The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-01-12

and irritated lips. Still, Angelica went
 bravely on. unmindful of the brewing
 storm.
 tinued until I nearly lost my mind, and
 Diavola looked peevish, just like the man
 had said all men felt under such strain.
 Upon the fourth evening, when we were
 seated at table and Angelica began her
 prattle again, Diavola said in as mild g. tone as it was possible for him to use under the circumstances: Would you mind, dear, if I ate my din-
 ner this evening in peace and not talk shop? hear business and finance all day long, and It does seem to me that you'd try to make me forget the sordid things Of life when I come home in the evening and not harp upon them until I
 nearly lose my reason.''
 Angelica, be 1t remembered, had read in a book that this was the proper thing ,, for good wife to do, bit her lip, stified a low cry, and sweetly replied: why, certainly, dear. but thought it was what you were most interested in. and so I wanted to make you happy by talking about your affairs And so the next evening, which was the last of my visit when we assembled for the evening meal. never a word was spoken about Diavola's business affairs. Instead, Angelica talked about the ser
 wants, the children, her neighbors and her best friends, all of which made me glad I was among those present. else I
 might have come in for my share of the equation. and left, thinking that all was
 quiet along the Potomac. About two weeks afterward I was i'm vited in to dinner very informally one
 amazement Diavola was swelled Cor is it swollenD up like a pouter pigeon, ] glared at his wife like a brigand and looked as ferocious as q tiger. In spite of this she chatted about all sorts of gossip l and society nothings. and was az gay and frivolous as debutante.
 Finally Angelica. noticing his ugly l mood, said:
 Whats the matter, dear?" T should think you would know. Here come home every evening and you never mention anything about my business. | You don't care whether I am succeeding
 or not. Ton know my stenographer has
 been i'll and you never ask how she is. i You know we have been expecting to rent additional offices. yet you never in- quire if we have done so. In fact, we
 arc just as widely separated as if ws were not husband and wife" l Angelica Is wonder--she simply sAt | there like & bump on . log, sawed wood
 and said nothing. In fact. she was as
 dumb as though she were dead. didn't
 believe there lived 8 woman who could
 control her temper like that Quickly she inquired about all tho things
 she thought necessary regarding his busi-
 ness. sent her regards to the stenograph- CT, said she was delighted at the suc- cessful deals he had made. and would
 come down next day and select rug for l tho new offlce.
 But later, to me, she connded: You see. Dolly, no woman can believe what magazines say about wife's att | titude to her husband"
 Apparently, ono cannot believe what l tho gentleman himself says on the sub- 1 ject," said timidly.
 '"The only course to pursue," said An gelica pathetically, 'is to watch your own
 brute and adjust your attitude to his mood and discuss just what he happens | to want to discuss at the time"
 'Tn other words." chimed in, The is the ringmaster and you are the nice little nuffy acrobat. who. when he holds the hop and says jump you must prompt 1 tv fs,ynV1. othArWfaa vo1s lORA vorr Ver- fectly good job"
 'T wonder if it's worth it?" sighed An- gelica. ITO . woman of any mentality | 1t would seem that to be doing ono thing one moment and another tho very next chameleon like, as 1t wers-is more than | any one poor feminine creature ought to | be called upon to endre.'