The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-06-24

9 M g evening paper and enjoy
~ ing his after-dinner cigar.
To~ His dinner had been a
good one; It had agreed with him, and
he felt cozy, comfortable and disputa-
tious. Mr.. Tibbets is one of those men
who feel most belllgerent when We
should expect them to feel most other
wise.
Mrs. Tibbets sat Mt the dining table,
''dolng over" hat according to direc-
tions contained in the 'Hints for
Housekeepers' Column"
Mr.. Tlbbets occasionally glanced at
her over the top of his paper and over
the top of his glasses, seeking ma
terial for controversy.
At length he wriggled impatiently.
and, removing his cigar from his lips,
remarked:
"Bet you dollar you don't know
how steam engine works"
"Place the perforations on the bias
OF the eighteenth flap-yes, dear, did
you speak?" inquired Mrs. Tibbets abb
sently. looking up from a tissue paper
pattern and removing q few dozen pins
from her mouth.
"Oh, no, dear" returned Mr.. Tio-
bets in tones of oily yet sarcastic
sweetness. 81 wasn't speaking, ! was
merely talking in my sleep. But l
should like to remark, Mrs. T., that
woman's mind is content to dwell on
small things. Here you sit fussfng
over an old spring bonnet and a lot of
foolery. when you might be improving
yourself, adding to your knowledge,
tots of ways. Have you any j8ea what
makes trolley car go?"
"Now, dearest, what do you want to
read to me?-the forty-fourth perfora-
tion-whatd / do with the scis-you
know I always did Just dote ON those
dear scientific things when you ex-
planned them. They always seemed so
clear"
"It's nothing" replied Mr.. Tibbets,
somewhat Modified. "only see the pa
per speaks of n magnificent shower
Of meteors, the grand bi-centennial dis
play Of the stars from the constella-
tion Unicorn, which is positively to oc-
cur tomorrow morning at Q o'clock.
1t will be n most remarkable exhib-
tion Of celestial phenomena. visible
only once in two hundred years, and
tell you what Mrs. T.. We ought to
thank our fortune that we We're born
In the nicl, Of time to witness this
thing. Just suppose we had lived n
hundred years ago; we never would
have had a chance. And think of the
bulge we've got on those to Inc born
q hundred years hence.'
Mr.. Tibbets paused. 81 should love
to see those beautiful stars, william"
observed Mrs. Tibbets meekly. "As
you say, We women do neglect our op-
portunities. Can we see them from
the house? I should hate to 60 out Of
doors at that awful hour"
''My dear. there is scuttle IN .hc
roof. Leading from a platform up to
said scuttle is q ladder. It will not be
necessary to go out of doors"
''But how shall we wake up that time
OF night?" inquired Mrs. Tibbets ear
nestly. "I'm sure could never keep
awake until 3 o'clock"
''My dear did you ever hear Of such
a thing rs persistent mentality? Are
you aware that the mind never sleeps?
We will wake up because We will put
our minds on 1t: we will, as it were,
set our minds to go off at three
O'clock" declared Mr.. Tibbets authori-
tatively.
Mrs. Tlbbets looked admiringiy but
doubtful.
When they had retired for the night
Mr.. Tibbets became aware, after he
had put out the light and turned over
with a sigh Of solid comfort, of an
unusual noise proceeding from near the
head of the bed. He shivered, for 1t
sounded like the noise made by certain
insects, prophetic of death in the
house.
"Kitty, my dear, do you hear that
curious noise?" he asked.
Eyes" admitted Mrs. Tfbbets, in
nuffled tones. n.
"What can 1t be7 II sounds as If
It was under the bed--in tte bed.
In the pillow--in my ear" ag'
It is the alarm clock"
ssAlarm clock? What for?''
s'Why, I was afraid you might be
sleepy and forget to wake up. 10 set
~ alaEm clock II u : real BIG one.