A TRAGEDY IN WALL PAPER

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 12012, 13 October 1904, Page 10

A TRAGEDY IN WALL PAPER

HY A. M, DAVIE9 Oqde.v. 'There." exclaimed- Mr Charteris, triumphantly, flinging down tbe long, heavy parcel in his liand. Hastily divesting himself of overcoat and hat,' he pulled at the wrappings of the package, and displayed to the wondering eyes'of his wife a. roll of wall paper, green ir. colour, vivid in pattern. , - "There," ho exclaimed again, "what do you think of that? You know I've been "promising you for ages to re-pnper the den, and to-dny", as I enme dowii Main street, I saw a paper Kile and jjcized the chance. "Remembering your fondness for green. I ■ got this"--patting it fondly. "To-morrow is Saturday, and I will just take the day -.off and put it on my&elf." . Mi;; Charter*-, who had been gazing at the paper with well-simulated enthusiasm,, looked up in quick amazement. '•You;" >he said.'' "But—do you know atitthiiig about it?" ■ - - "i know enough for" that, certainly"— -rather annoyed. "It's perfectly simple, lye-watched workmen do* it lots of times." And/Mrs Charteris, being a wlso woman, "•• recognised,the tone and said no more. , "'lScxt 'morning'when Mrs Charter's descended to breakfast -ho found the'_ den. ■ilreadv in an. uproar. All ihe fuNiitur* liad-been hastily, shoved to the centre of ' the room, pipe-racks and pictures wero piled on top-in-pwilous instahility. Uliarteris's sister stored. _ - "Are you going-fo move?" she inqnir.nl. . Charteris laughed". '~, "No, I'm,going- to paper the den." "With that?" cried Kittie, regarding the paper, horrified; • Charteris grew indignant. ■'.. , .-.. "Why not?" lie demanded. . Kittio's eyes; widened. "Well, you never kid much cense of colour,"' she remarked, frankly. "But that!" ■•■.'■•'■' . Charter's, after a batty glance at his wife,*smiled.. -. v '. ~ "Welly Helen»likes, it,7, any way," he .inserted. "And -he's the one to be pleased. Just have a bucket- of flour pa-sto 'sent'in'to mc, will you, dear?" And after a. hurried cigar, he debarted. ' At QHaTler'-" had but little to say, and fai,rly bolted'his food. .In rctvponsd'to inquiries he. declared tho room rrf-fldy-*4one,'--ii-d t insisled 'that'tliey remain -utitil--it'shiiuld be completed.. V* ' But it*was almost time for dinner:when ; finally lie*called his 'wife. The glow of iilw'morning liad'departed; tired and dis- •' spirited he gazed around. " ""I*; doesn't- look so awfully well after . all," hi* admitted. ■-* '.- '' , Mrs' Charter's, gazing" in dismay at the fragments decorating tbe fur'|iture, the i lumpy paper and. uneven strip*, which' clung to the wall, forced herself to smile '•Why'-I think it looks splendid," she v•"'urged.-' ''iAnd what a.pretty colour! I £,-am so glad-you bought-a -green, it's so ." "-.ice and -cool' looking. ; I think you huv * " done-it beautifully." '*" •-'.'Chifrteris brightened. ' "Do you really?": he asked, though Mill -doubtfully. "Well,: I expect those blobs ''•will go down when the stuff dries, and, of o/Ui-M-. tho -.rails will look better when tho '- piqu'res." are hung. We'll do that after dinner,'* he went on. growing more an.l more cheerful as he proceeded. "It won't -taki> long." v '".*•■, . '. "Jim HallirTay.is coming to dinner," his '"' -a- ife* reminded "him. "So you had better comet.and dres?." v • "Oil,"confound it, again! Well. I cer- '. tiunly shall not drsss for Jim. * Why.-on ■ earth* can't the and 'Kitiie make up their minds. Here, Jt's month's Jhat this has been going on.'.,'. Such nonjense." "But Kittie i* a very superior girl," put. in his wife, soothingly. N'You wouldn't want her,to- take, an important step like that without considering,it well. And if .he wants Jier,'he can wait. It's good for a. man." - - . "Wcl]—but —you didn't keep mc waiting oil like'that," grumbled Charter's, unconvinced. His wife smiled. '.•That was different. Why you—well, ycu were you," she explained, somewhat incoherently. Charteris,' with a laugh, slipped his arm about her. "I'm tired and cross." he declared, repentantty. "That's what is the matter with mc. Thank goodness "the old thing i*< done,, and we'll hear no more about it, Come nlon.<-. Pursy. I'll even be civil to poor old Jim-if you like. Heavens, its nearly sevt-n-thirty j.lready. Let's fly.'' But Clwrteris was wrong in considering tin* episode closed. Not a week later, while at breakfast one murning, the maid announced some one to k*i him. and. returning, his face wore an egression of such anger that his .wife uttered an exclamation Charteris gave a short laugh.' "It's the union,'' he explained. "It ap]n_s they have beard of my. papering that room, and I am respectfully hut firmly m--5 fti mcd thit no more work will bo done in. *uy tmuse,' hecau.*e of employing non-union ' labour. It seems almost- like a fart-e. Kxcept that perhaps they know my views 1.11 tlio labour question, and are trying by the.*e iiKMiis to convert mc. --. Hardly a go<id way. Of much a* I disapprove of them I had no idea of fighting the unions wlien I began. But they needn't think they can make mc back down now" —determinedly. Kiltie's eyes sparkled. "I should think not. The idea! Don't you agree, Helen?" v. Mrs Cliarteris looked up. "It'slucky we don't want anything done,'* •she said.* slowly.. "What do they suggest?" frowned impatiently. "Oh". I don't know. Some nonsense. Joiu the union, I expect"—laughing at his own idea. 'Mrs* ("iba-rtcris"persisted.. "But—can't you?" she began, haltingly. "Join the union—l" regarding her in amazement. "No, no, I didn't mean that. But couldn't we perhaps compromise some way • __arbitrate?" Her husband sprang to hi» feet.

