sighed "Oh my oh, my"
Another spell of silence fell, which Il
husband broke by kicking away with {
ill-tempered ejaculation package whit
fell from his wifes lap. She exclaimt
angrily, "if things annoy you so her
Il M he
For the simple reason that it wou
be a satisfaction to you," was the an
able response. She wheeled her cha
fercely about.
81 did think you would make a pl
tense OF treating me well in public, a
not go on just as you do at home" S
said, in a tone of thorough exasperatic
II was a blasted idiot to bring you
all" he retorted, and ejaculat
"Humph" when she dissolved in tears
The bad-headed man looked queer a
the plump lady looked pityingly at
brow.beaten wife. The man noticed tn
glances, and as il anxious to remove
bad impression he saw there, asked
bald-headed man a question about
probable effect of anneXing the Phi
pines. Presently they were deep in
litical discussion, and the wife gave S
eral grateful glances at the bald.heat
passenger, not one OF which was lost
him.
1--WE are going to stop day or so
Blankville, too" said the husband, w
some personal items had been exchang
"If you know the town so well, perh
YOU can recommend me good hotel.
81 can" said the bald-headed pas:
ger, looking squarely in the other ma
eyes, "The Fairview Hotel keeps g
table and it has the best bridal suite
the town"
The wife sprang up with cry of p
tive horror, The plump lady threw
self back in her chair and laughed till
tears ran down her checks. The OF
passengers grinned. The husband loo
furious for an instant, then drew hin
up, glared de6antly at the Others,
deliberately walking over to his v
planted, with the air Of a long taste
sounding kiss on her cheek, which
stantly flushed scarlet.
ITS no use, darling" he said.
must be in the atmosphere. Everybo
on to us--even the old clothes don't
Are you really warm? Shall open
window for you, pet ~ Miss lie
Malloy in the Royal Blue for May.