The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1917-05-25
BR0UCHER'S SARCASM
BY HAROLD BRONSON.

|
ant way of expressing himself whe
} things didn't go to suit him and som
foolish person once told him that h
was delightfully."-, wickedy sarcastic
That explained him. 1t is rather al
awful thing when a man gets an ide'
that he has a gift for sarcasm. 81
is particularly apt to cultivate 1T.
Broucher became unpopular. HI
was not really such bad sort of fel
low. not even ill-tempered. but he de
veloped a sort of carping habit o.
speech for the more frequent display
of his gift and his associates natu
rally got down on him.
1t was in his loneliness that be be
gan his wooing of Miss Bardexter. 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 Il
was she who originally complimented
him on it. 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. If anything
went a little crossways he usually
called attention to 1t. and Of course
a young housekeeper is not an old
one, and things will go little cross
ways at first.
Then it was: dearest, I 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 to assist you In the
care of the household. You must re-
member that girls in domestic service
have their feelings"
"Why, Courtney. dearl am sure
have always tried"
"Yes, 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. l 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
a mouth organ. Don't you think 1t
would be nice for you to go out and
invite them in. I'm afraid If do 1t !
shall be tactless."
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
10 the kitchen, and shortly after the
sounds of revelry would cease.
But Broucher was not dissatisfied
when letter came announcing visit
rom his mother-in-law whom he had
lever seen he said he would be more
han delighted. You see. we bore
.ach other so that any distraction is |
he said with smile. and
,atted his wife on her plump cheek. |
But Mrs. Bardexter arrived. bag and |
aggage. for a months visit. and then |
well. there was no trouble; she was
mighty sweet and easy-telnpered
,oman. But she seemed to take
;roucher so seriously. When he came
own little late and observed that
e apprehended the consideration his
life had shown in not waking him,
s he liked to be late at the office. oc-
asionally-it looked independent
len did Mrs. Bardexter exclaim:
Well! should think you would be
fraid they might not like It,"
"You don't mean to say we have
ygs. dear!" Broucher said a little
ter. "This is indeed surprise. Nice
tile change. isn't it?"
"Emmie said you had been having
lem so often lately that you were
nd of sick of Them" said Mrs. Bar
,xter in a surprised tone.
"What did you put that roast In the
zen for, my own?" asked Broucher.
7ou have warmed 1t almost through.
DelleVe, anu II Wouiu boNS oSSh w
UGH nicer quite raw. to say nothing
the gas you must have used.
aven't you little really raw meatT
Mrs. Bardexter got up from the ia 4
e. went out and came back with a \
re little piece of raw beefsteak. I
"Oh. mamma" said Mrs. Broucher. 4
courtney doesn't really like raw {
Eat. He was just making fun He
es it quite well done and I'm afraid
is Just a little bit undone." {
Courtney, do you always mean
lat you don't say?" inquired bis
,ther-in-law.
How could Broucher keep 1t up? He Z
1ldn't. All this happened In the first {
elk and Mrs. Bardexter's stay was
,longed to five more. People With =
any sense of humor are awfns'v 4
ing. but there is really no use q
1ting against them.
Courtney" said Mrs. Bardexter. y
en- she was leaving for her home Il
Grand Rapids. when | first came q
iced that you talked very strange
hut Won don't do 1t any more and u