The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-01-26
Mr.. Maloney's Bugbear.

world of whom Mr.. Maloney was jeai-
GUS His name was McGannerty, ara
Maloney's wife in speaking of him called
him Dennis Mr. Maloney knew his wife
was all a wife should be. and that sne
loved him devotedly. but when she talked
| about Dennis" with half sigh and ten
der SMILE he had an intense desire 10
get at the throat OF this same Dennis.
whom he had never seen, and choke the
life out of him.
When Mrs. Maloney. then pretty Rose
Clarity, was about Il Dennis McGaner-
~ had been very devoted TO her. lie
was her first "grown-up' beau, and SEEM
ed very fine and fascinating TO her. Ihelr
little love affair ran the length OF the
summer and then Dennis went - llVe IN
the city. and that was the end OF It.
Two years later Mr.. Maloney stepped in
and won the heart and hand or the
blooming Rose and there had been no
clouds to darken their matrimonial hori-
ION except these illusions 10 Dennis Nc
Gafferty.
'"'Dennis used to say no carriage was
fine enough for me- Mrs. Maloney some
times said. when waiting with htr hus-
band for the plebian street cars, or
Dennis said ought 20 have the costhest
jewels in the land" when standing IN
front of the jewelers. tempting windows.
would turn.
why didn't he give 'em to yez?" ne
would ask f1ercely in the ricn brosue
which his wife made fun of, out really
erJOyed-his voice was so mellow and the
brogue so rich that no music was sweeter
to her ears
HE would an I'd "a married him."
she would retort rather sharply.
''Shure, and why didn't yez. them"
Mr.. MalOney, exasperated beyond endu-
rance, sometimes muttered between his
teeth. His wife, however. never answer
cd that question except ty Il proud, in
dignant look. For, searching back 20
that happy summer when Dennis had
been so attentive. she could never renem-
Der that he had ever asked her, in so
many words, to be his wife There had
been vague illusions TO the time when
they would do this or that together, and
have certain much desired things and
be supremacy happy, but that was ALL
No. the much-vaunted Dennis had never
come TO the pointi
But it would not do to let Mr.. Malo-
ney know this Rosie had found out that
the name of Dennis acted upon her hus-
band much as a red flag acts upon an
Infatuated bull. and she thoroughly enjoy
ed these little skirmishes and realized her
power over the great big loving Irishman
and continued to WELD It,
About year after their marriage the
Maloneys moved to the city, They set
tied in a comfortable little fat and be-
gan to pick out their tradespeople. I'm
agine the little wife's excitement when
she discovered, not four blocks from their
home, the following sign over neat lit
tie grocery:
Dennis McGafferty, Grocer"
Her excitement was still strong when.
at the supper table, she told her hus-
band Of her find.
I'm goin around this avenin' an tell
Dennis I'll give him me trade" she said
bringing out the little sigh and tender,
retrospective glance in maddening way.
"Shure, an I'll go wild yez," said Mr.
Maloney, firmly, his heart heavy as lead
in his bosom.
''Shure," Rosie answered sweetly, Den
mis- will be glad to know me husband >"
She dressed herself TO the top OF her
wardrobe and they started out. the little
woman talking gayly, Mr. Maloney an
swering in sulky monosyllables. He was
in deadly fear lest Dennis, seeing his
wife more charming than ever, should
fall in love with her again and steal her
away from him.
They entered the store. A heavy-set
man with bristling red mustache came
forward. His hands and mouth were large
and his nose turned up at the end; he
was freckled and homely; and yet-Rosie
recognized Dennis.
"Good-avenin'!" he said, spilingly.
"Good-avenin,i - returned the Malo-
neys.
There was a moments expectant pause
and then Rosie. smiling coquetishly, said
Mr.. McGafferty, I'm an old friend of
yours. Now, if you'll tel me who / am
I'll give yez me trade" Surely he knew
herl
A big, fat. good-natured looking woman
entered from the rear door and approach
ed them
"By the saints, I know yer face. pref
ty lady" said Mr.. McGafferty, looking
puzzled. "but 1 can't place yez."
Rosie's face turned crimson. She could
have died with the modification and en-
barrassment. for there was her husband
taking it all in and doubtless enjoying
il.
Maybe It's Katy O'Hara?" hazarded
the grocer, doubtfully. Rosie shook her
head. She could scarcely keep the tears
from her eyes. Then it's Mary Garrity?"
with shy laugh. Another shake of Mrs
Maloneys head
cor Bridget Burke, or Ellen Donahue,
or Kittie O'Toole, or Biddy Sullivan %
broke in the fat woman, who had come
up and put her hand Familiarity on Mr.
McGafferty's shoulder. She was evident
ly his wife and she looked so irresistibly
comical as she laughingly recounted these
names Of her husbands old flames that
a smile broke out and covered his whole
face
Mr.. Maloney began to laugh. too-a
hearty, loud laugh-and even poor Rosie.
mortified and angry as she felt, could
not help joining in the general laughter.
4 There is nothing like a hearty laugh TO
restore ones good nature. and before it
had died away Rosie was pleasantly re-
calling herself to Dennis memory and in
Producing Mr. Maloney, quite proud OF his
superior looks
They shook hands all around. and Mr.
Manoley gave such a big order for gro
ceTies that he won the highest respect
I from the McGafferty's at once. When
they got outside Rosie gave an implorins
look up into her big husbands face. She
felt like a fraud that has just been found
out. But Mr. Maloney was as generous
as he was wise. He could well afford TO
be generous, for the bugbear that had
stood in his path so long was now as
, dead a any door-nail.
\ very worthy COUPE me udFu0Ls We
must give EN- a good bit OF trade was
all he said. Rosie gave his arm a squeeze
and when they came 10 a dark spot she
pulled his head down and kissed him.
Mr.. Maloney had never been 50 happy
in his life as he was on the night OF that
memorable day when Mrs. MsIoney dis
covered the sign OF Dennis McGanerty.
Grocer" and up 70 date he is still as
blissfully happy.-Chicag News.
without Food for Fifty Years