The times., 1899-12-24
A YULETIDE TRAGEDY.


and charity fairs and all those things one
wants ones wife to go to; because she and
my wife made escorts for each other. ami
woman status now permits her to 90 out
O. nights in the company of her own sex
if she doesn't stay late. And it was all
very pleasant for Mrs Peters, too, because
her husband. a lieutenant in the navy, was
on an extended tour of foreign duty, and
so she was good deal alone. If l were a
stickler for form, I should have stayed by
my wife through the various amusements
TO which she addressed herself, but 1 was
an unsuccessful author and a middllng
successful lawyer, and my nights were
devoted TO ambition and fame. So long as
it was Mrs. Peters who was with my wife
| knew that both were safe and l merely
dropped around to buy oysters for them
and see them safely home. They were both
wideawakes. city bred, and little ad-
vanced. OF course, we called on the third
fat and the third fiat called on us, but /
had never been up there alone. There are
too many watchful, gossip-loving people
in our hives to make it safe. A man should
always be under the protection of his
family.
But trouble came upon me in the middle
of the winter. While it concerned Elsie
could not tell her, yet needed womanly
advice. The way out was something des-
perate, but I resolved on it, and one even
ing after Elsie had turned in with a sick
headache, I stole UP to the third fiat and
knocked. Mrs. Peters was trihe sur
prised but still amiable, and we had ar in
structiye and notifying quarter hour. She
was a kinder, brighter soul than l had
realized. and foohshly, as l was about to
leave, l promised 10 write to her.
do assure you that the matter of my
letter and the manner, too were as unOb-
jectionable as a grocer's bill-a mighty
sight less Objectionable than our grocer's
now that I come TO think about it-yet
ones motives are so likely to be misread
that if ever 1 recover from the effects of
this mistake, or marry again, my wife shall
be my first of confdants, even if it annoys
her 1t would not have been half as bad
if she had been frank with me and related
her suspicious, because could have dis
psled them in a moment, and 1 will say,
right now, that, much as I esteem Mrs Pc
ters / never was in love with her, not
once Conversely il is safe to assume that
no woman is in love with man until he
has teased her to be, for a long time.
have so often been told by candid friends
that. considering my defects of appearance,
manner, dress, hair. temper, training,
wealth, and understanding, it was marvsl
that l ever got cne woman to look at me-
so I never allowed myself to imagine that
another one could. Yet, it is always best
to be careful
/ came home one evening" come home
every evening, you knOw-and found Elsie
nursing the blues. She wouldn't be petted
and didn't want to talk, and after making
me feel that I was a brute, though l don't
know why she hounced off to bed without
saying Good night" Next day there was
hardly any Improvement, and as I started
for the Office I found her peeping over
the stairs. Plainly, she was watching me.
In the evening l glanced up at the house,
in the most natural way, as l approached,
and seeing Mrs. Peters at her window,
smiling amiably, l lifted my hat. as a
gentleman should. 1t was at that moment
that | caught a glimpse of Elsie shrinking
back from a window in our fiat. She was
cold and stern when / entered-just allow
ing herself to be kissed on the cheek-and
took her place at the table with the air
Of martyr, or a governess. After some
moments of silence I exclaimed: Elsie,
what's the matter?" The answer was
quick and short: Nothing"
But there is something You're chilling
the tea, just passing it,"
If you don't like me to be at the ta-
bie-''
''Pshawl You can't quarrel with me.
And I don't want you to take 1t out on
me- either if something has gone wrong.
Is the servant cavorting again? Did
you reach the bargain counter too late
to get one of the three tides that had
been marked down to % cents from 312
Little touch Of dyspepsia? Shoes tight?'
If you are going TO make fun Of me
will go into the parlor."
Now. my dear. just be natural for a
min nd oil y4rba
She looked out of the window and
heard her foot softly tapping the carpet.
There's nothing on earth so almighty ag-
gravating as a woman.
= 4 guess" l resumed, chat you've been
shut up in the house too much. Tomorrow
I'll get a couple of seats for the American
Opera Company and you can take Mrs. Pc
ters.
Al the mention of our neighbor's name
Elsie flashed out, angriy, is il for my
sake you would do this, or hers?'
I fell back in my chair, able to remark
only, Great Scott"
Il saw you signaling to her as you came
in she went on
Signaling? What-you mean when
bowed? Do you want me to cut all the
neighbors, dead?'
You needn't pretend to be so innocent.
This is not the first time"
I've bowed to her fifty times, III war
rant and-well. we'll! On my word you re
iealous!" And the idea that anybody
should be jealous on my account was so
quaint that I laughed aloud
1t amuses you, OF course. said Elsie,
beginning to break down 1T is always
funny for you men to-to-deceive your
-your-wives, and-boo-boo,"
I was in for 1t now a storm had broken
loose that might last an hour or a week.
went around the table and took her hand.
She suatched it away. / took il again. and
drew her head against me She cried copi-
ously, but she let it stay. II was to be all
right
Elsie let's get sober and talk little
sense"
Go away"
"No, pay the rent and I'm going to
stay right here Please stop crying. Say,
Elsie, please stop it,
No answer and no stop.
Elsie, your eyes are swelled and your
nose is getting red
And pretty soon she stopped.
Now my dear, begin at the beginning
and tell me what all this is about. Has
some cacRling old hen been in here with
a lot of gossip and you have been foolish
enough to believe it?"
Nobody has been gossiping l discov-
cred it all myself ! saw your letter on
Mrs. Peters table, when was up there
yesterday Oh, how could you! How could
you"
Hold on You saw my let-Good
heavens! did write to her, didn't ~
you confess it,"
"Of course I do What would be the
good of lying about it? What did you
think of it? Rather clever OF me. WASN'T
it? And me a mere man.
"A mere woman would not have done
such a thing"
Certainly not She wouldn't need TO.
That reminds me- Mrs. Peters didn't an
swer it