| Show THE FIRST QUARREL bakes alive what a looking room I 1 declare george graham if you arnt enough to try the patience of job I 1 dont believe there is another woman living has to bear what I 1 do ever think that I 1 came in here after breakfast b reak fast and worked a good hour putting pu t things to rights and now what does it look like tears stood in the little cifes eyes and her face length lengthened elied out till you would have thought she had just heard of a death what is it susie up now what does what look like and mr graham turned carelessly and good na tiredly too from the double leaded article artibee on reconstruction which he had been so earnestly reading that though he lie had heard he had scarcely comprehended a word of the complaint just like you george if I 1 were te tell you the house was on fire only look round and say where susie he laughed a hearty laugh it was too clear and and ringing a laugh that many a wife would have treasured up aa as men do pearls and precious stones it nettled mrs graham and she said sharply if open your eyes see what does what look like he rubbed them briski briskly y and then peered around I 1 declare susie I 1 dont know what you mean the carpet is swept the furniture dusted the lamps trIni trimmed med themire the fire bright what what is it I 1 cant for the lise ilse of me see anything wrong you cant no K 0 of course you cant see bee there and there and there and there nd she pointed rapidly her emphasis growing more incisive each time to his heavy overcoat which lay in a tumbled mass on the lounge to his hat bat which was lodged unceremoniously in the he middle of her work basket to his rubbers lubbers which were roasting on the stove hearth and to his gloves which had demurely settled themselves on the mantelpiece mantel mantei piece I 1 see I 1 isee see bee susie but then you know pm im a careless good for nothing sort of a fellow who never had any bringing up and you must make allowances my dear and tossing the paper on the table he caught her hand and drew her gently upon his lap and said soothingly as one might talk to a fretful child dont be cross now pet cause I 1 mean anything anything any bad baj bad you know put up your lips and let iet et me kiss away that pout but the lips were not put up to meet the touch of those bearded ones instead they assumed rigidity immobility must I 1 have the lecture first lifey before I 1 can either give or claim a kiss well out with it then the sooner im whipped the sooner stop hurting as I 1 used to say to the boys when the schoolmaster was after me with the rod of correction but susie and here his tones which had so far been jocular assumed a touching earnestness I 1 dont dont donl like this being scolded every time I 1 come into the house ive borne it so far patiently but it is wearing out my temper I 1 shant be able to hold out much longer im afraid I 1 shall scold back and then well quarrel and then our home will be no home but shall I 1 say it susie what too many homes are nothing more or less than cheap editions of hell itself but george how can I 1 help it you do try me terribly how susie why by never putting your things where they belong I 1 was brought up mohave a place for everything and everything in its place and it does worry me to come in from the kitchen tired and hot and then find the sitting room looking so I 1 like to have things neat and orderly but you know we cant have all we want in this world susie and is it worth while for you to fret your life away just because I 1 cant always think to put my gloves in my pocket and hang up my coat and hat and leave my rubbers in the he entry that word fret was an unfortunate one it stung her and she said bitterly but bu you never think george you conie come rushing in like a whirlwind d and you toss your things pell mell every wb irth div aal ani I 1 i ivey hy are ure eve up lip and pot pat pi in ill hil hii hi til i i it not you that do if it and im gelting getling tired of it I 1 cant and I 1 wont stand it any longer it what will you do susie there was severity in his tone now do why I 1 wont stand it I 1 wont ilont beany benny mans slave and the black eye flashed defiantly did I 1 ever ask you to be my slave the mans eyes were flashing now but what else am 1 I 1 I toil toi lIlke like ilke one from morning till night to do up the work and put things in order ordel and you sou on come in and undo it all just as ive got ot through it is enough to make a saint swear she was so excited now she hardly knew what she said and what am I 1 he retort retorted if youre a slave I 1 am one quite as much who earns every cent brought in who pays the rent aid and buys the fuel and lays in the provisions who clothes clothes mrs susan graham id like to know she earned her own clothes once and she can do it again george graham if it is necessary and no thanks to you or any other man its ts a pity she kept on earning them herself then shed never had to pickup pick up and put away her husbands and he well it be gentlemanly to say it out with it sir ai never ever spoil a joke for relations sake and he have caught a tartar but been a happy old bach lord but how I 1 wish I 1 was are you in earnest sir in earnest madam then perhaps wed better part part it is then the sooner the better teo too my sentiments