Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-07-30
THE RED AND
THE GREEN

|f A Story of Domestic Love !
II and Squabbles
/ By EDMOND L. STANLEY !
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When Bob and Carrie Delafleld were
married they went, on returning from
their wedding trip, to their own house
which was very large. containing sew
eral separate suits Of rooms. Bott
had their ideas Of decoration, and. hav
ing disputed over the colors for the In
terror of their bedrooms. they finally
concluded that the bride should direct
the decoration Of one suit, while the
groom should select the colors for an
other. The first suit was to 0e the
brides rooms, the second the groom's.
Mrs. Delafeld-that was to be-chose
for her apartments a very beautiful
shade Of green. Bob Delafeld. who
had no artistic taste whatever. but
thought himself connoisseur. espe
cially In colors. put his suit In red. II
wasn't even one Of those rich reds
which, when put In the right place
are often very attractive.
"By Jove! That's elaborated" said
Bob when he saw his decorations com
plete. "And appropriate" added bis
wife. smiling. "for a member Of the
fire department"
Since bride and groom don't care tC
occupy separate apartments the couple
agreed that they would use the two
suits on alternate weeks. They tossed
q coin for the first choice. and Bob
won. So upon their return from their
wedding journey they occupied the red
| suit.
Now, It happened the day after their
| arrival that Bob accidentally knocked
a cut glass pitcher-a wedding gift
especially cherished by the bride-oi
a table and smashed It.
"Dearl" exclaimed his wife in q
tone of anger. "What ahominable
carelessness! would rather have
had you break anything In the house
than that pitcher. It was Mollie's gift. "
do you suppose intended to break
it2" replied the husband. with fierce
infection on the word intended
"Get away!"
Both had started to pick up the frag.
ments, but at this order Of his bride
Bob desisted and left the room. slam
ming the door behind him.
Bob was so infatuated with what be
called the old rose color of his suit that
he had induced his wife to order their
dinner there that same day. The
pitcher was broken at noon. Carrie
sulked all the afternoon. and when
dinner was served her eyes were red,
while on her face was the expression
of an injured woman. Only monosyl'
lables were spoken at dinner by either.
This Is q sample Of what frequently
occurred during that first supposed to
be happy week at home after the hon.
eymoon.
On the beginning Of the second week
they removed to the brides suit, each
secretly vowing that should the scrap
py condition continue-and they ex-
pected it would-they must have a rest
by temporarily separating.
1t was Sunday morning when they
first awoke in their new quarters A
bit of sunlight had stolen in through
the window. family Illuminating the
room. 1t seemed to Carrie that she
had been sleeping under the rustling
leaves Of a tree and had awakened to
look upon a meadow -obed In the YER
dure Of the lovely month Of June.
1t at once occurred to her that she
had been very disagreeable to her hus
band. and she was heartily sorry for 1t.
"Oh, Bob" she said. what horrid
creature | have been for the whole OF
this first week Of our Homecoming"
"You mean that have been positive
ly brutal"
"Well, never mind whose fault 1t has
been. We won't do SO any more"
"By Jove, sweetheart, believe l like
the decoration of your suit better than
mine. after all"
yours is very beautiful"
How lovely It is Of you to say so!
You said when you first saw 1t that 1t
was appropriate for fireman"
Ibid I? How mean Of me! l think
It's lovely"
what clumsy brute was to break
that beautiful cut class pitcher you
thought SO much of. My carelessness
spoiled a whole week for us-our first
week In our beautiful home"
Never mind, dear: we'll make up
for It In the second. We won't speak
q cross word during the whole week.
will weY'
mo. we won't"
They breakfasted in the green suit,
as they called 1t, and with every
mouthful exchanged end garments.
That day was haven Of rest to
them after seven days of irritation.
They lounged about their home read
Ing the morning newspapers. putting
little things that needed attention to
rights and giving each other only
words that sounded like the twittering
of mating birds. In the evening they
went to church, and every hymn. every
note Of the organ. seemed to strike
responsive chord within them.
"Oh, blessed seven daysr' said the
wife the next saturday afternoon.
"I'm sorry they are ended, but I doubt
not that the next seven will be equally
happy"
"They have been 80 delightful that
[ propose we continue right on In these
rooms for another week"
what difference can 1t make what
rooms we occupy7 I will not admit
that we get ON better in my rooms
than In yours. The first week we were
tired from having travelled 30 long.
Besides. that hotel food upset US both"
Now, the husband who had occasion
ally played poker with his friends was
i, great believer In luck He considered
that they were having fine run OF
luck In the green suit and was very
auch opposed to the change. But
Carrie was bound to give up to her
| husband In the matter. and when
wife makes up her mind to do that
uothing can stop her. Bob used every