The Washington bee., 1902-01-04
MR. SMITH WON OUT.
After Months of Patient Submission
., the Worm Turned.
And HIs strOng-Mindsd Matrimonial
Partner Met Her Waterloo
Righteous Fury That Le1
20 Permanent Peace.
There lives in small town In west

There lives IN a small town In west
srn New York, not far from Buffalo,
an estimable lady with matrimonial
proclivities. She has married three
&imes and is yet barely past middle
Afe.
Her various names have blottsd from
memory her maiden name, but she
became Mrs.. Green on entering nstEi-
mOnial relations with her second hus-
band Mr.. Green died few months
after the marriage, but Mrs. Green
did not believe IN living single, and she
cut short the conventional period of
mourning in order to enter Unincum-
bered into negotiations with q well
Eo-do farmer, who had paid her some
attention in her younger days. The
affair progressed with eminent salts
faction to both interested parties, and
3nally eliminated In their marriage.
Just one cause Of diEEenGiOn arose
80 mar their cOnnubial bliss, says the
Eew York Times. The new partner
sf Mrs. Green's joys and sorrowS was
known to the world as smith" Now,
Mrs. Green did not care 10 descend
from the halo of that noble Anglo
Saxon name Green, to the most pie
beian ranks OF the Smiths. She re-
fused, therefore, to be silent member
"A the partnership, and insisted that
her friends continue to call her Mrs.
Green Here the trouble arose. Mr..
Smith did not like the idea, but he
was one Of the submissive kind whose
Sdeas do not count. Their friends, how
ever, refused TO call her anything but
AIRS. Smith.
The submissive husbandhRauya arose
IN his wrath and applied an effective
remedy. The women Of the township
have a vote on school matters, and
meeting was TO be held IN the district
school. two miles from the Smith farm.
The day Of the meeting turned out to
be stormy, but Mrs. Green" insisted
on going, regardless of the weather.
.By six o'clock in the evening the roads
were under several inches of mud, and
The rain was still pouring down. Mr..
Smith had his orders, however, and
obediently harnessed up his team and
drove his wife through the mud two
miles to the schOlhouse.
The meeting was called to order and
the roll taken of the property owners
present. Mr.. Smiths name was called.
He responded with mild "Here!"
His wife's name followed - Mrs.
Smith" No reply, although that
aady sat at her husbands side. She
would be Mrs. Green" or nobody.
Mr.. Smith was righteOusly furious.
At the close of the meeting he went to
the shed for his team and drove up to
the school door. His wife came out
90 join him for the trip home. As she
gathered her skirts TO step into ths
rig Mr.. Smith inquired:
Have you seen Mrs. Smith around
here anywhere?" ?" .' .-
His wife was somewhat taken sback
by this unexpected sally, but reeoV-
cred herself and replied:
mo! 1 have seen no such person"
"Oh, excuse me-" continued her hus-
band. Il was looking for my wife,
but il she isn't here I'll drive along
home"
He whipped up his horse and van
ished in the darkness, mud flying
from wheels and hoofs. His wife stood
for several moments looking in the
direction he had taken. too much
Astonished at such an unheard-ot ex'
hibition of independence to say a
word. When she came to herself the
teams had all driven away.
She had ample time to think sew
sral things as she trudged alone to
ward home, through the mud, which
came over her ankles at every step
and the steady downpour, which sOo1
soaked her to the skin.
When she finally reached home Eh'
was too much exhausted to even as
sumo an injured expression. Her hus
band was sleeping peacefully, and sh'
did not disturb him. She was Mrs
Smith" from that. day forth.