Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1912-01-10
The
T alkingCaf
By Lawrence Alfred Clay


Hope, but there had been a sting or
two in the courtship. Neither one
would have admitted to an atom Of
jealousy in their makeup, but each
had betrayed it. The husband had
been popular young man, and the
wife had had many admirers They
hadn't been jealous enough to quarrel,
but the feeling had not been quite dis
sipated
Before six months were up Mr..
Chalmers came home from the insur-
ance office where he worked, and
swore. He had been bullied by his
superior, and he said damn it," in
plain, unmistakable English. The
young wife ought to have realized as
a girl that there are times when all
men swear, and to have been prepared,
but it hit her surprising blow. She
began to cry at once.
Mr. Chalmers having arrived at the
age of twenty-four and having a bow
ing acquaintance with at least SO
women, ranging from old married
women to girls in short dresses,
should have realized that no wife cries
in order to irritate her husband. They
weep because the dressmaker disap-
pointed them, or because the latest
thing in hats doesn't become them.
They have been known to sob over the
erroneous idea that this is sad old
world. Mr.. Chalmers wasn't posted
on this point, and therefore when the
wife wept he took it as a personal af
front. He had been bullied at the
office, and now she was rubbing it in
on him at home.
All the rest of US could have
Strengthened things out in Is minutes
and then gone to the theater, but this
misunderstanding hung on. There
We're dinner and tears and mental
oaths, and romance jumped the fence
and disappeared in the bushes. Things
might have changed for the better
next day but for the god of chance.
The wife went to the butchers to Or
der meat, and on the way met Jerry
Simpson.
Jerry was one of her old admirers,
but the admiration was all on his side
At any other time he would have been
passed with a cold nod. Now it was
different Mrs. Chalmers was mad at
her husband. She stopped and shook
hands with Jerry and told him how
glad she was to see him, and at the
end of ten minutes she thought she
! had done a smart thing.
At lunch hour, when Mr.. Chalmers
went out for his bite, he met Miss
Gator. There was once a report that
they were engaged At any rate, they
We're pretty good friends He was glad
, to see her, because he knew that his
| bride didn't like her a bit He was SO
glad sthat he asked her to lunch with
him, and the bill presented by the
waiter took his last nickel.
! The Chalmers had a cat She wasn't
| anything to boast of as a cat, but
good enough to begin housekeeping on
Mr.. Chalmers entered the house
with his mind made up not to speak
| first. All the husbands he had ever
talked with had told him that in case
of family row the husband must hold
| himself as stiff as a poker and make
the wife do the kneeling act. Mrs.
Chalmers had decided not to rush for
ward and greet him with a kiss. She
might look up as he entered, and if
| encouraging she might smile, but be-
yond that it must be mutual thing.
Only two weeks previously her mar
ried sister had solemniy said to her:
Irene, you and Ed will have GUAR
: rel some day
"Never!"
1T may be your fault and it may be
his, but stand on your dignity. Don't
be the first to give in. If you do the
heel OF the tyrant will be on your neck
| forever
Well, the tyrant was there with his
heel. Just let him try to put it on her
| proud neck! For a moment he seemed
! inclined to, and then turned to the
! CAT.
well, pussy, it's been a cool cay
said Mr. Chalmers
Yes, pussy, it has, said the wife.
Pussy, you can tell your mistress
that this looks like mighty poor din
ner for hungry man.
And, pussy, you can tell your mas
ter that he trotted off this morning
without leaving any market money"
1t wasn't the case of a person talk
ing through his hat, but talking
through his cat. The feline stretched
and yawned and furred, and seemed
to say: "Oh, cut it out,' but she was
held to her job. That evening, for the
first time since his marriage. Mr.
Chalmers thought of his lodge. Be
fore leaving the house he said to the
cat:
Pussy, I am going to my lodge to
night and l may not be home mucf
before midnight"
And while Pussy closed her eve.
, and didn't appear to care a cent
where he went or when he got back
the reply came from the wife: