Gilpin observer., 1917-02-01
BRoUCHER's SARCASM
BY HAROLD BRONSON.

things didn't go to suit him and some
Foolish person once told hin that he
was delightfully."-. wickedly sarcastic.
That explained him. It Is rather an
awful thing when man gets an lden
that he has gift for sarcasm. He
Is particularly apt to cultivate II.
BrOucher became unpopular. He
was not really such bad sort of fel.
low. not even ill-tempered. hut he de.
veloped sort Of carping habit of
speech for the more frequent display
rally got down on him.
II was in his loneliness that he be-
gan his wOOing of Miss Bnrdexter. 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 II
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 II was different. II anything
went little crosswnys he usually
called attention to It. and Of course
young housekeeper Is NOT an old
one. and things will go q little cross
ways at first.
Then II was: dearest. have oh.
served with some pain that you are
ings of the young lady who has so
kindly consente / 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"
"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. 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 parior
and the piano. so that they have been
II mouth organ. Don't you think u
would be nice for you to go out and
invite them in. I'm afraid If l do II
shall be tactless."
Mrs. Broucher would look AT him
timidly and hesitatingly. and he would
sustain her look with an unplensantlN
bland smile. Then she would go OF
to the kitchen. and shortly after thu
sounds Of revelry would cease.
But Broucher was not dissatisfied
when letter came announcing n visi'
from his mother-in-law whom he had
never seen; he said he would he NOR
than delighted. "YOu see. we bOr"
each other SO that any distraction L.
welcome" he said with u smile, AMI
patted his wife on her plump cheek
But Mrs. Bnrdexter arrived. bag ami
bnggage. for months visit. and then
well. there was no trouble; she wns
a mighty sweet and ensy-tenpered
woman. But she seemed to TAX"
Froucher so seriously. When he came
down little late and observed that
wife had shown In not waking him
as he liked to be late at the office. Or.
casiOnally-it looked independent
then did Mrs. BardeXter eXclniIn :
WELL ! should think you would he
afraid they might not like It."
"You don't mean to say we have
eggs. dearr' Broucher said n little
later. "This is indeed n surprise. Nice
little change, isn't M"
"Emmie said you had been having
them so often lately that you were
kind OF sick of them" said Mrs. Bar
dexter In surprised tone.
"Whnt did you put that ronst In the
oven for. my Own?" asked Broucher
"You huye warmed 1t almost through
| believe. and It would have been so
much nicer quite raw. to say nothing
OF the gas yOu must have used
Haven't you little really raw ment?"
Mrs Bardexter got up from the tn
Bile. went out and came bnck with II
nice little piece OF raw beefstenk.
"Oh, mamma" said Mrs. Broucher
Courtney doesn't really like raw
meat. He was just making fun. lie
likes II quite well done and I'm afrnid
II Is just q little bit undone."
Courtney. do you always mean
what you don't say?" inquired his
mother-ln-law.
How could Broucher keep II upf lie
couldn't. All this happened In the FIRST
week and Mrs. BaEaAS'er,s stay wnS
prolonged to five more. People with
out any sense of humor are awfully
trying. but there Is really no use In
fighting against them.
Courtney" said Mrs. Bnrdexicr,
when she was leaving for her home
In Grand Rapids. "when | first came
noticed that you talked very strange
iy. but you don't do It any more and