Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-07-12

not strike her--if he would not SO far
prove his manhood. his prerogative
and his interest in conjugal affairs,
he must be prompted to his duty.
Mr.. Fink lit his pipe and peace
fully rubbed an ankle with a stock
inged toe. He reposed in the state of
matrimony like a lump of unblended
suet in a pudding This was his level
Elysium-to sit at ease VIGOROUSLY
girdling the world In print amid the
wifely splashing of suds and the
agreeable smells of breakfast dishes
departed and dinner ones to come.
Many ideas We're far from his mind;
but the furthest one was the thought
of beating his wife.
Mrs. Fink turned on the hot water
and set the washboards in the suds.
Up from the fiat below came the gay
laugh of Mrs. Cassidy. 1t sounded
like taunt, a Haunting of her own
happiness in the face of the un-
slugged bride above. Now was Mrs.
Fink's time.
Suddenly she turned like fury
upon the man reading.
You lazy loaferl" she cried, must
I work my arms off washing and toll
ing for the ugly likes of you? Are
you man or are you a kitchen
hound ?"
Mr.. Fink dropped his paper, mo
tionless from surprise. She feared
that he would not strike-that the
provocation had been insufficient She
leaped at him and struck him fiercely
in the face with her clinched hand.
Tn, hot -. a.1A Il
love for him such as she had not felt
for many a day. Rise up, Martin
Fink, and come into your kingdom!
Oh, she must feel the weight of his
hand now-just to show that he cared
just to show that he cared!
Mr.. Fink sprang to his feet-Mag-
gle caught him again on the jaw with
wide swing of her other hand. She
closed her eyes in that fearful bliss
full moment before his blow should
come-she whispered his name to her
self--she leaned to the expected shock,
hungry for it,
In the fiat below Mr.. Cassidy, with
a shamed and contrite face was pow
dering Names eye in preparation for
their junket. From the fiat above
came the sound of a woman's voice.
high-raised. humping, stumbling
and shutting, a chair overturned
unmistakable sounds of domestic con-
f1ict.
Mart and Mag scrapping?" pos
tulated Mr.. Cassidy. Didn't know
they ever INDUCED Shall I trot up
and see il they need a sponge holder ?"
One of Mrs. Cassidy's eyes sparkled
flxa n ~ txUfrlrlaA
at least like paste.
ooh, OH" she said. softly and with
out apparent meaning, in the femi-
nine ejaculatory manner. II wonder
i'll wonder If! Wait, Jack, till I go
UP and see.'
Up the stairs she sped. AS her foot
struck the hallway above out from
the kitchen door of her fiat wildly
fiounced Mrs. Fink.
ooh. Maggie" cried Mrs. Cassidy,
in delighted whisper, did he? Or
did he?"
Mrs. Fink ran and laid her face
upon her chum's shoulder and sobbed
hopelessly.
Mrs. Cassidy took Maggie's face
between her hands and lifted 1T
gently. Tear-stained it was. flushing
and paling, but its velvety. pink-and-
white, becomingly freckled surface
was unscratched. unbruised, un-
married by the recreant fist of Mr..
Fink
Tell me. Maggie pleaded Name,
cor I'll go in there and find out.
What was it? Did he hurt you
what did he dor
Mrs. Finks face went down again
despairingly on the bosom of her
friend.
For Gawd's sake don't open that
door, Name" she sobbed. And don't
ever tell nobody-keep it under your
hat He-he never touched me, and
he's--oh, GawdAhe's washin' the
,to+bas-I, 90 ,yae1,fr, tha oIofhaafo