Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1905-07-07
A VARYING ESTIMATE


rags, but of course you didn't tread on
it A fly must have settled upon it, 1
suppose"
heard something 60"
Then you guessed right first time"
snapped the girl
But I was being 80 particularly
careful. Really, hardly know what
TO say"
Don't you! Then we'd better change
the subject"
II wouldn't have had II happen for
deal of money" he pleaded feryenty.
on apologtzing. You don't do II very
well, and 1t makes no difference. any
how. II one fs idiot enough to be per-
suaded into going TO a dance of this
sort, | suppose one must take ones
chance of the kind Of thing one meets.
After all, It was my own fault"
And the cheap muslin Swtshed VI
ciously away from him, and left him
desolate to curse his cfumsiness.
But the young man, though nervous.
knew his own mind, and was patient
and persistent, and 1t is an ascertained
fact that woman yields 70 siege rather
than Is assault Within few months
from this night of disaster and acri-
mony the young man was enabled to
announce to his family his engagement
to the young lady who had thus de-
spitefully used him, and his family did
not like it at all.
81 don't wish" said his dear mamma,
ito speak rashly, but I may say that
I'd rather see you in your coffin than
married to a girl like Henrietta"
That's what I've always thought"
said the elder sister.
Same here" said the younger sis
ter.
Then the nervous young man drew
himself up and took upon himself a
dignity. And might l ask" he said,
what 1t is exactly you've got against
this young lady who has honored me
by accepting my proposal?'
What haven't we got against her!"
said the elder sister, broadly and on
general principles.
"I can give it name" said the dear
mamma; she's q thoroughly bad
tempered woman. wouldn't have a
tongue like hers for all the money in
the Bank of England, and l pity the
man that's married to her"
We'll" said the young man, that is
about the most outrageous-at least,
mother, what l mean to say is that
you're mistaken about Henrietta. l
ohr N
fact, I could give an instance"
DO let's hear it." said his younger
sister skeptfcally.
The first time I met her was at a
dance 1t wasn't much Of thing. In
fact. she was about the only lady
there that ! should have called lady
at all"
THAT was the night you took us,
wasn't it?" asked the elder sister.
We'll, don't you be too compliment
aYy"
II was excepting present company,
said the young man desperately, las is
, usual, / believe Now it so happened
that | trod on her dress and tore It,
It's not a thing I've ever done before
or since, and more perfect refinement
and sweetness of temper | never met
with in my life. She wouldn't even
hear word of apology. All she
seemed anxious about was to find some
kind thing 10 say to set Ine at my
ease. Fact? There never was any
thing to equal it, And that" he added
impressively, 'is the girl you accuse
of bad temper"
So in course of time the young mar
married the girl Marriage on moder'
ate-almost immoderately moderate
means has occasionally a tanning ant
depressing effect on some high-spirit
ed feminine natures. and in the proud
position of head of a household, how
ever modest, a nervous young mar
f may grow rapidly into state of set
tied and self-satisfied bumptiousness
4 So after year or two of married
+ life this man. still young, returned ont
Saturday from business earlier thai
. usual, and he was in bad temper
Also as il was not yet dinner time
= dinner was not ready. OF this he com
planned bitterly. He was acrimonious
as to the choice of the dinner; he wa
savage as to the cooking of 1t. Evel
his wifes open flattery of his appear
ance and her pleasure that he ha'
been able to get of so early failed u
soothe him.
So when she asked him to take he
for a walk he said that he could no
stick 1t; which was vulgar and unkin
of him. But her alteration and he
readiness to serve him in any way re
NAMED mistaken. She Lit his cigarett
for him and waved her hand TO hir
from the window as he walked away.
AS he walked he pitied himself seri
ously He worked hard all the weeh
and yet when he came home on Sat
urday there was often little or nothin
that he could reasonably make hin
aeH dict atOrial or UNPLEASANT about