Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1900-10-11

THE PICTURE OF THE BEST LITTLE WIFE.
asking any questions and by and by
was told she might come down. She
found Mr.. Bowser beaming with good
nature. He was even holding the cat
on his lap.
"And now about all this mystery"
querled Mrs. Bowser.
"Sit down, dear, and let's have n lit
tie talk. I'm an old kicker of a hus-
band, amt 2"
"why, / suppose you are like all 9th
er husbands"
"Tm n heap worse, and I'm ashamed
Of it. I've been thinking things over
for the last week, and I'm wondering
how you have stood 1t with me MS well
as you have. If I'd married any other
woman, there'd have been divorce
long ago"
Mrs. Bowser fully realized that Mr.
Bowser in too good nature was just as
dangerous as Mr.. Bowser In kicking
mood, and she simply replied that she
had no fault to find ana called his at
tentlon to n new book she had bought
that day. He was not to be switched
Off, however.
"Do you remember our first meet
ingr' he asked as he melted n little
more. 81 was at your house TO see
your father, and you entered the room.
| fell In love with you at first sight.
thought you the cutcst, sweetest COIL
est little woman in all this world. and
IN five minutes / had made up my
mind to win your heart and your hand.
Years have passed since then, but |
still think OF you as did that day"
"That-that Is good Of you" replied
Mrs. Bowser. as her face flushed with
pleasure and she forgot the peril Of
the situation.
''Gt was case Of love, and ! hope 1t
will 20 on 10 the end. There are times
when / lose my temper and talk about
divorce and all that nonsense, but you
shouldn't lay 1t up against me"
Mr.. Bowscr's chin qulvercd, his voice
broke and tears started In his eyes.
The cat made up her mind that torpe-
does were being planted for n grand
blow up, and she got down Off his knee
nnd sought shelter under the piano.
Mrs. Bowser said there was nothing to
forgive, and, wiping the tears from her
own eyes, she began talking about the
new cook who had arrived that day.
She had got as far as to say that the
girl appeared to know her duties when
Mr.. BowBer interrupted with:
"If ! ever do any more kicking
bround this house. ! hope you'll call
L.. III L.
block. II isn't the right thing TO do.
A wife has just the same legal rights
ns husband. He has no legal or
moral right TO set himself up as big
Injun ana run things II would have
served me right If you had turned on
me some time with the AK. ! never
read OF wife killing her husband
without wondering If he wasn't just
such mean man as I am. so you can
forgive me and give me another
shown"
Mrs. Bowscr assured him that she
could, and asked him for the latest
news from Manila. He didn't seem 10
hear the question, but got up ana pass
ed into the parlOr ana lighted all the
bubbllng over, and Il was minute or
two before he could say:
"Well, angel Of earth, your old kicke,
has got little surprise for you. II
Will show you that Pm not 80 bad aft.
cr all. may raise rows and say mean
things. but / appreciate you ut your
full worth Just the same"
And you've got surprise for meT
she asked.
81 have. and IT'S corker. Come
right In and behold IT,"
On the wall In the parlOr, where no
had taken another picture down to
make room for II. hung n poIIrnlt Of
Mrs. BowBcr in n gilt frame. II was
portrait done In crayOn. It was after
photograph II years old. II had
been done by the Office boy In Mr..
Bowser's office. He waS mn Office boy
without lazy hnlr In his head When
he wasn't going To- the postonlce or
sweeping out. he wns making portraits
or hunting around secondhand stores
to find frames which could be cut
down TO 1T them. His industry had
given Mr.. BowBcr an iden, and Mrs
BowscrB crayon was the result. II
had all come In for SO per week except
the frame.
"Why-why, who is Itf' askcd Mrs.
BOwser, as she stood before the pie.
ture. Being from her oldest photo
graph and the style being 80 ancient
she could not recognize herself.
"Who is IT. echoed Mr.. Bowscr, ms
he slipped his arm around her apd