The Washington weekly post., 1900-04-17

ger from way back, and ii you weren't t
an angel you'd have divorced me long
ago. Can you forgive me for the way 1
have acted in the past?"
Mr.. Bowser's chin quivered, his voice
broke and tears started in his eyes. The
cat made up her mind that torpedoes
were being planted for a grand blow up,
and she got down off his knee and sought
shelter under the piano. Mrs. Bowser
said here 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.. Bowser interrupted
with:
IF | ever do any more kicking around
this house, l hope you'll call in the neigh
bOrS 10 boot me around the block. II isn't
the right thing TO do. a wife has just
the same legal rights as a husband. He
has no legal or moral right 10 set himself
up as big Iujun and run things. i;
would have served me right if you lad
turned on me some time with the AK.
never read of wife killing her husband
without wondering if he wasn't just sucl
near man as l am. So you can forgive
me and give me another shOW?'
Mrs. BowSer assured him that she
could, and asked him for the latest news
from South Africa. He didn't seem tC
hear the question, but got up and passed
into the parlor and lighted all the gas
jets. When he returned, he was bubbline
over, and ii was a minute or two before
he could say:
well, angel of earth, your old kicker
has got a little surprise for you. 1t will
show you that I'm not so bad after all.
may raise rows and say mean things but
J appreciate you at your full worth Just
the same"
And you've got a surprise for me 90
she asked
Il have. and it's corker Come right
in and behold it."
On the wall in the parlor whore no had
taken another picture down to make
room for ii hung portrait of Mrs
BoWser in gilt frame, 1t was a por-
trait done in crayOn. II was after a
photograph twelve years old 1t had been
done by the office boy in Mr.. Bowser's of
flee. He was an Office boy without a
lazy hair in his head. When he wasn't
going to the post-Office or sweeping out.
ne was making portraits or hunting
around secondhand stores to find frames
which could be cut down to fit them. His
industry had given Mr. BoWser an idea
and Mrs. Bowser's crayOn was the result
II had all come in for IS per week except
the frame.
''Why-why, who is ito" asked Mrs
Bowser, as she stood before the picture.
BeinS from her oldest photograph, and
the style being so ancient, she could not
recognize herself
Who is it?" echoed Mr. Bowser. as ne
shipped his arm around her and gave her
kiss. We'll. it's the picture of the best
little wife on top of this earth and she's
standing right beside me at this moment.
What have you got TO say about it?"
lit was awfully kind Of you"
Don't mention IL. / wish ] could have
presented you with 40 of 'em. It's you
TO dot l think it the best piece of
work | ever saw. That boy will make
his mark If he keeps on. Now. then. I'm
going TO ask Davis and his wife to run
in and look at it."
Il don't think / would-not tonight"
But why? Davis claims TO know all
ABOUT art, and l want his criticism. He'll
try TO find some flaw. but he'll have
mighty hard work. Mrs. Davis will prob
ably want one done by the same boy"
don't think they are home this even
ing, said Mrs. Bowser as she tried to
hlde her feelings and took a closer look
al the picture
The crayOn was he work of black and
white and industry. The office boy WASN'T
up on backgrounds. He Considered hack
grounds and fairgrounds a useless waste
o. material he mad never taken particu-
Iaf nCtlce OF how the head and arms of
DIS telloW-beings Were nailed on. and in
working from a photograph he had cor
rected several mistakes Of the photogra-
rher He had enlarged the mouth. been
generous with the ears, and given the
chin slant on 2n entirely new line He
had also improved the eyes to match the
mouth-that is. one OF them was cooked
up in surprise ard the other drawn down
In squint. Mrs. Bowser's heart stood
still as she noted all these things and a
Cozen more. That crayOn was token ~
love, and how could she find IA Ilt with
nE She couldn't. She gave Mr. BowsAr
a Kiss ana ran Up stairs as IL to hide her
coyness. He was calling it Coyness and
ehueRing and rubbing his hands when
Davis walked in.
What on earth is that?" he queried. as
he looked at the crayon.
And you don't recognize itT' exclaimed
Mr.. BOwseT.
"Harsed If do. or you. ei;aer' It may
% your cook your grandmother or IN.
woman who sells horseraIish on this
street. Ye gOdsi BOWser, tax. L down.
What's wrong with it,
1t would scare horse II yO.I hung IL
up in TIE stable, Why. / coy,d hold a
SUCK o. crayon between my t0ss and do
better work. For heavens sake. but
don't let your wife see ftt'
But she has seen it,
Then go and apologize: buy aer of.
lie out Of II. Poor woman, / ca, under
stand how she IS sufferingl Fir if ma
Bowser-for mercy's sake. fix IL un with
her. Good night, | was going 10 ask you
10 step around 10 the club, but you want
10 get rid of that"
Mrs. Bowser was listening on the stairs
The eat came creeping in as MI. Bowser
stood there and wondered where the
shrdpnel sfsll would burst The clock
tcked five minutes away into eternity.
and then SIR. Bowser moved He moved
with Jump. He rushed forward and
grabbe,l that crayOn and pulled on IL until
he brnke the wire. Then he raised IL on
hiEh and brought IL down with a smash
and Jumped on IL again aud again Tho
cal few out OF the room. and Mrs. Pow
ser uttered words OF thankfulness Yy
and by Nr BOwser came up TO go TO he'd
lie was silent and stern.
Did-did anything fall downstalrss"
asked Mrs. BOwser after awhile
Yes; something feli,"' he sternlv re-
piled. And IL viii probably BE- better.
while our lawyers are consulting about
the divorce. for you 20 go home 10 your
mother. / believe the train leaves al
noon.'
cOsHlsAt 1850. b. c 3. LesA,