Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-07-29
The Daily Story
Her Domestic Tyrant

between stephen Roberts and Clara Colby
and others admitted that It might be q
good thing Some folks wondered be-
cause Stephen was an old bachelor and
set in his ways, while the young lady
was known to be rather hishty and nIfty'
Some approved, because they thought an
old bachelor was just the husband TO
make a frivolous wife settle down.
There was one thing Miss Clara Dragged
Of as a girl, and that was that nobody
could manage her. Whatever she wanted
| TO do she would do Her marriage wasn't
going to make a bit of difference about
! that She said so TO Stephen. His an
swer is not recorded, but whatever Il was
| he probably did some thinking, and per-
haps he made UP his mind 10 pursue a
certain policy
It was weeks after the wedding before
there was a clash The husband made a
suggestion now and then, instead OF COM
manding or nagging. While they were
| only suggestions, the young wife found
herself following them without opposi-
tion, and this pleasant state OF affairs
might have continued but for an even
moro frivolous wife who dropped in one
afternoon to say:
"Clara Roberts, do you know that all
been humbled since your marriageT
WHAT humbledr' was the exclama-
tion.
yes. Everybody notices II. You used
to have mind Of your own, but now
you are as humble as a cat. We all say
it's a shame fon 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 afternoon"
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 Stephen Rob-
erts would put an end to your extriva-
gances. oh. he's bosslng you, all rightT
When the visitor had departed Mrs.
Roberts sat down and reviewed the sit
uation. Was her husband bossing her?
Was he humbling her to the dust7 Was
he insidiously curtailing her privileges?
No! Yes! Come to think of 1t, he was
actually playing the domestic tyrant and
wearing a mask while doing It, other
folks had noticed 1t right along. but she
had been foolish and blind She had
given UP this and given up that, and
now people were calling her, humble
catl
And did that domestic tyrant of
Stephen Roberts think any more of her
for her sacrifices, as she named them?
Not a bit He would simply go on de-
rnanding more. He had asked her to give
up hired carriages, but had he given up
cigars? He had asked her to eliminate
her club, but wasn't he riding the goat
at his Masonic lodge one night a week?
Mrs. Clara Roberts had three hours to
think things over before her husband
came up to dinner. That was plenty of
time to arouse her obstinacy, and when
he entered the house she was ready for
him. The lovelight had gone out of her
eyes. There was a 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 declared:
stephen, 1 want to ride out every
afternoon next weekl'
You know what my salary is at the
bank" he replied.
And shall go to the clubn
II hope not"
And want new suit at oncei"
"Yes?"
II didn't marry you to be ground
MOP"
Mother said I could come home to her
any time"
''Yes?"
"And II things don't change at once I'll |
go! want 1t decided high here and now"
so do H.
Mrs. Roberts left the table and went
over to the east window. She changed |
to the west one. Then she sat down.
Then she stood up again. Mr.. Roberts
refused to be drawn into an argument to
spoil his appetite. He refused TO say
what he would do, and 1t was for her to
give in or carry out her threats. Give
inY Neverl She walked upstairs and be-
gan TO array herself. The distance to
her mothers manor house was a mile
and half, and darkness was at hand.
She would go, however. She would go
II the distance were 10 miles. There was
a husband to be brought to time There
was a principle at stake. People were
referring to her as a worm Of the dust
They should seel
All family Jars do not bring thunder
storms. This one did, however. The wife
who started for mothers with naughty
step and hard-set face leaving a husband
behind her at his coffee. had not trailed
through the dust more than half a mile
when wind. rain, thunder and lightning
were upon her. She was thoroughly
soaked before she could gain the shelter
Of an old tumble-down barn. She tried
TO remain angry. but she was too wet.
She was also frightened. Every time il
Numbered the old ruin wriggled and
shook. Every time ii lightened the red
hot thunderbplt made straight trail for
the sagging roof over her head When
nothing else was doing a hog that had
taken shelter before her moved about and