Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-05-15
Mr.. MAlONEYs BUGBEAR.

tTtt, anu MdlOuty vile III npceAiA
Of him called him Dennis. Mr.. Nc
loney knew his wife was all a wiz
should be, and that she loved him -
votedly, but when she talked aboue
"Dennis,' with half-sigh and ten
der smile, he had an intense desire -
get at the threat Of this same DenniA
whom he had never seen, and choke
the life out Of him.
When Mrs. Maloney, then pretty
Rose Clarity, was about II, Dennis
McGafferty had been very devoted t.
her He was her first ''grown.upr
beau, and seemed very fine and fae'
chatting to her Their little love afEaiR
ran the length Of the summer AM
then Dennis went to live In the city.
and that was the end Of IT, Two yearn
later Mr.. Maloney stepped in and won
the heart and hand Of the blooming
Rosie and there had been no clouds 10
darken their matrimonial horizon en-
cept these illusions to Dennis Ne
Gafferty.
"Dennls used to shy no carriage va
fine enough for me-" Mrs. Malons1
sometimes said when waiting, win
her husband, for the plebelan street
ears, or dennis said ought to have
the costilest jewels In the land" whsn
standing In front Of the jewelers.
tempting windows. On some such oc-
casions the suffering worm would
turn.
"Why didn't he give 'em to yez" b
would ask, fercely, In the rich br0gue
which his wife made fun Of, but really
enjoyed-his voice was SO mellow and
the brogue so rich that no music was
sweeter to her ears.
HE would an I'd a. married him."
she would retort, rather sharply.
"Shure, an why didn't yez, thenr'
Mr. Maloney, exasperated beyond en-
iurance, sometimes muttered between
his teeth. His wife, however, never
answered that question except by .
proud indignant look. For, searching
back to that happy summer when
Dennis had been SO attentive, she
could never remember that he had ever
asked her, in so many words, to be bio
wife. There had been vague illusions
to the time when they would do this
Or that together, or have certain much
desired things and be supremely happy
but that was ALL No, the much-vaunt-
ed Dennis had never come to tho
point!
But It would not do to let Mr.. Mo
Ioney know this. Rosie had found out
that the name Of Dennis acted upon
her husband much as a red flag acts
upon IN Infatuated bull, and she thor
oughly enjoyed these little sklrmIshes
and realized her power over the great
big loving Irlshman and continued to
WELD 1t.
About a year after their marriage
the Maloney's moved to the city. They
settled In a comfortable little fiat and
began to pick out their tradespeople.
Imagine the little wife's excitement
when she discovered, not four blocks
from their home, the following sign
over a neat little grocery.
"Dennls McGalferty, Grocer
Her excitement was still strong
when at the supper table she told her
husband of her find.
I'm goln' around this avenin' an
tell Dennis I'll give him me trade she
said, bringing out the little sigh ana
tender, retrospective glance In mad
dcnlng way.
"Shure, I'll 90 wild yez," said MI.
Maloney, firmly, his heart heavy 40
lead In his bosom.
Sure" Rosie answered sweetly,
dennis will be that glad to know me
husband She dressed herself to
the ton of her wardrobe and they start
ed out the little woman talking gayly,
Mr.. Maloney answering In sulky mono
syllablts. He was in deadly fear lest
Dennis seeing bis wife more charming
than ever. should fall In love with her
again and steal her away from him.
They entered the store. A heavy
set man with brlstling red mustache
came forward. His hands and mouth
were large and his nose turned up at
the end; he was freckled and h0mely;
and yet-RosIe recognized Dennis.
"Good-avenin' he said, smillngly.
"Good-avenin'" returned the Ma
l0neys.
There was a moments expectant
pause, and then Rosie smiling coquet-
tishly, said
"Mr McGafferty, I'm an old friend
OF yours Now, If you'll tell me who
I am, I'll give yez me trade Surely y a
he knew her
A big, fat, good-natured-looking
woman entered from rear door ana
approached them. ii
by the saints! know yer face,
pretty lady, said Mr. McGaferty.
looking puzzled, "but | can't place
yez."
Rosle's face turned crimson. She
could have died with modification
and embarrassment for there was her
husband taking 1t all in and doubtless
IT,
"Mayhap It's Katy O'Hara" haz-
arded the grocer, doubtfully. Rosie
shook her head. She could scarcely
keep the tears from her eyes. Then
It's Mary Garrity?' with a shy laugh.
Another shake of Mrs. Maloney'n
head
"Or Bridget Burke, or Ellen Dona-
houe, or Kittle O'Toole, or Blddy SUI
|Ivan.' broke In the fat woman, who