The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1905-08-20
A VARYING ESTIMATE
T az BARRY PAIN.

Dear mel" exclaimed the nervous
young man in agony. Il didn't tread
on your dress. did 70"
Didn't tread on my dress? Oh, dear,
no! OF course not, It's torn all to
rags. but OF course you didn't tread ON
it. A fly must have settled upon it,
suppose"
I'm so sorry / almost thought /
heard something CO."
Then you guessed right first time"
snapped the girl
But / was being so particularly
careful Really. l hardly know what
10 say"
Don't you! Then we'd better change
the subject"
81 wouldn't have had 1t happen for
deal OF money" he pleaded ferventiy.
No more would l. Please don't keep
on apologizing. You don't do 1t very
well and it makes no difference. any,
how. II one is idiot enough TO be per-
suaded into going to dance of this
sort, | suppose one must take ones
chance OF the kind of thing one meets.
After all, it was my own fault"
Anu tue tnedD uiuSliu SNloutu VI
ciously away from him, and left him
desolate to curse his clumsiness.
But the young man, though nervous.
knew his own mind. and was patient
and persistent, and it is an ascertained
fact that woman yields to siege rather
than to assault Within a few months
from this night of disaster and acrl-
-.
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.
Il don't wish" said his dear mamma,
ito speak rashly. but may say that
I'd rather see you in your coffin than
married to girl like Henrietta"
That's what I've always thoughts
said the elder sister.
Same here" said the younger sisA
ter.
Then the nervous young man drew
himself up and took upon himself a
dignity "And might | ask" he said,
what it Is exactly you've got against
this young lady who has honored me
by accepting my proDosal?"
What haven't we got against her."
said the elder sister, broadly and on
general principles.
Il can give 1t name" said the dear
mamma, she's thoroughly bad
tempered woman. | wouldn't have
tongue like hers for all the money in
the Bank Of England, and pity the
man that's married to her"
Well" said the young man, that is
about the most outrageous-at least.
mother what mean to say is that
you're mistaken about Henrietta I
know what I'm talking about. too. In
fact | could give an instance"
do let's hear it, said his younger
sister specifically
THE first time | met her was at a
dance. It 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
Well, don't you be too compliment
ary"
Il was excepting present company,
said the young man desperately, "as Is
usual. | believe. Now 1t so happened
that | trod on her dress and tore It
It's not 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 a word of apology All she |
seemed anxious about was to find some
kind thing to say to set me at my
case. Fact? There never was any
thing to equal it, And that" he added |
Impressively lis the girl you accuse
OF bad temper!"
SO in course Of time the young man |
married the girl. Marriage on moder-
ate--almost immoderately moderate |
means has occasionally tanning and |
depressing effect on some high-spirit. |
ed feminine natures. and in the proud |
position Of head of household how |
ever modest, a nervous young man
may grow rapidly into a state of set.
tied and self-satisfied bumptiousness
SO after year or two Of married |
life this man, still young, returned one
SATURDAY from business carrier mar |
usual, and he wag In a bad temper
Also as 1t was not yet dinner time
dinner was not ready. OF this he CON-
planned bitterly. He was acrimonious
as to the choice of the dinner; he was
savage as to the cooking Of It, Even
his wife's open flattery Of his appear
ance and her pleasure that he had.
been able to get off so early failed to
soothe him.
So when she asked him to take her
for a walk he said that he could not
stick It; which was vulgar and unkind
of him. But her alteration and her
readiness to serve him in any way re-
manned mistaken. She lit his cigarette
for him and waved her hand to him
from the window as he walked away.
AS he walked he pitied himself seri
ously. He worked hard all the week
and yet when he came home on Sat
urday there was often little or nothing
that he could reasonably make him |