But with these
details Mrs. Cullum's wifely attentions ended. She remained absolutely deaf
to any remark addressed to her by her husband, looking through and beyond
him when he was present with a steady, unseeing gaze, which was, to say the
least, exasperating. All necessary communication with him was carried on by
means of the children. "Minty," she would say at the breakfast-table, "ask
your pa if he wants another cup of coffee"; or at night, "Temp'unce, tell
your pa that Buster has shed a shoe"; or, "Sue, does your pa know where
them well-grabs is?" et caetera, et caetera.
The demoralized household huddled, so to speak, between the opposing camps,
frightened and unhappy, and things were altogether in a bad way.
To make matters worse, Miss Minty Cullum, following her mother's example,
took high and mighty ground with Jack Carter, dismissing that gentleman
with a promptness and coolness which left him wellnigh dumb with amazement.
"Lord, Minty!" he gasped. "Why, I was taken snipe-hunting myself not more'n
five years ago. I--"
"I didn't know you were such a fool, Jack Carter," interrupted his
sweetheart, with a toss of her pretty head; "that settles it!" and she
slammed the door in his face.
Pages:
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213