The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-11-23
NAN AND WIFEL|VE
TOGETHER 3O'YEARS
WITHOUT SPEAKING

BeDe burned near died. In fact, there
were few moments when he was "
ing in the hospital at Tuxedo that hi
hoped he would. But everything j.
lovely now, and all because of Uncl.
Bebe's refusal to remove his shoes
Leastwise that's what Aunt Edda say.
and she should know, seeing as how
she and Uncle Bebe are speaking
again for the first time in 30 years
Long bout half century ago Uncle
Bebe and Aunt Edda went and go
married. No fuss an feathers to thei,
wedding; it was just plain marriage
like the simple country folk of The
last century were accustomed to anC
loved.
The buggy trip up the Hudson to Al
bany was a grand success. Everv
body said so, and as Bebe and Edds
looked happy they had every reason
/ for believing so. Edda didn't tell the
home folks how the noise of the cap
ital an all them people had brighten
ed her. Feared she mighta been.josh
ed bout it, p'haps. Nor did Be6e in
the evening meetings of the older mer
around the cranberry barrel ever dis
close the fact that he had lost purity
durn Ugh $50 when one o. them city
slickers slipped his hand into Bebe's
hind pocket and helped himself.
That Trip Hoodooed Them.
Well. that buggy trip and their ex
perience in Albany jest bout hoodooed
the marital affairs of Bebe and Edda.
They never did seem to get started
right, somehow. Whenever he decid
ed to invest his money and move to
| the city, she'd remind him of that mo-
ment in Albany as sure proof that he
had no business handlin' the family
funds, as it were.
An every time Edda accused him
of being financial misanthrope. Bebe
would come right back and remind
her how she cried all one night just
because there were so many people
round-this to show how weak and
helpless she be and how she never
could expect to understand a man.
Somehow, always quarrelin', they
managed to struggle long together for
20 years, much to the surprise of the
other Hartman folk. Then came the
time when Aunt Edda-so called by
this time out of respect for her buxom
figure, smilin' face. and ability as a
pie-maker and a husband to Uncle
Bebe, who. every one would admit,
was not the easiest kind to get along
became modern. Uncle Bebe with
the passin' o the years had been grow
ing more and more old fashioned, &C.
cording to his wife. Because she could
not influence him to change she would,
an then maybe he'd get some horse
sense.
This made Uncle Bebe real mad, an
he said he would never speak to her
agin. Bein' terrible sot in his ways,
he never did-that is, until last week
| When Aunt Edda saw Uncle Bebe
| ~ hot = -, loF,- L.;
the help of the neighbors, she moved
half of the furniture upstairs, and set
tied down on the top floor, leaving
the rest of the house to Uncle Bebe
She even shook hands with him and
said "Good-by," but he didn't answer.
From that time on neither spoke to
the other. though it did make il real
awkward at times, t say the least.
Aunt Edda bein' considerable of a
woman of her own mind. as it might
be said, she played the game just as
regular and thorough as Uncle Bebe.
Thirty years without speakin ended
last month, and they were gettin all
ready to start on a thirty-first when
Uncle Bebe fell sick for the first time
in his IS years.
Now if Uncle Bebe'd got sick before
: startin' this here silence game the
,
sympathy woulda been Aunt Edda.
sure's you're born. AS it was, he told
nobody. After three days down town
without nobody seem Uncle, one of
the younger set, as it were, investi-
gated and found him lyn in bed, tur-
rible feeverish.
| Not understanding uncle, he sent
for an ambulance from Tuxedo. All
went well until the ambulance order
lies suggested to Uncle Bebe that he
remove his shoese so as not to blacken
the white blankets on the stretcher.
Take off them shoes?" shouted
! Uncle Bebe in a voice that brought
Aunt Edda to the boundary line of the
banisters on the floor above. well.
l jess guess not. young Teller. I've
worn EN- for more'n thurty years now,
and ! guess ! amt taking 'em off now
No. stree, If | die in your golswag-
gelled (only he didn't use that wordl
hospital I'm goin' ter do it right. with
my boots on
"Bebe!" shouted Aunt Edda. forget
tin herself. What language"
You shet up. Edda." snapped back
Uncle Bebe. and the spell was broken
When they finally got Uncle Bebe
to the hospital surgeons and order
lies managed to sneak his shoes off
while he was sleepin'. Then they hid
EN-. But without 'em Uncle Bebe rap
idly became worse. and the hospital
force did not know what to do
Then one day a white-haired little
woman appeared in the doorway Of the
ward.
Don't look well, Bebe," she said.
looking at the tossing figure on the
bed.
"Ain't." was his only reply
Better come home" the soft voice
of the old woman continued.
Keep my shoes on?" was the ques-
ton.
Yes. Bebe"
"AD right. Guess'll come. You were
good wife. Edda. once fore you lost
y'tongue. Don't be a damn fool and
stare-tell them orderlies / want nv
clothes. I'm goin' home. Fust TIM
in, ~