exactly madam today to day why not where will you go v I 1 I 1 shant go I 1 shall stay here but you dont mean to say youre going to turn me out of house and home I 1 never would believe that of you george graham it I 1 turning you out youre turning turning yourself out suppose you stay you youve ve no money to pay the rent or run the affair it costs something to keep the house I 1 tell you ive found it out by bitter experience but where can I 1 go you know I 1 a relative left me you should have thought of that before you proposed parting not my business bu to look you up a home I 1 dont know whose else it is you might do as much as that for your own wife for my wife id do a great deal more but you are not my wife any more only the legal tie remains to be severed and ill apply for a divorce at once and disgrace us both but what can a fellow do now ive got used to having a home I 1 want one and once free from you there are dozens of girls be glad to take up with me careless good for nothing B scapegrace ap grace as I 1 am mei mel and a pretty life they would lead you too it cant be worse than what youve led me the last six months zounds but ive been a fool to bear it so long fret fret from morning till night thank heaven it is all over at last ast and he whistled gaily you seem glad to get rid of me sir youve made me glad madam he put on his overcoat drew oa on his rubbers and gathered up his hat and gloves was he really going and with ont anthis his dinner when will you be ready to leave leav 1 madam ill order a carriage at any hour you name you are an unfeeling wretch george graham you are and the truth you might for sake give till tomorrow to morrow to pick up my things and decide what to do you can have a week madam if you wish I 1 thought you were in a hurry to go yes you may have a week meanwhile ill go to a hotel ani and and have the whole town talking abou about us why cant you stay at home just as well because I 1 never like to be in any blodys way but it is your own house and and if you ever had any regard for me still till im gone her voice was not quite as steady as it had ha been well ill 1111 stay then ill come back tonight to night you sit up for me mrs graham be late when I 1 get in na alm yli tyll 1111 take the spare chamber till ott olli irps oiw oid I 1 the front froat door clashed after him in another moment he was gone gone without his dinner gone and not coming back till nobody knew when and then going up stairs to sleep alone they had quarrelled quarrel led they had as good as parted they would be divorced he could get another wife and bring her home here and she she would have to go alone into the cold dreary world and earn her own living asne know enough about divorces poor thing to think of alimony and all this because he neglected to leave his things in the hall and she found fault with him for the said neglect careless husband fidgety wife and because he was careless and she fidgety they must live a apart t I 1 mrs graham looked voiced about her just then everything was neat and orderly there was nothing to worry her nothing there was everything and she sat down and cried she who had been so resolute and defiant only ten minutes before but that resolution that defiance had been born of anger and the anger was all gone now how sorry she was shed been so cross to him bim for she had been cross real cross wickedly cross what if be he had tossed his things any and every way it was a mans trick and and here she sobbed outright be he never had a mother to train him poor fellow hed held been knocked around from pillar to post all his life till he married and now he would have to knock around again for of course he get married right away no he would have to get a housekeeper house keeper and then shed worry the life out of him and when he did get married could he find one love him as she had and did yes did the love was there yet swelling up and overflowing I 1 she went into the al kitchen ten hardly knowing why driven perhaps by the force of habit there stood the table for dinner and so neatly the cloth white and in its creases the plates platea and the glasses shining brightly the knives and forks polished to almost silver whiteness she gave it one look and mechanically opened the stove oven the chicken was browning nicely george liked roast chicken better than a fricassee so she had cooked it in that way the potatoes and the turnips were dancing merry jigs in the pot and the tea kettle was softly humming the mince pie stood on the hearth warming itself quietly and exhaling a spicy odor that was tempting even to a dyspeptic stomach sueh buch a nice dinner and no one to eat it I 1 wish I 1 wish I 1 I 1 been so cross to him I 1 becan began it and kept ke t it up too he cio eio cross eross ss first he reid held heid out till I 1 made him mad I 1 wish he was more careful thoughtful such a dear good fellow as he is about everything else never scolds when bills come in like hannah bentons bensons Ben tons husband mercy I 1 dont know how she does live with him aad hes always giving me change too I 1 never hardly ever have to ask for a cent I 1 dont know what I 1 should do if I 1 had to manage as carrie Stan stanfold foid does to get a dollar out of jim if I 1 had such a man maji id leave him if I 1 had to work my fingers