The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1917-03-03
BR0UCHER'S SARCASM
BY HAROLD BRONSON.

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. 1t is rather an
awful thing when a man gets an idea
that he has a gift for sarcasm. He
is particularly apt to cultivate it.
Broucher became unpopular. He
was not really such a bad sort of fell
low. not even 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.
1t was in his loneliness that he be-
gan his wooing of Miss Bardexter. the
meek and amiable little woman whose
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 win the waning Of the honey
moon 1t was different. Ii anything
went a little crossways he usually
called attention to 1t, and of course
q young housekeeper is not an old
one, and things will go little cross
ways at first.
Then it was: Dearest. | 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"
"Why. Courtney. dearI am sure
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 parlor
and the piano, so that they have been /,
obliged to put up with the kitchen and
mouth organ. Don't you think it
would be nice for you to go out and
invite them in. I'm afraid If do 1t |
shall be tactTess."
Mrs. Broucher would look at him
timidly and hesitatingly. and he would
sustain her look with an unpleasantly
bland smile. Then she would go out
to the kitchen. and shortly after the
sounds of revelry would cease.
But Broucher was not dissatisfied
when a letter came announcing visit
from his mother-in-law whom he had
never 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 months visit. and then
well, there was no trouble; she was
q mighty sweet and easy-tempered
woman. But she seemed to take
Broucher so seriously. When he came
down a 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, &C.
casionally-it looked independent
then did Mrs Bardexter exclaim:
well! should think you would be
afraid they might not like It,"
"You don't mean to say we have
eggs, dear!" Broucher said a little
alter. "This is indeed surprise. Nice
title change. isn't it?"
"Emmie said you had been having
hem so often lately that you were
Kind of sick of Them" said Mrs. Bar
lexter in a surprised tone.
"What did you put that roast In the
wen for, my OWN" asked BrOucher. :
You have warmed 1t almost through.
believe. and 1t would have been SO
much nicer quite raw. to say nothing :
# the gas you must have used. /
haven't you little really raw meat?"
Mrs. Bardexter got up from the ia.
lie, went out and came back with a
ice little piece of raw beefsteak.
"Oh, mamma" said Mrs. BrOucher.
Courtney doesn't really like raw
neat He was just making fun. He +
Ikes II quite we'll done and I'm afraid
is Just a little bit undone."
Courtney, do you always mean
What you don't say?" inquired bis
How could Broucher keep 1t up? He
ouldn't. All this happened in the first
,eek and Mrs. Bardexter's stay was
rolonged to five more. People with
ut any sense of humor are awfully
wing, but there is really no use In
ghting against them.
Courtney" said Mrs. Bardexter.
hen she was leaving for her home =
, Grand RopidS "whpn | first came | | r,