Middletown transcript., 1917-09-22


Mabel Herbert Urner SILL.
"Well, l 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
a fuss. If there's any objecting-1 al
ways have to do it."
"Well, you seem to- enjoy it, my
dear. You've natural aptitude that
way"
~Thcre. 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 holler?" 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 ::
'sThat's the way to cook lamb. We
always have it done to death"
II 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 / want it,"
''Mrs. Barton, is that window too
much on you?" interrupted Helen.
''Oh, no. 1 like it. You'd better ask
william; he's the fragile flower Of our
family"
"Fragile flower! That's good,
grinned Warren. "I'm afraid l 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"
"Thats the way you tell it. AS
matter of fact, when the thermometers
below zero-theyre all up. Twice last
winter l woke to find snow an inch
deep on the bed"
"Well, you know what the doctor
said. When we build, we're going tt
have a big sleeping porch"
'Fine! If you sleep out there
maybe I'll have some peace"
"Oh, if that's what you mean-yor
don't have to wait until we build
sleeping porch
There was an uncomfortable silence
as Mrs. Barton, with heightened color
yiciOusly shredded piece Of celery
while her husband drained his wine
glass.
Helen had heard that the Barton
were always quarreling bat it seemed
Incredible that they should air thei
hostilities so openly.
All through the evening they hat
kept up A running fire of sarcastic rep
artee. They agreed on nothing. o.
every subject they had a clashing diff
ference of opinion. Whatever turn tn
conversation took, they managed t
give each other some caustic thrust.
L
over and Helen and Mrs. Barton re
turned to the library, while the me-
fingered over their cigars.
"William is so provoking!' DRAWN
the chiffon scarf about her bare shOu
ders. "He always says something t
upset me. Does Mr.. Curtis get on you
nerves like that?"
81 think we all have disputes a
times" Helen conceded.
"At times? It's always like this. H
loves to irritate me. He says thing
deliberately-things that he know
will drive me wildw
perhaps if you didn't show it quit
30 much"
"How can help showing it? Wash
that hateful, uncalled-for thing /
said about the roast?"
"Oh, he just wanted to seem compl
mentary about the dinner" murmure
Helen appeasingly.
"No, it wasn't that Whenever "
dine out he delights in deprecating n
housekeeping. Does Mr.. Curtis ST
those things? Is he always making 1
situations about the way you run Il
hOuSeT
81 suppose all men are irritating
different ways"
"Well, William can be irritating
more ways than anyone | ever knew
SIS Mrs. Barton extolling my Vi
and he now joined them. That's h
favorite theme nowadays"
But his wife, ignoring this plea
antry. adjusted the flowers in her &C
sage with elaborate care.
'sTry one of these" Warren got o
fresh box Of cigars.
"William, you're not going to smo
any more? You know you shouldl
have more than one cigar after dinn'
That's what makes you so nervo
and irritable Yet you persist"
"Perhaps it isn't altogether t
cigars, my DEAR" Swapping open
electric lighter. 'sThere's other thin
that get on mans nerves"
'aThere, you seer turning despa
ingly to Helen. "Those are some
the nice, pleasing remarks he makes
me-"
Mrs. Curtis, do you prescribe
your husband the number OF cigars
may smoke?"
aNot much she doesn't" laugh
Warren.
'.Then you think wife shouldn't