Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1911-09-30

marriage De6Weeu 0tepuen AsOD
erts and Clara Colby, and others
admitted that Ii might be a good
thing. Some folks wondered be.
cause Stephen was an old bache-
lor and set in his ways, while
the young lady was known to be
rather Eighty and firty. Some
admitted because they thought
an old bachelor was just the hus-
band to make a frivolous wife
settle down.
There was one thing Miss
Clara Dragged Of as a girl, and
that was that nobody could man
age her. Whatever she wanted
TODD she did. Her marriage wasn't
going to make a bit Of difference
about that. She said so to Step
hen, His is not recorded, but
whatever it was he probably did
some thinking, and perhaps ne
made up his mind to pursue a
certain policy.
1t was weeks after the wedding
before there was q clash. The
husband made a suggestion now
and then, instead Of commanding
or nagging. While they were
only suggestions, the young wife
found herself following them
without opposition, and this
pleasant state of affairs might
have continued but for an even
more frivolous wife who drop.
ped in one afternoon to say:
Clara Roberts, do you know
that all the folks are talking
about the way you've been hum.
bled since your marriage I?
WHAT humbled was the ex-
clamation.
Yes. Everybody notices it.
You used to have mind OF your
own, but now you are as humble
as a cat. We all say it's ashame
for your husband to lay the law
down to you as he does.
But he doesn't. He has never
tried to boss me one single time.
You used to be out every after
noon:
He just thought it was a little
too much.
You haven't been to the club
in four weeks.
Stephen said he'd rather stay
home.
You didn't ride out all last
week.
But we haven't a carriage OF
our own, you know, and the
hired ones are very expensive.
Just SO. Everybody said Step
hen Roberts would put an end tc
your extravsgances. Oh, he's
bossing you all right!
When the visitor had departed
Mrs. Roberts sat down and re
viewed the situation. Was hel
husband bossing her? Was he
humbling her to the dust? Was
he insidiously curtailing her pri
vileges2 No! Yes! Come tc
think Of it, he was actually play
ing the domestic tryant and
wearing a mask while doing it
Other folks had noticed it right
along, but she had been foolish
and blind. She had given uI
that, and now people were calling
her a humble cat !
And did that domestic tyrant
of Stephen Roberts think any
more of her for her sacrifices, as
she named them Not bit. He
would simply go on demanding
more. He had asked her to give
up hired carriages, but had he
given up cigarsH he had asked
her to eliminate her club, but
wasn't he riding the goat at his
Masonic lodge one night week
Mrs. Clara Roberts had three
hours to think things over be-
fore her husband came up to din
ner. That was plenty Of time to
arouse her obstinacy, and when
he entered the house she was
ready for him. The love-light
had gone out of eyes. There
was q red spot on either cheek.
She waited five minutes for him
to ask what the matter was and
as he didn't do it she boldly de
clared:
Stephen, I want to ride oui
every afternoon next week!
You know what my Salary Il
at the bank, he replied.
And ] shall go to the club!
I hope not.
And I want a new suit at once
Yes ?
l didn't marry you to bt
ground down!
Nof
Mother said I could come home
to her any time.