Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1916-03-16

the hall and the living rOO1ns 1AIS.
Hoagly fingered a moment. she was .
large woman, rather querulous put
well gowned and fairly good looking
in a massive style Just now her eX-
preston was more than querulous. II
held distaste, as she stood there look
ing at her husband, who was oozlng
in a rocker. He too, was large VI
build, fat chinned, and his wide, COM
Portable face just then was distorted
by an incipient snore. 1t came a sec
ond later-a loud, raucous puzzlng
snore.
she crossed the room and shook MN
| none too gently. wake up, Nat! DIN
ner is ready"
With a jump he awoke. He stretch
ed himself lazily. Dash dog 1t, good
naturedly. 81 guess the ride with Bur-
please, please, don't use such ex-
pressions," begged his wife in tone
of long-suffering endurance: But at
| the table she curiously asked: "Where
were you riding with Burton?"
Out to look at a new suburb, ne
| told her and chuckled. 1t amt all
| suburb yet. It's part prairie and the
rest is neatly printed on Burton's pros
pectus. He thinks he is going to sell
me a slice, and I'll build a house, big
and swell, and SO coax others out to
| buy more lots of Mr.. Burton But |
amt the kind to fall just for smooth
| ness"
Mrs. Hoagley frowned. And her hus-
! band, placidly cutting the steak, had
| no means of knowing that she was
comparing him, to his great disadvan-
| tage. with the urbane, well-tailored
| Mr.. Burton of polished voice and
| courtly manner Nor had he the
| slightest inkling that for many months
past now his wife had nursed grow
| ing inclination to find great cause for
| criticism in his nature, disposition
manners and appearance. Now she
said scornfully: "As usual Nat, you're
preposterous. 1t is going to be very
exclusive suburb And We are very
building site there. And it was very
| kind of Mr.. Burton to offer it to you
Mrs. Burton was telling me all about
the beautiful home that they are going
to build there
Her husband looked surprised. "Dc
you know, Nelly" he remarked
| you've been sort of cranky lately. II
get some Sassafrass tea if 1 was you
This warm spring weather certainly
does make a person fell out of sorts
Burtons are stringing you"
Nelly shrugged her broad but still
comely shoulders at the advice and
looked scornfully skeptical at his las
sentence. I'VE are asked to take din
ner with them tomorrow evening" SHE
informed him.
| nc SI1IllIuttSu. bdIIl IL Let . uO
go. 1 don't care for en-
Il do" sharply. And certainly wei
go. Why. 1 was delighted to get thu
invitation"
4 suppose aggrievedly, III havt
to climb into my evening clothes. Nell
you don't know how l hate those toys
They're blamed uncomfortable"
Because you've got too fat TO
them" crushingly. You ought to bu!
new"
when I squander good time buying
newt" he said. 4 suppose we hav,
to go?" wistfully.
She merely looked her indignation
He suddenly chuckled. '.All right" re
! siSnedly. And maybe I'll have a lit
tie fun at that Watch me with Bur
| ton"
The next morning she found it har,
to keep even tempered. There was
series of annoyances. To begin wit
just as she followed Nat out to tn
runabOut the top hook of her blaC
velvet blouse snapped off. She had |
go back, and, since there was no tim
} to sew on another, she had TO manag
with a pin, trusting to luck to kee
it in. Nat chuclxled. You're acquir
] ing some avoirdupoise yourself, Of
girl" he remarked. Guess I'm nc
the only one that has too tight ward
: robe"
: A little packer Of annoyance appear
l ed between her eyes. She tried heroic
} ally to keep down that avoirdupois.
> But don't you worry, old girl"
assured her, I'D love you the same
you got fat enough for Barnum I
hire" He was the only one to laug
at the joke. Nelly got stiffly out
S the car as it rolled up in front of tn
j apartment building where the Burton
lived and walked haughtily inside be
| fore her husband could follow her.
Mr. Burton himself opened the doc
He was suavely delighted to see ther
Mrs. HoagIey flushed with pleasur
= and her flush deepened at Mrs. Bul
toms cordial courtesy. All her Ii
Nelly Hoagly had wanted to kno
s people of the Burton kind. Mats il
= creasing prosperity had brought sma
pleasure to her as long as they st
moved in the set that they had bee
acquainted with when they were poe
s But as the evening passed her flu!
It changed from one of pleasure to OF
D. of bitter annoyance and shame. The
were many other guests at the table
It all more of the Burton clique than
q hers. And never in all their marri
/ life had she seen Nat act SO stupid
X He had nothing to say but mantle
And such inanities! She saw Mr. al
! Mrs. Burton exchange annoy
II glances. Then Burton mentioned t
% new suburb. She joined enthusiast
e tically in their discussion.