Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1909-02-04
kHABEfN TRAGEDY
BY o. HENRY.

She turned her faCe proudly Tor her
friend Mrs. Fink to see. one eye was
nearly closed, with a great greenish
purple bruise around it. Her lip was
cut and bleeding a little, and there
,were red finger marks on each side Of
her neck.
MY husband wouldn't ever think Of
doing that to me. said Mrs. Fink, con
cealing her envy.
81 wouldn't have man." declared
Mrs. Cassidy, that didn't beat me up
at least once a week. Shows he thinks
something of you Say, but that last
dose Jack gave me wasn't no homeo-
pathic one! l can see stars yet. But
he'll be the sweetest man in town for
the rest Of the week to make up for it.
This eye is good for theater tickets and
a silk shirt waist at the very least
~ should hope" said Mrs. Fink, as
suming complacency, that Mr.. Fink
is too much of gentleman ever to
raise his hand against me-"
ooh, go on, Maggie" said Mrs. Cas-
sidy, laughing and applying witch
hazel you're only jealous. Your old
man is too trapped and slow to ever
give you a punch. He just sits down
and practices physical culture with a
newspaper when he comes home. Now
amt that the truth?"
''AIr. Fink certainly peruses of the
papers when he comes home acknowl-
edged Mrs. Fink, with a toss Of her
head, 'but he certainly don't ever
make no Steve ODonnell out Of me
Dust to amuse himself-thats a sure
thing"
Mrs. Cassidy laughed the contented
laugh Of the guarded and happy ma
tron With the air Of Cornelia exhib-
fling her jewels she drew down the
collar of her kimono and revealed an
other treasured bruise, maroon color
ed, edged with olive and orange, a
bruise now nearly well, but still to
memory dear.
Mrs Fink capitulated. The formal
light in her eye softened to envious
admiration She and Mrs. Cassidy had
been chums in the downtown paper box
factory before they had married, one
year before. Now she and her man
occupied the fat above Name and her
man. Therefore she could not put on
airs with Name.
Don't it hurt when he soaks you"
asked Mrs. Fink curiously.
"Hurtr' Mrs. Cassidy gave a So
prano scream Of delight. Well. say,
did you ever have a brick house fall
on you? Well that's just the way it
feels-iust like when they're digging
you out Of the ruins. Jacks got a left
that spells two matinees and new
pair Of Oxfords-and his right! Well,
It takes a trip to Coney and six pairs
of Openwork, silk Isle threads to make
that good"
But what does he beat you for?"
inquired Mrs, Fink. with wide open
eyes.
"Sllly" said Mrs. Cassidy indulgent-
ly. why, because he's full It's gen
orally on Saturday nights"
But what cause DO you give him?'
persisted the seeker after knowledge.
"Why, didn't l marry him? Jack
comes in tanked up, and I'm here, amt
I? Who else has he got a right to
beat? I'd just like to catch him once
beating anybody else! Sometimes it's
because supper amt ready. and some
times it's because it is Jack amt
particular about causes. He just
lushes till he remembers he's married,
and then he makes for home and does
me up. Saturday nights l just move
the furniture with sharp corners out
Of the way, so / won't cut my head
when he gets his work in. He's got a
left swing that jars you. Sometimes l
take the count in the first round, but
when l feel like having a good time |
during the week or want some new !
rags l come up again for more pun |
ishment That's what l done last |
night Jack knows I've been wanting |
a black silk waist for a month. and I |
didn't think just one black eye would .
bring it. Tell you what, Mag. III bet
you the fee cream be brings it to-
night"
Mrs. Fink was thinking deeply.
my Mart" she said. never hit me
a lick in his life. It's just like you
said Name; he comes in grouchy and
amt got a word 10 say. he never |
takes me out anywhere. He's a chair
warmer at home for fair. He buys me
things, but he looks so glum about it
that l never appreciate EN-"
Mrs. Cassidy slipped an arm around
her chum
you poor thing!' she said. But ev-
erybOdy can't have a husband like
Jack. Marriage wouldn't be no failure
II they was all like him. These dis
wives you hear about-what
they need is a man to come home and
kick their Stats in once a week and
then make 1t up In kisses and chocolate
creams. That'd give 'em some interest
In life. What / want is a masterful
nan that slugs you when he's jagged
and hugs you when he amt jagged
Preserve me from the man that amt
rot the sand 70 do neitherP
A., ITfpIr sd