Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-18
y 4
BIykins Does His Pest.

Mrs Blykins has a certain streak of ro-
nance in her disposition. although her do
nestle atmosphere is not favorable to its
cultivation. 1t was Saturday evening and
she had just come home from the matinee
where all is so different from this work-a-
day world, where all is so coarse and COM
monplace Her husband sat down at
tho table. and, as usual, pushed
everything away except cup OF
tea and morsel of steak. AS he
turned to his newspaper he heard
faint sigh. He glanced at his wife, and
noted that her expression was one of pa
tent resignation. He reread the same par
agraph a number of times without in the
least comprehending the sense of 1t, and
then he crumpled the paper and threw 1t
with all his might into the coal scuttle. He
folded his arms across his chest, and, drag
ging his toes, walked slowly across the
room. He tripped at the hearth rug, and
was obliged to do it all over again. He
passed his hand over his forehead and
stopped abruptly before his wife.
valerie, my darling" he said.
ITO whom are you talking" she asked
rather sharply. You're getting me mixed
with some one else. My name isn't Valerie
and you know it,"
Yes it is he answered. IF you think
I'm going to call you Sally any more.
, you're wrong. Don't you call me Jerry
after this, either From this on I'm Etenne
to YOU, and don't you lose sight of the fact.
II it's necessary, I'm going to get the legis-
lature to ratify this new deal in names.
Valerie, my darling
Il don't know what Is coming over YOU"
she protested 4 detest the name. 1t
sounds like some medicine.
well. then, Rosale. How does Resale
hit you?"
She looked at him in silent establishment
"RosaIie nv darling" he went on, taking
hon NET IA heTN N
u.s. A cloud has drifted into our lives. AL
most imperceptible at first, its shadow has
deepened until we may no longer look
straight into each others heart. You have
some secret.
II haven't anything of the kind
Yes you have" he insisted, he made
an attempt to sit On the arm of her chair
and slid off. He finally succeeded in get
! ting a more or less secure perch. and tried
to draw her head over so that it would rest
on his bosom.
Go 'wayi" she squealed. You are
spelling my frizzes'
'fFrizzes be blamed" he shouted. Il want
| to know what 1t is that has crept into our
lives and is blasting our young happiness"
Il was going to tell you all about ii.
| she exclaimed. There wasn't any need
| for you to carry on this way"
Great Scottr' he shouted. DO you mean
to say there is anything serious the mat
ter?'
Il didn't suppose you would go guessing
around this way and have suspicious" she
answered chokingly. Il know l could have
made 1t all up. 1t was only four dollars
and seventy, hree cents, anyhow. 1t was
such a beautiful piece of china! / know |
oughtn't to have gone in debt for it, but l
could very easily have saved ii out of the
housekeeping money without scrlmping the
table a bit"
'Who said anything about four dollars
and seventy-three cents?" he demanded.
savagely.
You did. Jerry; you know you did. You
began talking about a shadow coming over
our lives and terrible secrets until you got
my conscience all stirred UP. I'm sure /
never thought you'd make such a fuss
about four dollars and
Keep the change. Never mind the 70
cents. Give your arithmetic a holiday,
Sally-I mean Valerie-fnat is, Rosalie-and
listen to me. All, Resale. think of the
days when we were young. Look into
your heart and ask II it has changed so
much. If it is better that We should part
tell me and / will 60. But think-think