Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1901-04-18
THE MANOEUVER|N' OF
MRS. SYBERT.
VNZHY, mother. where r you a
Wv goin', all dressed SOP

|WhY' mother Of '1 where re-, r you d
Mr.. Sybert stood in the bedroom door
and stared at his wife's ample back.
There was a look of surprise in his blue
eyes.
Mrs. Sybert stopped before the bu-
reau and opened the middle drawer,
taking hold of both handles and watch
ing it carefully as she drew it toward
her. Sometimes it came out crookedly
and every one knows that drawer that
opens crookedly will, in time, strain
and rub the best bu: eau ever made.
! From red pasteboard box that had
the picture of pretty actress on the
cover, Mrs. Sybert took a linen hand
kerchief that had been ironed until it
shone like satin. After smoothing an
imaginary wrinkle out Of it she put it
in her pocket, set her bonnet little
further over her forehead, pushing a
stray lock sternly where it belonged,
adjusted her bonnet strings, which were
so wide and so stiff that they pressed
her ears away from her head, glying
her brlstling appearance, and button
ed her gloves with hairpin; then, hay
ing gained time and decided upon a
reply, she said cheerily:
What did you say, fatherT
Well, it took you right smart spell
to answer, didn't it? l say, where r
you a-goin', all dressed up SOP
Mrs. Sybert took her black silk bag
with round spots brocaded upon 1t and
put its ribbons leisurely over her arm.
I'm a-goln to see Mis- Nesley,' she
said.
Her husbands face Redeemed.
What that you say,mother! You re
a-poin' to do what? reckon m agoln'
little deaf
I'm a-goin to see Mis- Nesley.' Mrs.
Sybert spoke calmly. No one would
have suspected that she was reproachlng
herself for not getting out OF the house
ten minutes sooner. He'd neverd a
heard a thing about it, she was think
ing, but she looked straight into his
eyes. Her eyelids did not quiver.
The red i'll Mr.. Sybert's face deep
ened. He stood in the door SO she
could not pass Indeed, she did not
try. Mrs. Sy bert had not studied signs
for nothing during the thirty years she
had been wife.
u reckon you're a foolin', mother. he
said
No, I'm not, father she said, still
calmly. You'd best let me by, now
SOS l can go; it's half alter two
'D'you mean to say that you re a-ne r
nest? A-talkin' about goin' to see that
hussy of Mis- Nesley"
Yes. Ib a-ne'rnest,' said Mrs. Sy-
bert, firmly. 'She ANITA hussy s know
of. What you got again 'er Id like tc
know
u amt got anythin agin 'er. Now
what's the sense o you're a-pretendln
Won don't know the talk about 'er
motherY Mr. Sybert's tones had chang
ed slightly. He did not like the pols'
of his wife's body; it bespoke determi-
nation-a fight to the finish if necessary
You know shes been the town talk TO
five years. Your own tawngue hez rul
on about 'er like s if t was split in th
middle and loose t both ends. Their
wa mt woman that spoke to 'er-
There was men, though, that did,
said Mrs. Sybert, calmly. u rec'lec
benz int Mis- Carney's one day, ant
seein' you meet er opposite an take OF
your hat to 'er'
Mr.. Sybert changed his position un
easily and cleared his throat
We'll, that's diff f'rent, he said.
ust to know er before 'er husband die
We'll, I ust to know ser then, too
said Mrs. Sybert quietly.
We'll, you he'd to stop speakin' to 'e
after she got to actin so, but it wan
30 easy fer me to stop biddin' 'er tn
time O. day
WHY notT said Mrs. Sybert stolidly
Why not, repeated her husband loud
ly; he was losing his temper; What
the sense O. your actin the fool 81
mother? Why, 'f I'd "a set myself II
as bein' too virtjus to speak to 'er, ev'r
man in town 'u'd 'n' ben blagg ardir
me about bein' so mighty good
why shouldn't you be so might
good, father? You expect me to be,
notice.
Mr.. Sybert choked two or three time
His face was growing purplish.
Now, see here, mother he burst ou
you're aggervatin' me awful. Yo
know g well g me that men amt expet
ted It be q GOOD all their lives g wome