The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-07-11


" " sprightly Gertrude Moore
no one would ever have
suspected that he was scholar, 4
thinker and settled man of forty.
His general actions were those OF a
youth of eighteen undergoing his first
case of love. The upshot of it was
that when these two became engaged
Miss Moore pulled Mr.. Trumbull
around by his philosophical nose and
made him dance to her fiddling as
suited her capricious and changing
moods. Matrimony found the same
condition of affairs. Every domestic
question; was decided by Mrs. Trum-
bull, no. matter whether it was the
choice:of an apartment or the selection
of new coffee grinder. Mr.. Trum-
bull, being st3llsia state Of binding
affection and Admiration for the little
girl of twenty liSn he had woed and
won, let her "a her way, with the
result that De Was being henpecked to
the queens fahte.
But as the years went by, as the
years have a way Of doing. Mr.. Trum-
bull gfaduaiIys awakened to the one
sided sstategof affairs. Mrs. Trumbull,
being selfish and possessing a thistle
down intellect, fancied that it would
not doE to let Mr.. Trumbull know that
she was atsan fond of him. Some old
lady had Stsld her once that when a
man knowssa woman loves him his af-
fectfon becomes chilled like whipped
cream in an ice chest. So she stuck
up her nose-it stuck UP of its own
accord dsby the way--and went her u.s.
uaIs spacetef bullyragging and worrying
him. She would do this, she would
do that John thought didn't
matter. ~
But, as said. before, a change finally
came over Johns heart. He still con-
sidered that dainty wife of his quite
the, smartest, cleverest woman in the
world, but, strange to. say, he was
becoming aware of her peculiar pow
ers of debating and laying down the
law. John was quiet and inoffensive
and Just the kind of man that offers
splendid opportunities for the woman
with a will OF her own. For a long
time Mrs. John did not observe that
her husbands substantial admiration
was growing thin, almost to shadow.
But when she did realize it, the blow
was something fearful. 1t had been
her opinion that even though she We're
to sell his best clothes to the rag man
or burn the housesnp or turn his hair
white with her everlasting criticisms
John would ever remain the same
faithful, adoring, enduring.
One morning John didn't kiss his
wife when he went downtown to
business. Shesmoped and wept and
scoldcd the baby and the kitchen maid,
and then decided she didn't care. From
that time on things went from bad to
worse and from worse TO even worse
than that. Once in great while
wien Johns old time vision Of love
for his wife came up Ec would take
her in his arms and tell nCr that she
was the prctticst thing in the world.
Following her old-time tactics. Mrs.
John would in return comment Oh his
bad choice of necktie or let loose the
pleasant information that his collar
was soiled on the edge. Johns heart
would sink Ind he would tramp off to
work feeling like an orphan asylum
in Il derby hat and creased trousers.
AS ii was not johns nature to war
against any one. he simply kept him.
self out of Mrs. Johns way. Sunday
afternoons he Went out for q walk
Sometimes he went over TO the North
Side 10 see an old college chum of his
These trips We're his only diSsipations
On Sunday afternoon. when he and
his Old friend were discussing some
particular exciting college scrimmage
that had taken place fifteen Years
back. the telephone bell rang. and Il
wUman'S voice begged 10 speak TO Mr.
Trumbull. He went 20 the phone.
is that you, Gcrtrudc:"
Yes. John. And won't you com"
home. please. / let Sadie take baby
over 10 your mothers. and everybody
in the building is out and I'm having
the iidgets. | don! know what | am
scared about. hut I'm just nervous"
All right, dear" said John. and
home he went, no1 stopping long
enough to finish up III" rccollcctionS
of the college fight.
At home he found his wife sitting
curlrd up on littl" srtt"e locking
five years before hr had begged and
cntrraGcd ana kissed lrr into saying
Yes" Size waS twisting Fer hand
kcrchirf Into little walls and ropes.
and ne knew by that that she was
distracted about something.
Il know you think I'm silly 10 feel
this way whcn its not even twilight
yet. But know positively that some
Lody tried the Kitchen windows while
| WAS lying down. and just couldn't
get over it. always WIS AFRAID Of
burglars or ghosts" And then she
had Il nervous chill.
John said nothing. He took out a
copy of Spencer and lighted Il cigar.
After Il time the baby WIS brought
home and put 10 bed. Mrs. Trumbull
had recovered from her nervousness
and WAS pcckng out from behind a
window shade listening 10 u convcrs;l-
stiuu that wa< going on in tie court.