The Topeka state journal., 1919-05-10
THAT'S MARRIAGE

fast table with eyes that smouldered.
But Orville Platt was quite unaware
of any smouldering in progress. He
was coupled with his eggs. How could
he know that these very eggs were
feeding the dull red menace in Terry
Platt's eyes?
When OrviIle Platt ate a soft boiled
egg he concentrated on it. He treated
it as a great adventure.
This was Orville Platt's method of
attack: First, he clipped off the top.
neatly Then he bent forward and
subjected it to a passionate and re-
lentless scrutiny. Straightening-pre
paratory to plunging his spoon there
in-he tapped his right elbow. 1t
wasn't exactly a flap; it was a pass
between hitch and a flap. and pre-
sented external evidence OF a mental
state.
Terry Platt had learned to look for
that fap-they had been married four
Xears-to look for 1t, and to hate it
with a morbid. unreasoning hate. That
flap Of the elbow was tearing Terry
Platt's nerves into raw. bleeding frag-
ments.
Her fingers were clenched tightly
under the table, now. She was breath
ing unevenly. IT he does that again, -
she told herself, "if he flaps again
when 6he opens the second egg. I'll
scream. I'll scream. I'll scream! I'll
Sc
He had scooped the first egg into his
cupS Now he picked up the second,
Clipped it. concentrated Strengthened,
then-up went the elbow. and down,
with the accustomed little flap.
The tortured nerves had Snapped.
Through the early morning quiet OF
Wetona, Wisconsin. hurtled the shrill
piercing shrek Of Terry Platt's hys-
terra.
Terry! For Gods sakel What's
the matter!"
Terry, wild-eyed. pointed a shaking
finger at him. She was laughing. now
uncontrollably. Your elbowi Your
elbow!" .
Elbow" He looked down at 1t. be-
wildered; then up. fright in his face
Whats the matter with it?"
She mopped her eyes. Sobs shook
her. You f-f-fiapped It"
"F-f-f-' The bewilderment ir
Orville Platt's face gave way to anger
DO you mean to tell me that yoJ
screeched like that because my-be-
cause I moved my elbow7"
Yes"
His anger deepened and Redeemed tt
fury. He choked. "You-you-'
Then bewilderment closed down agaiI
like a fog over his countenance. "Bu
why? I can't Gee
Because tt--because I can't stant
It any longer. ,F1apping. This is wha
you do. Like this"
And she did It. DID 1t with insulting
fidelity, being a clever mimic.
We'll, all I can say is you're crazy
yelling like that, for nothing"
TT isn't nothing"
Isn't, huh? If that isn't nothing
what is?" They were growing incoher
ent. What dyou mean, screechinl
like maniac? Like a wild woman
The neighbors'll think I've killed you
What dyou mean. anyway"
II mean I'm tired of watching ii
that's what. Sick and tired"
"Y'are, huh? Well. young lady, Jus
let me tell you something"
He told her. There followed one o
those Incredible Quarrels, as sickenini
as they are human, which can talk
place only between two people VIII
love each other; who love each other g
we'll that each knows with cruel Ger
tainty the surest way to wound tn
other; and who stab and tear, an
claw at these vulnerable spots in exac
proportion to their love.
From him-"Trouble with you Is yo-
haven't got enough to do. That's tn
trouble with half you women. Just la.
around the house, rotting. I'm a foo
shaving on the road to keep a good
for nothing
It suppose you call sitting aroun
hotel lobbies shaving! I suppose tn
house runs itself! How about my eve
nings? Sitting hero alone, night afte
night, when you're on the road
Finally, We'll If you don't like It,
he snarled. and lifted his chair by tn
back and slamed It down. savagely, al
you don't like. It, why don't you ge
out, HIM? Why don't you get out?"
And from her, her eyes narrowe
to two Sits. her cheeks scarlet:
why. thanks, I guess I will
Ten minutes later he had flung ou
of the house to catch the s:19 for Man
itowoc. He marched down the stree
his shoulders swinging rhythmically t
the weight of the burden he carried
his black leather handbag and tn
shiny tan sample case, battle SCARED
both from many encounters with ruth
les porters and bus men and bell boy!
One week on the road, one week a
wholesale grocery trade liked Plat
and he had for his customers the fond
ness that travelling salesman has VIII
is successful in his territory.
Terry, standing in the doorway, al
ways knew that when he reached tn
corner. just where Schroeders hous
threatened to hide him from view
he would stop, drop the sample cas-
wave his hand Just once, pick up tn
sample case and go on. proceedin
backward for a step or two, unit
| Schroeder's house made good II
| threat.
This morning Orville Platt did NJ
even falter when he reached Schroe
| der's corner. He marched straight OF
| looking steadily ahead, the heavy bag
swinging from either hand. Even
he had stopped-though she knew /
wouldn't-Terry Platt would not haI