The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1917-08-29

By HAROLD


Broucher had a naturally unpleas-
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. It Is rather an
awful thing when a man gets an idea
that he has a gift for sarcasm. BE
is particularly apt to cultivate it.
Broucher became unpopular. BE
was not really such a bad sort Of fel.
low, not v ill-tempered. but he de-
veloped a sort Of carping habit OF
speech for the more frequent display
Of his gift and his associates natu-
rally got down on him.
It was In his loneliness that he be-
gan his wooing Of Miss B%ardexter, the
meek and amiable little woman whose
nimble, white fingers ratified over the
keys Of the typewriter In 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 was
that he married her.
But with the waning of the honey.
moon 1t was different. II anything
went q little crossways he usually
called attention to 1t, and Of course
a young housekeeper is not an old
one, and things will 60 a little Cross
ways at first.
Then 1t was: dearest, I have OBJ
served with some pain that you are
not sufficiently considerate of the feel
ings Of the young lady who has so
kindly consented to assist you In the
care of the household. You must re-
member that girls In domestic service
have their feelings" 70,
"Why, Courtney, dearl am sure
have always tried"
"Yes, yes, l know. l 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. I know they r there because
I hear them very plainly, indeed. They
have been there three nights hand
running now. and you have never
once invited them to use the parlor
and the piano. so that they have been
obliged to put up with the kitchen and
q mouth organ. Don't you think 1t
would be nice for you to 60 out and
invite them in. I'm afraid II l do 1t
shall be tactless."
Mrs. Broucher would look at him
timidly and hesitatingly, and he would
sustain her look with an u"npleasantly
bland smile. Then she would 60 out
to the kitchen, and shortly after the
sounds of revelry would cease.
But Broucher was not dissatisfied
when a letter came announcing a visit
from his mother-in-law whom he had
v seen; he said he would be more
than delighted. "You see, we bore
each other so that any distraction is
welcome" he said with a smile. and
patted his wife on her plump cheek.
But Mrs. Bardexter arrived, bag and
baggage, for a months visit. and then
well, 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 q little late and observed that
he ~apprehended the consideration his
wife had shown In not waking him||
as he liked to be late at the office, oc'
casionally-it looked Independent
then did Mrs. Bardexter exclaim
"WellI I should think you would be
afraid they might not like It."
"You don't mean to say we have
eggs, dearl" Broucher said a little
later. "This Is indeed a surprise. Nice
little change, Isn't itp"
"Empie said you had been having
them so often lately that you were
kind Of sick of them" said Mrs. Bar
dexter in q surprised tone.
"What did you put that roast In the
oven for, my own?" asked Broucher'
"You have warmed it almost through
I believe, and it 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 meat?'
Mrs. Bardexter got up from the ia
BILE, went out and anne back with q
nice little piece Of raw beefsteak.
"Oh, mamma" said Mrs. Broucher.
Courtney doesn't really like raw
meat. He was just making fun. He
likes it quite we'll done and I'm AFRAID
It Is Just a little bit undone."
Courtney, do you always a
what you don't say?" inquired his
mother-in-law.
How could Broucher keep 1t up? He
couldn't. All this happened In the first
- .,1 Mrs ordoytar'S StoV WAS