The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1909-05-20
AHARLfn TRAGEDY
By O. HENRY.

Mrs. Fink mas dropped INTO
Mrs. Cassidy's fiat, one flight
@ below.
Amt it a beaut!" said Mrs. Cassidy.
She turned her face proudly for 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 woul 1T ever think Of
cealing her envy.
IL wouldn't have Il 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-
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"
II should hope" said Mrs. Fink. as
Stunning c~omplacency. that Mr.. Fink
IL lOV VI VI a S'SA ~
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"
"Mr. Fink certainly peruses Of the
papers when he ome home" acknOwl-
edged Mrs. Fink, with a toss Of her
head. "but he certainly don't ever
make no Steve O'Donnell out Of me
Just to amuse himself-that's a sure
thing"
Mrs. Cassidy laughed the contented
laugh Of the guarded and happy ma
tron. With the air Of Cornelia exhib-
iting her jewels she drew down the
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 fiat above Name and her
man. Therefore she could not put on
airs with Name.
Don't it hurt when he soaks your"
asked Mrs. Fink curiously.
Hurt Mrs. Cassidy gave a So
prano scream Of delight. well, say,
did you eve have n brick house fall
on you? Well, that's just the way it
feels-just like when they're digging
you out Of the ruins. Jacks got a left
that spells two matinees and a new
pair Of Oxfords-and his right! Well,
1t 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.
"Sillyw said Mrs. Cassidy indulgent-
ly. why, because he's full. It's gen.
orally on Saturday nights"
But what III do you give him?"
persisted the seeker after knowledge.
"Why, didn't ] marry him? Jack
comes In tanked up, and I'm here, Amt
II 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 1t Is. Jack amt
particular, about causes. He just
,ushes TIL he remembers he's married.
and then he makes for home and does
me up. Saturday nights I just move
The furniture with sharp corners out
Of the way, so l won't cut my head
when he gets his work In. He's got a
left swing that jars you. Sometimes !
take the count in the drst round, but
when I feel like having a good time
during the week OF want some new
rags / come up again for more pun
ishment. That's what I done last
night. Jack knows I've been wanting
a black silk waist for a month, and l
didn't think just one black eye would