The courier., 1901-04-06

hut the Woman's club? You can call
II society il you want to, but what's
tho difference? And your wife has
been president of it for year and
Won said last night it had been the
nleasantest year of your married life.
The truth is, Brown, that little wife
of yours switches your freight around
like a train dispatcher and you don't
know any more than carload of baled
hay when you are to be side-tracked
or what port you are billed for. So,
YOU didn't know you were speaking to
the Woman's club? Jehosophat! that's
rich" roared McIlrath, doubling him
self up with delight. The laugh was
on Brown. I'VE all smoke in this
crowd" said Holland. "The devil you
do" snarled Brown, and struck out
for his Office. Brown was mad-he was
boiling mad. He address Woman's
club-the thought made him burn
with Indignation from head to foot
but he had-he surely had-and that
great big l and remarkably small you
feeling that Mr.. Brown had always had
when contemplating his wifes or any
other wOman's mental ability, had
come very near being Jared loose. He
would never let on to his wife. but
what he knew it was club all the
time. but he would make her feel that
he was not to be trifled with; that she
could not play him such tricks with
inpunity. While he would not say
ANYTHING she should feel his displeas-
ure. The children were home from
school and dinner was all ready when
he came in at noon. Mrs. Brown had
seen him coming with his hands thrust
into his pockets, and she knew he was
not in the best of humOr. He said
nothing to any one, but took his seat
at the table. There was perceptible
gloom in the atmosphere and silence
reigned supreme until dinner was half
over, when Mr.. Brown remarked in
dead level tone of voice: We'll, we
had a fine time at the club last night"
At the word club Mrs. Browns heart
contracted, but there was not quiver
of an eyelid to betray her fear. Yes.
we did," she said. Il was real proud OF
you, George. did not know you could
do so we'll at public speaking. Mrs.
Clark was in here this morning to
bring us some of the cake and cream
that was left" "Oh, good" inter-
rupted Willie, Can We have it for din
ner?" Course We can," said Nellie.
1T will melt if We don't" And she
said" continued Mrs. Brown, that
her husband thinks you are just the
man this district wants for senator
as you are such fluent speaker" For
just one second Mr.. Brown had men
tai view of a numbering freight train
loaded with baled hay being switched
onto a side-track, but it was more
pleasant to contemplate Mr.. Clarks
idea of the senatorship-for he held
the same opinion on that subject-Jim-
mie cried, 20, say pa, Gemmie Burns
said his father laughed all the morn
ing at the stories you told last night
and he is going to send right on after
Rileys books. The cake and ice cream
were brought on and Mr.. Brown told
over for the benefit of the children the
story that had so amused the progeni-
tor of Thomas Burns. Mrs. Brown
said she heard that morning that Lucy
Thompson was to be married next
week to Mr.. Williams and there was TO
be "a large wedding, and she heard
they were to be invited, and they
would have to look around for a we'd
ding present. Club was not mentioned
again. Mr.. Brown started back to his
office-he could not quite figure out
how it had all happened. His wife
was deuced smart. There was no ques-
tion about that, and, of course, he
would watch to see that she did not
get careless about things around home
or neglect the children. What sue
cess she had made of her society or
club or whatever you call it! But, then,
he had drawn the constitution. Here
brilliant thought struck him, and
the rift that had been made in his self
complacency closed up so tightly that
the crack was not visible to the naked
eye. OF course that's the solution OF
the whole question thought he-plain