The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1904-11-30
The Liotting Book

7iio 1ittiC vita dI Sldlua ale ana
consequently made matters general
ay unpleasant for everybody and
everything about. The parrot, a
weird bird, had squeaked welcome
to him while lifting up one foot
and Gistended claw, as though Civ
ing him its benediction, but he had
only replied by 1linging his muf1ler
at it, whereupon it had burst into
a series Of strident laughs, inter
spersed with few choice expletives
1T had learned from the major him
self. The black cat had also mewed
a welcome to her master, whcreupon
that master had endeavored to kick
the "harmless necessary" one,
though he had only missed his mark
and fallen forward on to the coal
scuttle and barked his shins, which
did not make his temper any the
more. angelic. Meanwhile the cat
jumped on the arm of chair and
sat blinking her green eyes ct the
dear major with a sernicontemptu-
GUS and semiseEaphic appearance.
"Here, you. down there~ tie
major howled, rushing to the head
of the basement stairs. "Mary, Eli
IA, where are you? Talking to the
butchers boy again, eh? What?
Nhe postman, is it? I'll postman
you. I'll have discipline maintain
ed. What are you singing? Pm
not a soldier at 13pence a day. eh ?
I'll show you. Come up here"
Then few minutes afterward
the nymph named Eliza appeared.
'sI amt your wife," she began,
S'thank 'evings, and I amt soldier
servant, for which I says thank
'evings again. If 1 don't suit, I can
go. Mother says I oughtn't to stay
i'm a 'ouse with a man who uses the
Aangwidge you do"
SsWheres your mistress? ?" the
MAYOR asked In q quieter voice now,
perhaps because he thought that be-
fore "a future matron he had better
simmer down little.
HGene to the club. She's got an
appointment
tHas she? the major said, look
ing ominously-for his wife's fu-
ture comfort. "And as she thought
I was going to be away for week
1 suppose she was going to have an
appointment at the club every day
and all day."
t'I dunno. I shouldn't wonder.
Her life isn't happy and isn't likely
to be: Then she's going to her mas
for three days, she says"
"Yes, [ don't doubt she does say
so. Er!' contemptuously. "Her
mother! Well see about that. Her
mothers, eh? All right. You can
go.'
The major flung himself down at
a little Davenport, or Chesterfield,
table with caster off, which was
dis wife's particular property, and
seized On some of her light smoke
tcolored' writing paper and her gold
> pen and began to dash off very
strong letter, full Of reprimands and
commands as to her future conduct.
The words '1 intend to be obeyed,
and discipline must be maintained"
brought tE, first page to conclu-
sion, and the major turned the sheet
over full downward on to the blot
ting book, which, as it had kind Of
japanned cover with ridiculous imi-
tation opal bosses, or, bumps, all
over it, slid about like skater who
is beginner .on sheet of ice. Then
when he had captured shis wandering
object he was just going to bring his
outstretched hand down on the back
of the sheet when he uttered hid
eous grunt.
whats this?" ne cried, snatch
ing up the buvard and rushing with
it to the window. whats this in
Matilda's handwriting2 Whati
What Oh, the serpent! An, the
wretchl The minute my back was
turned too. Gone home to her moth
er, eh2 Yes, that's where she will
go before I put her in something
else. Oh, heaven help mel"
Then he held the telltale blottsng
paper up to the light after stamp
ing his foot at the cat because it
had q painfully monotonous fit Of
snetzing and read:
: "My Own Sweetest Love---Hs-
I suppose it is he,' or is it On H.
meaning me, Henry2-fhe, poor
deluded husband, has gone away
again, for q week this time, I ex-
pect' rs he?' the major mutter-
ed), fand isn't likely to come back
till then. Sc Sc bother the blot
can go together cob, Ohp
groaned the poor major.) Il have
told Eliza I am going to mothers
for three days. (1Here's another
blot, the major said Take me
for run to Brighton. I have miss