Middletown transcript., 1905-06-03

EtdllOu nitIlOub
her wedding-day. To wake up after ST.
years of married life to find one had a
a brute for a husband Once he ha'
been a prince, the Prince Charming o
her girlhood dreams but oh, the terrlbl
metamorphosis, he was prince no longe
he was just brute
Two fresh tears started from under he
Redeemed eyelids, but she furtiyely wipes
them away with a corner of the buster
Not even the alabaster boy in the corne
should see her weep. She wasn't exactl.
anxious to be strong-minded-strong
minded women were out OF place II
suburban homes but she didn't intent
to be one of those meek, miserable NOR
tals-she was charmed at the ALTERATION
whose whole life became tragedy o
tears.
She might just as well stare facts IL
the faces He was brute, and she wal
tied to him till the day-after-never-at-all
but-but what? That 'but' was a dool
of emancipation, beyond which lay the
broad, beautiful acres of a woman's
liberty. She didn't doubt they were
beautiful /; the untried is always beautiful
The front door bell rang. 1t was hel
special friend, in spick and span tailor
made and ravishing new hat, with RED
cherries and green leaves on field Of
brown. They kissed spasmodically they
always did, even if they met seven times
day. The special friend sank down OH
a willow ottoman.
"Well," she said, Il came ont on the
first train, so as to have whole long
day with you. Let's see-just six years
ago tonight l was bridesmaid, in sea
green, at your wedding y
"Oh," cried the Brute's wife, clapping
her hands. "You remembered p
Her special friend smiled.
"My dear, how could l forget? The
day of all days to you and Jack Life
isn't worth living if one leaves sentiment
out; it becomes "a car OF Juggernaut,
which brushes your spirit, or it's like air
without oxygen-you can't breathe"
The Brute's wife stood on the rug,
turning her wedding-ring with nervous
fingers.
Jennie" she said, Jack forgotp'
"Forgot what ~ asked the special
friend. 'To leave money for the milk
bill, or to order the greens for dinner !?
Well, that's married life-it ought to be
a perpetual notebook, there are so many
things to tease ones memory. Bah, ]
wouldn't be you for worlds, loveW
Jennie was eight and twenty, and
single; mauied life had grown small in
her line Of vision.
"No-o," stammered the Brute's wife !;
she remembered the greens, they've just
come but he forgot our wedding-day p
The special friend sat aghast.
"The brute r. she cried.
II any proof were lacking, the Brute's
wife now had it. Hadn't her special
friend said so A little flame of red
crept into each cheek.
sit doesn't matter in the least" she
said. ~ have determined to live my
life without him."
Tie special friend coughed. She had
always had a secret opinion that Jack
had been meant for her, had not unkind
fate interviewed.
"You don't mean a separation ?''
The Brute's wife blazed.
Jennie" she cried, show can you !?
Put me in the papers and bring in the
reporters and be done with it No,
never, neverr ' She stamped her foot.
"Jack-I married lim-I"-her voice
broke-"I know he loved me once-in-
deed ne did, dear fellow, but-tbut-oth,
I can't say it -
"But he doesn't now" finished the
special friend alphabetically. "Well,
it's too bad, but you won't miss much.
He hasn't taken you to the theatre but
twice since Christmas, and as for supper
i believe you're forgotten the taste of
broiled lobster p
"We've always preferred Welsh rabbit
at home," said the Brute's wife stiffly.
"He said l made it SO well, and it never
got stringy."
''For PHYS sake don't get huf1y," said
the special friend. II only speak for
your good-don't l know you suffer ?
But why should you? Here you are, at
twenty-six, buried alive in little, mis-
cradle, two-story villa town, an exhaust
ing half-mile from the station, with two
babies to look out for, and new cook to
hunt every month and all because you
married mere man l tell you it's
brutal. If Jack had loads OF money, and
you could keep your auto, and have
dinner parties, and 60 abroad when you
felt like it, | wouldn't say word but
you can't. A miserable pink tea is all
you can manage, and then you have to
borrow your neighbours maid My dear,
you've been angelic to stand it for six
years p'
The Brute's wife, in spite Of herself,
began to cry softly.
"We were SO happy till just lately"
she whispered behind her handkerchief.
The special friend laughed.
'That was the billing and cooling stage
it doesn't usually last SO long. The next
stage is the awakening, and then comes
recrimination, separation, divorce! Can't
you see it all, as they have it in the news
paper headings ?''
II wouldn't do such thing" said the
Brute's wife Indignantly. Jennie, if
you mean to insinuate Pm not respecta-
BILE, Til never speak to you again y
'Now there" said the special friend,
you fly off on a tangent for nothing ! !
Poor dear, your nerves are racked to
pieces Come, we'll 20 in for some fun,
and show Mr.. Jackanapes that we women
can get along twice as well without the
men."
The special friend looked positively