Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1904-10-31
The BIOtting Book

ne major Was ISdli1 III ill.,
fehensible temper as he entered t
little villa at Mazda Vale and .
sequently made matters general
unpleasant for everybody and
rything about. The parrot, a
I'd bird, had squeaked a welcome
him while lifting up one foot
distended claw, as though CIV
him its benediction, but he had
Y replied by finging his muller
it, whereupon it had burst into
series of strident laughs, inter
rsed with a few choice expletlveS
bad learned from the major him
f. The black cat had also mewed
Welcome to her master, whereupon
bit master had endeavored to kick
harmless necessary" one,
Dugh he had only missed his mark
b fallen forward on to the coal
little and barkcd his shins, which
not make his temper any the
pre- angelic. Meanwhile the cat
lmped on the arm of chair and
blinking her green eyes at the
ar major with a semicontemptu-
5 and semiseraphic appearance.
"Here, yoa, down there" the
hjor howIed, rushing to the head
the basement stairs. Mary, Eli
where are you: Talking to the
tcher's boy again, Ell? What
be postman, is it? I'll postman
ia. I'll have discipline maintain
What are YOU singing? Pm
bt a soldier at 13 pence a day. eh
| show you. Come up heren'
Then a few minutes afterwart
e nymph named Eliza appeared.
Il amt your wife," she began
hank 'evings, and l amt soldie
rvant, for which l says thanl
wings again. If l don't suit, l cal
b. Mother says l oughtn't to sta,
a 'ouse with a man who uses tn
ngwidge Sou do"
where's your mistress ?" tn
lajor asked in a quieter voice now
erhaps because he thought that be
bre a future matron he had bette
MINER down a little.
"Gone to the club. She's got a
ppointment."
''Has she?" the major said, lool
be- ominously-for his wife's fl
nre comfort. "And as she though
was going to be away for wee
suppose She was going to have a
appointment at the club every da
nd all day"
81 dunno. [ shouldn't wonder
Her life isn't happy and isn't likel
o be. Then she's going to her ma
Tor three days, she says"
eyes, | don't doubt she does Sc
10. Err contemptuously. III
mother. Well see about that. ii
mothers, Ell? All right. You CO
go"
The major flung himself down
little Davenport, or Chesterfield
table with a caster off, which W
his wife's particular property, al
seized on some of her light smo
colored writing paper and her &C
] pen and began to dash of We
strong letter, full of reprimands a
commands as to her future condu
The words 81 intend to be obey
and discipline must be maintalnf
brought the first page to conc
sion, and the major turned the sh
over full downward on to the b
ting book, which, as it had klnd
iapanned cover with ridiculous l
tation opal bosses, or bumps,
over it. slid about like a skater ,
is beginner on sheet Of ice. L
when he had captured this wander
object he was just going to BRING
outstretched hand down on the
of the sheet when he uttered
eous grunt. -,
whats this?" he cried, sna
ing up the buvard and rushing
if to the window. whats tn
Matilda's handwriting? W
What! Oh, the serpent! An
wretch! The minute my back
turned too. Gone home to her II
er. Ell? Yes, that's where she
90 before / put her in sonnet
else. Oh, heaven help me-!
Then he held the telltale bio
paper up to the light after st
ing his foot at the cat becau
had a painfully monotonous
sneezing and read:
"Mv Own Sweetest Love
l suppose it is he or IS 1t al
meaning me, Henry he
deluded husband, has gone
again. for a week this time,
pect' (Ts he?' the major m
ed. and isn't likely to come
till then. So-bOther the