"Coirjtpromrpe. *hev*?r! You don't understand. Pussy. One can't give in to such things. We wouldn't )>o able to call our souls otir own next. Good-bye, dear" —with the kiss he never forgot. "Don't bother, we'll pull through somehow. And his wife nodded. In a day or two Charteris' had forgottrn the whole thing, but one morning the matter was forcibly recalled to. lib mind. "What's wrong." he called from the dressing-room. "I can't get any hot water, Helen." His wife, with a worried expression,'hurried to the door. ** "I'm forry, dear. But tlie-hot water pipe broke yesterday, and no, one will come to mend it. Susan will bring you some from the kitchen." "Oh, all right. .Enough, to shave with will do," he responded,'cheerfully. ''"Sever mind." Mrs Charteris sighed. "Very well, dear." Mi-fortunes never come singly. Routed that night from troublesome dtva*ns by the sound of a steady drip, drip, Mrs Charteris sat.suddenly up in bed. "It's the roof." came a siyift conviction. "That sune old leak again." Hastily slipping ou her dressing gown, she dashed into the dressing-room. There, in the comer, big drops were steadily fcrminig and failing. Charteris, following looked up in dismay. "Fetch basins nmd towels." - A-few minutes sufficed partly to repair the and arrangements were made t> prevent the water spreading. / , Rut Mrs Charteris could hot win sleep. The -steady monotonous drip had got on her nerves. t " x # . •Next morning it was «ee-i .that, the green paper.in the den was badly streaked. "But I shall not give in," said Charteris doggedly, and Kittie 'agreed with enthusiasm. Mrs Charter's fro*"i the beginning had quietly accepted the situation and said nothing. Such also had been the attitude of Jim Halliday. He was a big, thoughtful man, reserved, yet forceful wlien he chose to speak, and "completely enslaved by the sprightly Kitty. Only hi-* eyes showed his disappcnval of Charteris's course. Jim Halliday knew tho wisdom of silence. As Charteris. that night ran up tlw steps of.his home, something odd in its appearance struck him. X<me. of the lamps were lighted. His wife, hearing a whistle, ran into tho ha.ll. "It's nothing, dear. Only this morning, after you had gone, the cook came up and said she couldn't stay any longer. The Cookmaids' Union had ordered a sympathetic strike on us. Susan refused to go, 'lie's a trump, so she and Kittie and I have been getting dinner. I am afraid'it won't be very good. Charteris frowned. ' ".So it-is "to be a fight to a finish, is it?",he declared wrathfully. "Well, let's see who wins. And raise Sushi's wages. Blie suiely is a brick." For a * few more miserable days they pulled along, ..then one morning Charter's capie down, all out of sorts. A storm had ari-ien in the night, causing tlie roof "to recommence its drip, drip, the shaving water had grown cold daring its transit from the kitchen, and, oivbg to Susan's inexperience, the omelet was a pulp. How long was this to last? Tlie sight of an official looking envelope by Charteris's plat? completed his disgust* "Taxes due again," he muttered, tearing open the letter. "What!" his voice -<harpening*' suddenly. ,">'Denr sir, owing to tire present unsettled condition between yourself and the labour unions, we cannot accept your taxes. Therefore, in tlie. interval,' we must, withdraw from you the protection' we have extended to taxpayers and citizens.' "What the deucej do they mean by that," f-tariug incredulously at the paper. "Oh, ■I.say, wliat rot! I suppose they mean police and fire engines and Vo forth by protection. I never heard, of anything tx> ttbomiiiablo.,' And all on account of those unions! I'll go straight to that bureau of taxes ncV' and *<peak my mind about it to Jini Halliday. He must know something about' ;■' .; Kit-tie, looking up, opened her lip«r as though to speak, then closed theni decidedly, her face changing from crimson to white. .Charteris shoved back his* plate. "Well, I'm going, Pussy." Halliday, writing busily, glanced around, as Chartaris entered, then pointed to a chair. "Morning, old man. Anything-* I can do for you?" he queried. Charter's shoved forward his. letter. "What's this," he demanded. "I don't understand it, do you? What right have the unions to dictate to'the city? It's outrageous. Or else its blackmail"— squarely." Halliday jumped. "It's not exactly blackmail." said he. "In fsct-, I may as well admit I wrote the thing myself," "You?" gasped Charteris. "But may I ask by what right"—grow;mg angry. Halliday eyed liim thoughtfully. "Well. I rather- meant it for a joke. And yet not entirely as..a joko either. I hoped it might make you see the absurdity of your position and also*"Have you any idea of what those women have been going through," he demanded, growing angry in" his turn. "What they have had. to put up .with owing to your pigheadednesa Oh, you needn't frown. I know your views on th© labour question and you know mine. But do you think that'you can fight the unions alone? And do you realise who suffers tlie brunt of• it all? "Your wife won't complain, and K*ttJ" is as-—as obstinate as - you are. But tbe other day she come in with a burn on her-hand,' and.l dragged the truth out of her. r To my own harm, too"— with rueful s-niTe. "For when I ventured* to express n\y. opinion about you and the whole flung, she promptly sent mc about my "business. Bat think 1 * of them,

