Wallowa County chieftain. [volume] (Enterprise, Or.) 1909-1911, 1910-02-17
AHARLEN fRAGEDR
By o. HENRY.

0 below.
"Ain't 1t 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.
"AIy husband wouldn't ever think OF
doing that to me-" said Mrs. Fink, con-
cealing her envy.
81 wouldn't have a 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 1t.
This eye is good for theater tickets and
a silk shirt waist at the very least"
81 should hope" said Mrs. Fink, as
suming complacency, that Mr.. Fink
is too much of a gentleman ever to
raise his hand against me-"
"Oh, go ON, Maggier' 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 truthT"
''Mr. 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 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
CllG anu MI SdSSlul udO
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 your
asked Mrs. Fink curiously.
Hurt" Mrs. Cassidy gave a So
prano scream of delight. "Well, say,
did you ever have 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 left
that spells two matinees and a, new
pair of Oxfords-and his right! Well,
1t takes 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.
SILLY" 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 | marry him? Jack
comes in tanked up, and I'm here, amt
|? 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
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 l 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 | come up again for more pun
ishment. That's what done last
night. Jack knows I've been wanting
a black silk waist for a month. and /
didn't think just one black eye would
bring 1t. Tell you what, Mag, I'll bet
you the ice cream he brings 1t 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 word to say. He never
AXES me out anywhere He's a chair
warmer at home for fair He buys me
things, but he looks so glum about 1t
fiat never appreciate EN-"
Mrs. Cassidy slipped an arm around
Ter chum.
"You poor thing!" she said. But ev-
erybody can't have a husband like
Jack. Marriage wouldn't be no failure
If they was all like him. These dis
contented wives you hear about-what
they need Is man to come home and
kick their Stats In once week and
then make 1t up In kisses and chocolate
creams. Thatd give em some interest
In life. What I want is a masterful
man that slugs you when he's jagged
and hugs you when he amt jagged
Preserve me from the man that amt
got the sand to do neither!'
Mrs. Fink sighed.
The Railways were suddenly filed
with sound. The door flew open at the
kick of Mr.. Cassidy. His arms were