Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1917-03-15
BROUCHER'S SARCASM
BY HAROLD BRONSON.

ant way OF expressing himself when
things didn't go to suit him and some
foolish person once told him that he
was delightfully."- wickedly sarcastic.
That explained him. 1t is rather all
awful thing when man gets an idea
that he has a gift for sarcasm. He
is particularly apt to cultivate it.
Broucher became unpopular. lie
was not really such bad sort Of fell
low, not even ill-tempered, but he de-
veloped sort OF carping habit OF
speech for the more frequent display
OF his gift and his associates natu-
rally got down on him.
II was in his loneliness that he be-
gan his wooing Of Miss Bardexter, the
meek and amiable little woman whose
nlmble, white fingers ratified over the
keys OF the typewriter 10 the office.
Miss Bardexter rather admired
! Broucher's style Of talk. Perhaps 1t
was she who originally complimented
him on 1t. Anyway, Broucher got
into the habit Of lingering about her
desk and saying wickedly sarcastic
things about the other men in the
office The upshot Of the thing vas
that ne married her.
But with the waning Of the honey
moon It was different. II anything
went little crossways he usually
called attention to 1t, and of course
young housekeeper is not an old
one, and things win go little cross
ways at first.
Then Ii was: Dearest, | have OBJ
served with some pain that you are
not sufficiently considerable of the feel
ings OF the young lady who has so
kindly consented 10 assist you in the
care OF the household. You must re-
member that girls In domestic service
have their feelings"
"Why, Courtney. dear! | am sure l
have always tried"
Eyes, yes, know. don't think you
meant to hurt her but there is that
young man Of hers and her girl friend
and her young man in the kitchen
now | know they are there because
/ hear them very plainly, indeed. They
have been there three nights hand
running now. and you have never
once invited them to use the paror
and the piano, so that they have been
obliged TO put up with the kitchen and
mouth organ. Don't you think IL
would be nice for you to go out and
invite them In I'm afraid II do it I
shall be tuctless."
!, Mrs. Broucher would look at him
timidly and hesltatingly, and he would
sustain her look with m unpleasantly
bland smile. Then she would go out
to the kitchen, and shortly after the
sounds Of reyelry would cease.
, But Broucher was not dissatisfied
when n letter came announcing a visit
, from his mother-in-lnw whom he had
, never seen: he said he would be more
! than delighted. You see, we bore
each other so that any distraction IL
welcome" he said with smile, and
patted his wife on her plump cheek.
But Mrs. BardeNtcr arrived. bag and
baggage, for Il months visit, and then
; we'll there was no trouble; she was
a mighty sweet and easy-tempered
/ woman. But she seemed to take
Broucher so seriously. When he came
down n little late and observed that
he apprehended the consideration his
wife had shown In not waking him,
as he liked TO be late Mt the office, oc-
casionally-it. looked Independent
then did Mrs Bardexter exclaim :
: well, | should think you would be
+ afraid they might not ike it,
, you don't mean to say we have
eggs, dear" Broucher said little
later "This IL indeed surprise. Nice
little change, isn't it?'
"Emmic said you had been having
them so often lately that YOU were
kind Of sick of Them" said Mrs Bar
dexter in surprised tone
"What did you put that roast In the
oven for my OWN asked Broucher.
You have warmed il almost through,
believe, and il would have been SO
much nicer quite raw, TO say nothing
Of the gas you must have used.
Haven't you a little really raw meatf'
Mrs. BardeSter got up from the tn
BILE, went out and came back with a
nice little piece OF raw becfsteak
"Oh, mamma" said Mrs Broucher.
Courtney doesn't really Ike raw
meat. He was just making fun. He
| likes it quite well done and I'm afraid
| II is lust little bit undonc."
Courtney, do YOU always mean
what you don't saw" inquired his
mother-in-luw.
How could Broucher keep II up? tie
couldn't An this happened in the first
week and Mrs BardeNter'S stay was
prolonged to five more. People with
ont any sense OF humor are awfu!y
trying. but there Is really no use in
lighting against them.
Courtney" said Mrs. Bardexter
when she was leaving for her home
in Grand Rapids when | first came
noticed that you talked very strange
". but you don't do 1t any more and
I'm glad of it for Emmie's sake and
yours. l kind OF think you were jok-
ing, hut jokes Ike that hurt some peo-
! ,,I,,e e,aiipy~s Won gouff r,gl, Z, raol