The suburban citizen., 1901-02-02
wv e: Z: e '::''' "::"'.. .' S''': dressed {:

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
watching it carefully as she drew ii
toward her. Sometimes it came out
crookedly, and every one knows that
a drawer that opens crookedly will in
time, strain and rub the best bureau
ever made.
From red pasteboard box that had
the picture OF n pretty actress on the
cover Mrs. Sybert took linen hand
Eerchief that had been ironcd 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 hey ears away from her head,
giving her a brsung appearance, and
buttoned her gloves with hairpin;
then, having gained time and decided
upon a reply she said cheerily:
"Whur did You say, fathcrt'
"Wen, it took you a right smart spell
to answer, didn't It? I say, where r
you a-goin,' all dressed up so?'
Mrs. Sybert took her black silk bag
with round spots hrocaled upon it and
put its ribbons leisurely over her arm.
I'm a-goin' to see Mis- Nesley,' she
said
Her husbands face reddened.
"Whats that you say, mother?
You're a-goin' to do what? l reckon
I'm a-goln' a little deaf"
I'm a-eon' to see Mis- Nesley."
Mrs Syhert spoke calmly no one
would have suspected that she was
reprOaching hersall for not getting out
of the house ten minutes sooner. He
neyer'd a heard a thing about ir,"
she was thinking; but she looked
Buqight into his eyes. Her eyelids did
a.. quiyer.
The red in Mr.. Syberl's face deep
cncd He stood In the door so she
could not pass Indeed. she did not
try Mrs Sybart had net studied signs
for nothing during the thirty years
she had been a wife.
II reckon you're a-foolin, mother"
be said
mo, I'm not father she said still
calmly. You'd best let me by. now,
SOS ] can go; it's half after two
% you mean to say that you're
n-ne'mcst? A-taikin' about go.u' to
see that hussy OF a Mis- Nesley"
ayes. pb a-ne'rnest" said Mrs. Sy-
bert, firmly. "she ain't a hussy S
know or What you got again 'er III
like to know
Il amt got anythln' agin 'er Now,
what's the sense o you're o-pretendin'
you don't know the talk about 'er,
mother" M Syberts tones mad
changed slightly. He did not like the
poisa Of his wife body; it bespoke de-
termination fight to the finish II
necessary. "You know she's been the
town talk for five years. Your own
tawngue hez run on about 'cr likes II
t was split In the middle an loose Z
both ems. There want a woman n
town that spoke to 'er--'
There was men, though that dll,'
ea!d Mrs Sybert, calmly. II rec'lect
beIn in t Mis- Carney's one day, an
seem you meet 'er opposite an take
Of your hat to er."
Nj Sybert changed his position TN
easily and cleared his throat.
We'll, that's diG'rent," he said. 81
ust to know 'er before 'er husband
died"
well, l ust to knew 'er, then, too,
eaid Mrs. Sybert, quietly.
well, you he'd to stop speakn' t,
'er after she got to actin so, but /
want so easy fer me to stop biddin
FER the time o day"
why not said Mrs. Sybert, stol
idly.
why not?" repeated her husband
loudly; he was losing his temper
Whats the sense O. your actin tn
fool so, mother? Why e I'd "a Sc
myself up 5 bain' too ylrUus to speaI
TO 'er eyry man n town 'u'd "a be-
blagg'ardin' me about bcin' so might
good"
why, shu'dn't you be so might
good, father? You expect NE to be,
notice"
Mr.. Sybert choked two or thro
times. His face was growing purplsi
Now, see here, mother"' be bur
out, you're aggravatln' me awfu
You know s well s me that men ain
expected to be 5 good all their liy,
5 women"
"Why amt they expected tor Mr.
Syberts tone and look were stern.
Il don't know why they amt, mot
er, but | know they amt expected
an know they amt as good, 'ither
This last was a fine bit OF diplomac
But 1t was wasted.
"They amt as good, algh? We
the reason they amt as good 5 ju
booouqa tbny mint oNrpopfp1 10 I,