to the bone to earn my living and he wants me to have a girl and be dressed up all the time and read and practice and go out with him and theres poor little mary miller that never sits down once a week but is forever stewing in the kitchen and never a word of thanks joe always wondering why she dont do more than she does he ought to go to a treadmill himself and he never tastes a drop of liquor nor woul dInt for the world and theres theres nelly greys sot of a husband comin coming home beastly drunk every nig night t of his life and scaring searing the life out of her id see him drowned before id live with him and he never smokes nor chews while you cant go into else hardly without standing over spittoons spit or being suffocated with pipe or cigar dear me I 1 should die in a week if I 1 had to live that way and he is always so good natured too never gave me a cross word till today to dan daz day but here she broke down entirely so sob after sob tearing away in her throat and threatening to choice choke her the paroxysm was too violent to last long As it subsided she dashed off the tears that flooded her cheeks wiped I 1 her eyes brushed back her hair and going to the sink bathed her face thoroughly then she stood a few minutes as if gathering a up resolution a calm beaudu beautiful 1 expression playing about her lips the words of her old pastor had bad come back bauk to her all at once as she sat there weeping the words be he had bad spoken to her the evening before her marriage my little girl you have made a good choice george graham your promised husband is a young man of excellent principles and a good disposition and will do his best to make you happy but he is not perfect no man is and you must be patient with his failings always patient one cross word leads to another till by and by theres a quarrel and then good by to happiness dont scold but coax coas dont drive but lead and if you ever feel tired with him think how much worse it might have been and always always remember that he is no saint but only a man a man mortal and weak be it your work little girl to make this earthly home a happy one and lead him onward and upward toward that holier holler one not made with hands dead yet speak eth she said solemnly as that long earnest talk came clime back to her and aud and ill do it any way if he wont forgive if he wont agree to begin again and try it over why oh I 1 never can go out alone into the world and see him marry another woman oh ill never say another word I 1 wont not one if lie he has every chair piled to the ceiling with coats coata and pants tants and the floor waist deep with boots and rubbers I 1 dont see what made me speak so cross to him ill get a giri girl girl giri tomorrow somebody that can cook etter better than 1 I and ill keep out of the kitchen and whenever he comes in ill take his things th vh s myself and take care of them what at must he have thought of me to hear me say such dreadful things 01 and filling u up p the stove with coal draining the water ox off the vegetables and leaving the oven door open she ran up stairs and put on her and bonnet seized her mug and gloves and locking the door after her went out it was bitter cold but she did not mind it the wind was driving the sleet ri right lit into her face but she only drew t the e thick veil closer over her swollen eyes and hurried on it was slippery as glass but gait ered feet ran along as if sharp shod she had but one thought to see george again tell him how sorry she was and bring him baek back to dinner with a shout and a hurrah a little fellow came coasting down one of the cross streets just as she had set her foot on the curbstone curb stone the sled whirled z zigzag zigzagged ed a moment and then ran her down she screamed involuntarily and as she fell put out lier her hands imploringly I 1 bingly gly some one clasped them tild heid held them tightly a brief spell and then gently assisted her to her feet some one spoke to her some one said kindly tenderly lovingly are you much hurt susie gome some one drew aside her veil some one looked pityingly into her eyes es who was it think you eyo 0 george im so glad giad iad lad you happened here I 1 was going down to the office after you he looked about him a few seconds and then said laid just aay half way and we met the next minute he was tucking her little hand under his elbow and guiding her back home walking slowly cautiously tiou sly and asking at every few steps if she was not much hurt and adding hed held send the little rascal to jail jall if she were to all of which she said earnestly not any hardly only frightened a little im so glad we met inside the front door before hardly the lock had sprung he caught her to his heart and as he held her in the warm close embrace he kissed her passionately what did you think of me my darling for talking so to you you dont know how sorry I 1 am what did you think of me ane george scolding you as I 1 did if you only knew how I 1 cried aried afterwards but I 1 plagued you dreadfully I 1 know susie youre so neat and im such a careless scamp it was I 1 who plagued you george ive no business to be so neat as to make myself a fussy cross old thing and I 1 wont any more I 1 wont say a word george if you turn the whole house topsy every time you come in oh george |
