Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-10
MR.. J0BSON REPENTS

| pnoSpnoreScent verge ana the eachet ira
! grances from the throng of passing women
| and-and-and things. Mr.. Jobson. at At
| lantic City. became somewhat penitent the
| other night. He'd let out on Mrs. Jobson
| about something or other that morning
and he was sorry.
''Y'know. my dear" he said to her. as
they strolied along the brilliant Appiau
way of the sea, Il sometimes get to think
ing that I'm q CROUCH"
Mrs Jobson, pretending to be getting
another kind Of a clutch on her trailing
skirt SO that the rolling chairs wouldn't
roll over and cut OF piece Of 1t, said
nothing.
Crouch" said Mr. Jobson. and it's
the 1901 thing. after all. to be a crouch.
DOESN'T get anybody anything Sure
doesn't. Don't you think for minute that
cont get next to myself occasionally,
tor / do-you bet do. And don't make
any hit with myself when fall to thinking
1t over. either Not -much.''
mrs. dooson smiled with vague tender
ness that seemed to encourage him. for
| he went right along.
Il hate peevish slob of a man lust as
much as anybody else. and that's the rea-
son mat feel like pulling UP with jerk
once in a while when I catch myself being
some peev1sh l am peevish once in a
while. eh?" 40
oh" began Mrs Jobson with the anna
PIE aepreGation of a forgiving woman. Il
don't really think that you are any worse
IN that respect than any other"
YES am, yes. am" put in Mr.. Jobson,
working himself up to a point of very un-
usual seif.depreciation I'm a blamed old
growing he-bear with sore head. and 7
know 1t. And you deserve a heap Of credit
for standing for it like you do. I'll saw that.
Just say to yourself that I'm a Door old
Grabbed four-flush that likes to storm
around and hear himself talk, and let it 90
at that Will yOu?" >. g.
"Oh. but" began Mrs. Jobson again, IL
can't think anything Of the sort, my dear.
for you know /"
Well, that's all fine and nice of you
10 put IT that way" interrupted Mr. Job
son, still eager to hand 1t to himself but
l should think you'd feel like tossing fiat
irons and stewing pans and other kitchen
Junk ana oljouterie at me right often, and
put up with 1t all these years, sure don't.
cure wonder, that's all there Ia about
1t. to tolerate It so long.
a little astonished. you certainly are love.
ly about things when you want to be.
Well I want to be now and all the
time that's all" cut in Mr.. Jobson. Tell
you how l got next to myself this
time. Happened to overhear a bully of a
fat-jowled loafer-he was all diked out.
too, as If he amounted to anything better
man imam shoreman-abusing and hec-
porch Of our hotel this afternoon And.
the poor timed little woman. she just sat
there. an huddled up in heap. and look
ing ing most scared to death, and took it all
you take 1t from me- Felt lumpy around
the collar-band for that little woman, I
honest did. And for chew Of tobacco
I'd have pranced up to that big Iummox
Of a bulldozer and kicked him fun Of but
tonholes."
Was that the couple" began Mrs. Job
son, that came in"
Doesn't make any difference who they
were. my dear" put in Mr.. Jobson: that 3
what happened. and that s what sort O.
brought me up short and put me next to
myself"
But. my dear" interposed Mrs. Job
son. Il am sure you are exaggerating your
little faults Of temper, and II were
you
No. I'm not broke in Mr.. Jobson.
Nothing of the sort I'm next to myself,
that's all. and I'm going to give you the
square deal that's coming to you from this
on"
Il am sure" began Mrs Jobson once
more. that your heart is the best in the
world. and that"
That's all right about the heart end of
it." cut in Mr.. Jobson, "but actions speak
louder than hearts. and you can't stand
there and tell me that I'm not a whole lot
shy when it comes to being decent and
agreeable around the place. so far as you
are concerned, a heap Of the time Now,
I've been thinking 1t over and I've got an
Idea Ysee. most men feel bit seedy
and tucked up and sullen when they get up
In the morning. Don't know why that is,
or should be. but it's the fact. You'll mo-
tice that l do most of my fool breaking
out when get out Of bed in the morning
Now. 1 want to do the right thing. and SO
my scheme Is this: Seeing that 1 always do
feel kind o punk and measley when I get
up In the morning, s'pose we just don t
have any conversation at all from now on
breakfast ~,
good after he's got his coffee and his first
smoke. as maybe you've noticed. Well,
If we refrain from having any talk at ali
before breakfast. why We'll just get
through the days like a couple O. mated
robins. It's the bulliest idea I ever de-
veloped. Just don't you say word to
me till after breakfast and it'll be all right.
I won't expect you to talk. One word
leads to another. and, as I say. 1. like the
rest of the pin-headed men, feel grouchy
before breakfast 50 that It'll be better not
to have any conversation at all until we
get the day started with breakfast, How
about 1T, my dear?"
Mrs. Jobson. said that 1t would be all
right. She couldn't say anything else for
she was sort Of sewed in. it were, by
Mr.. Jobsons eloquent self-depreciatton. and
it was up to her to slip along with anything
he said in such mood.
On the following morning about O. o'clock
Mr.. Jobson. the first to awaken. sat up in
bed for a while. rubbed his head in a dis
or four times, and then got out of bed and
opened the blinds. Mrs. Jobson slept on
Hey. it's getting-up time" said Mr.. job
son. in his sepulchral morning voice.
Coin to stick around there in the hay all
day?"
Mrs. Jobson came to and awoke smiling.
Then there f1ickered across her countenance
an expression that told Of how she remem-
bered the conversation of the evening be-
FORE and she said nothing.
Going to be rotten hot day." said Mr.
Jobson Pumping into a chair and gazing
out at the hotel courtyard.
Mrs. Jobson. smiling pleasantly, got up
and began to tuck up her hair, but she re-
manned mute.
Guess there'll be a big mob of excursion
lists down today-Saturday." said Mr.. job
son. Mrs. Jobson made no reply. and he
began to look her over out Of the corner
Of his eye.
Guess Well flag that roller-chair gag this
forenoon-it'll be too hot and crowded for
comfort" Mr.. Jobson. still yawning tre-
mendously. went ahead. and Mrs. Jobson-
her mouth full of hairpins. anyhow-kept
her peace. Mr. Jobson's face darkened.
Say, you." he growled. Whats the
matter with you this morning. anyhow?
Deaf and dumb? Or are you just sulking
again, hey? That's 1t, you're sulking, as
usual Who's been doing anything to you
now? You're just ugly and sullen. hey. and
you're bound and determined. 1 s'pose. to
make the only outing have in the year just
as bling-blanged disagreeable as you can,
IL tf-a 1lN~k