Evening star., 1919-04-20
THAT'S MARRIAGE
HERESA PLATT (she that had
been Terry Sheehan) watched
her husband across the break


progress. He was occupied with his
eggs. How could he know that these
very eggs were feeding the duh red
menace in Terry Platt's eyes?
When Orville Plat ate a soft boiled
egg he concentrated on it. He treat
ed it as a great adventure.
This was Orville Platt's method Of
attack: First. he Clipped of the top.
neatly. Then he bent forward and
subjected it to a passionate and re-
lentless scrutiny. Strengthening
preparatory to plunging his spoon
therein--he tapped his right elbow.
1t wasn't exactly flap; 1t was pass
between hitch and a flap, and pre-
scented external evidence of a mental
state.
Terry Platt had learned to look for
that fiap-they had been married four
years--to look for 1t. and to hate 1t
with a morbid. unreasoning hate.
That flap of the elbow was tearing
Terry PIatt's nerves into raw bleed
ing fragments.
Her fingers were clenched tightly
under the table. now. She was
breathing unevenly. "lf he does that
again" she told herself. "if he flaps
again when he opens the second egg,
I'll scream. I'll scream. I'll scream!
I'll Sc
! He had scooped the first egg into
his cup. Now he picked up the second.
chipped 1t, 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. Wis, hurtled the shrill.
piercing Shrek of Terry Platts hys-
teria.
Terry! For goodness sake! What's
the matter"
Terry, wild-eyed, pointed a shaking
finger at him. She was laughing,
now. uncontrollably. your elbow.
Your elbow" ,...
Elbow" He looked down at it, be-
~ildered; then up, fright in his face.
whats the matter with it?'
She mopped her eyes. Sobs shook
her. You f-f-happed it,"
"F-f-f--" The bewilderment in
Orville Platt's face gave way to anger
do you mean to tell me that you
screeched like that because my--bc-
cause moved my elbow?'
YES"
His anger deepened and redeemed to
fury. He choked. "You-you--"
Then bewilderment closed down again
like a fog over his countenance.s But
why7 I can't see"
Because it--because ] can't stand
1T any longer. Flapping. This is what
You do. Like this"
And she did it. Did it with insulting
fidelity, being clever mimic
We'll, all can say is you're crazy,
yelling like that for nothing
1T isn't nothing"
isn't, huh? If that isn't nothing.
what is?" They were growing in
coherent. What d'you mean, screech-
ing like a maniac? Like wild wom-
ami The neighbors'n think I've killed
You. What d'you mean, anyway"
II mean I'm tired Of watching it
that's what. Sick and tired"
Y'are. huh? Well, young lady, Just
let me tell you something--'
He told her. There followed one of
those incredible quarrels, as sicken-
ing as they are human, which can take
place only between two people who
love each other; who love each other
80 we'll that each knows with cruel
certainty the surest way to wound
the other; and who stab and tear and
claw at these vulnerable spots in exact
proportion to their love.
From him-''Trouble with you is you
haven't got enough to do. That's the
trouble with half you women. Just lie
around the house. rotting. I'm a fool,
Shaving on the road to keep a good
for-nothing-"
II suppose you call sitting around
hotel .lobbies shaving! suppose the
house runs itself! How about nv
evenings? Sitting here alone, night
after night. when you're on the road"
Finally, well, IL you don't like it,"
he snarled, and lifted his chair by the
back and slammed 1t down. savagely.
III you don't like it why don't you get
out. HIM? WhVdon't you get out?"
And from her, her eyes narrowed to
two Sits, her cheeks scarlet:
why, thanks. I guess will"