Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-12-16
BAMBOOZLING ARTHUR

My daughters just become en-
gagged" remarked the man in the fuz-
~ overcoat. And the way she's put
ting it over that nice young fellow
makes me want to sob upon his Shout
der, 1 tell you'll"
why, what's she doing?" inquired
his friend IN the green felt hat, evinc-
ing surprise.
I'm not saying that Irene isn't the
finest girl out" explained her parent.
She's lots prettier and smarter than
anybody else's daughter, and don't you
forget it! Only somehow her methods
with Arthur wake dim, distant mem
cries in my own brain and I'm sus-
picious!
why, that girl positively agrees
with him in everything! If he as
serts that the moon is made of Cam
embert cheese Irene just gazes low
ingly into mis- eyes and murmurs Yes,
dear, it is! Isn't it lovely When he
says he prefers a Queen Anne cottage
to a Lake Shore drive apartment Ir-
enc says that he is quite right, and
she has no use for ostentation! Right
in my face! And only last year she
had Mysteries because 1 wouldn't move
into the next street, Irene told US
the next street was ten degrees higher
in the social scale and she was
ashamed to have any one come to
call on her, living on our humdrum
avenue!
at doesn't matter where we live
at all, Arthur dearest she murmurs
to him. IF we are together that is
all that is necessary" 1 tainted
away at last. almost. When 1 recov-
cred l looked to see Arthur giving her
a gentle sophisticated smile and tell
ing her that he knew she meant we'll
but would you believe it? He was
assuring her it was such a comfort
n ffbot ho1 \; osoJ II
fare at heart and did not want to
splurgeI Splurge! If that benighted
youth can find a modern young wo-
man who doesn't want to spend all
the money she can get hold of l wish
he would introduce me! 1 should
like to gaze tearfully, thankfully and
wonderingly into her eyes before my
time comes to pass on!
Il spoke to Irene sharply later on.
told her it appalled, me to think
that daughter of mine would stoop
to such deceit. Besides, it. wasn't
dously in love, without any extra
lures. She just gazed at me surpris-
eddy and said she was sure she
couldn't understand me! If 1 thought
for one minute she didn't mean every
word she said to Arthur
Irene. l told her sternly, strange
as it may seem, I was young once
myself and l have a fellow feeling for
Arthur! Didn't your mother. when
her waist measured eighteen inches
and she was the best dancer in the
county, look into my eyes exactly as
you do into Arthur's and in dulcet
tones murmur that she adorned a
masterful man and all she asked was
that I rule our future home?
" Didn't she Irvine her fingers in
my hair l said to Irene, and murmur
that her life should be spent doing
as I wanted it and pleas
ing me? And here l am to this day
afraid to put my feet upon the steam
radiators. and compelled to shave be-
fore dinner! You know I tremble at
her frown and even carve the roast
beef the wrong way against my con-
science ard the grain of the meat just
because she has me cOwed. l ar
gued that roast beef question for ten
years and then my spirit broke and
gave way at last, thoroughly con-
precisely the same thing? And poor, |
deluded Arthur
Irene just giggled." related the
man in the fuzzy Overcoat. She said |
for a poor. bulldozed man I seemed to |
stick around home pretty close and |
as for her she didn't see how her |
mother could stand it to have me tag
ring her around every second as !
lid, and hanging on her every word! |
90 Last night I countered, sternly. |
l nearly came INTO the library and !
revealed your duplicity to Arthur
Didn't 1 hear you telling him that
world old fable that you two could
keep house on what he alone now
spent for his living? Didn't you add
as a sort of browning triumph that
you intended to make your own
clothes and your personal expenses |
we're going to be perfectly ridiculous |
y small?
Don't you suppose I remember
using up thirteen blocks of paper