The Yale expositor., 1917-09-20

he was scared
M.ss, usrssrt Urusr stiff."
'' "WelI, 1 didn't
propose to sit behind that post, when
we'd bought seats on the center aisle"
"Yes, that is annoying" propitiated
Helen.
Annoying? 1 couldn't see thing
And William would have sat there.
He'll take anything rather than make
fuss. If there's any Objecting-I al
ways have to do it."
"Well, you seem to enjoy 1t, my
dear. You've a natural aptitude that
way"
"There! That's a sample of the
pleasant things he says to me-"
"Dear, perhaps Mr.. Barton will have
some more lamb" broke In Helen, tact
fully.
'Why didn't you hollerT Warren
took up the carving knife. you've got
TO sing out for what you want here.
HOw's this? Too rare"
"No, just right" Then to his wife:
That's the way to cook lamb. We
always have 1t done to DEATH"
81 think Hilda's an exceptionally
good cook" combatively. "You never
said you wanted lamb rare"
want all meat rare-eXcept pork.
But never get anything at home the
way I want it."
Mrs. Barton, is that window too
much on your" interrupted Helen.
"Oh, no. 1 like it. You'd better ask
william; he's the fragile flower or our
family"
"Fragile flower! That's good"
grinned Warren. "rm afraid I come
under that class myself, but Helen's
never happy unless she has a ten
knot breeze blowing on the back of her
neck"
"Then she can sympathize with me.
William is simply impossible! He
wants to sleep with all the windows
DOWN.
That's the way you tell it. AS a
matter of fact, when the thermometers
below zero-they're all up. Twice last
winter I woke to find snow an inch
deep on the bed"
"Well, you know what the doctor
said. When we build, we're going to
have big sleeping porch"
"Fine! If you sleep out there
maybe I'll have some peace"
"Oh, if that's what you mean-you
don't have to wait until we build a
sleeping porch"
There was an uncomfortable silence
as Mrs. Barton, with heightened color,
viciOusly shredded a piece of celery,
while her husband drained his wine
glass.
Helen had heard that the Bartons
were always quarreling, but 1t seemed
incredible that they should air their
hostilities so openly.
All through the evening they had
kept up a running fire of sarcastic rep
artee. They agreed on nothing. On
every subject they had a clashing diff
ference Of opinion. Whatever turn the
conversation took, they managed TO
give each other some caustic thrust.
1t was a relief when the dinner was
over and Helen and Mrs. Barton re-
turned to the library, while the men
fingered over their cigars.
'Wllliam Is so provokingp drawing
the chiffon scarf about her bare shoul-
ders. "He always says something to
upset me. Does Mr.. Curtis get on your
nerves like thatT
81 think we all have disputes at
times" Helen conceded.
"At times? It's always like this. He
loves to irritate me. He says things
deliberately-things that he knows
will drive me wild!
perhaps If you didn't show 1t quite
so much"
slow can help showing it? Wasn't
that hateful, uncalled-for thing he
said about the roastT'
ooh, he just wanted to seem cOmpli-
mentary about the dinner" murmured
Helen appeaslngly.
"No, It wasn't that. Whenever we
dine out he delights In deprecating my
housekeeping. Does Mr.. Curtis say
those things? Is he always making In.
situations about the way you run the
h0useT
81 suppose all men are irritating-ir
different ways"
"well, william can be irritating ir
more ways than anyone ever knew
'Is Mrs. Barton extolling my vir
tues" asked Mr.. Barton, as Warner
and he now joined them. "That's he
favorite theme nowadays"
But his wife, ignoring this pleas
antry, adjusted the flowers In her cor
sage with elaborate care.
'Try one Of these" Warren got ou
n fresh box Of cigars.
"wiIliam, you're not going to smok'