cooking, fetching theirown food, trying to mend pipes. "It in outrageouiT—defiantly—"and w> I .wrote that letter hoping that it might bring you to' your senee-f."' ,! Charteris. rose slowly to hw feet. /'I see," lie said, and hia voice sounded strained. "I tec. But why couldn't you tell mc out.t-traight. Unx- —" * "How could I?" retorted Halliday; "wonld you have listened.. Haven't'.we argued enough in all our acquaintance? Bo honest, would you liave- listened?" "Well, no." admitted Charter's reluctantly. "Probably not. But you have given mc a pretty" good shaking up now. I feel a# though I had been through a fit of .Mckne«s. And you and. Kittie havo quarrelled definitely. ".That accounts for it then"'—speaking to hinv-vlf. Halliday bent forward, eagerly. "Accounts for what?"' "Never niind. Come round to dinner to-night and we'll ****.NN t not dinner" —with a faint smile. "But drop in later. You .might as well"—as Halliday demurred. "Don't you be a silly as**, too." Halliday, startled, glanced up quickly, and Charteris held out hi.** hand. "You and I can't quarrel, old man, we'vo been friends too long," he «iid. "Nor you and Kittle either. So come." And" Halliday was satisfied. At dinner that night, Mrs Charteris gazed at her hiwband in -<urpri**.\ brie had not seen him «> light-hearted for some time. But Charteris noticed with compunction how tired she 'and "Kittic- looked; why had lie not perceived it- before? The hell rang while- they were-' .still liiigerinc over the coffee, and Charteris Kpokc to the maid. "If it if* Mr Halliday, f/.inw him into the den," be said. Kittie started, but Chart--ris did not app-nr to notice. -": "Como along, girls," he said; and Kittie, after a moment's Ivosiratiori. followed. She would not look at Halliday a<s sho entered. But jjoniething lie read in tliedowncast face made his heart- boats quicken. Could.it.be? Charteris crossed the den to his wife. "Pussy," he solemnly. "I havo been a* selfish beast, and Halliday has told mc so. You shall have a. new cook to-morrow, and I will wild up tlie plumber in the morning personally. ■ 1 find after all that I belong to a union myself— tipping'her wedding ring fi« lv* *.-poke— "and oil the whole I rather approve of them. "So watch. He ma do a. step toward th* side of the- room, and, nei/.ing an '•nd of the wall paper which had been locsenecl by tho rain, gave it a pull. Tlie long strip yielded ti> his hand, leaving a white space on the wall. His wifp*'sprang forward. "Harry, what are you doing?" "Obeying the union order?, my dear," only, naughty little hosts, you should 1-avo given them long aco. Knowing what a pig-headed thing I am. you shouldn't spoil mc so-. To-mnrrow you shall go and 'elect your own paper and have it properly put on. And you can all liHp tear this off now if you like. "That is," ho went on nialicinuxly, "unless you two young people would prefer to retire into another room and draw up the rules for" your own union. Remember, Kitty, what I. have just learned, that to keep the machinery of life from jarring, one must sometimes make con-res-sions," ho added. "Other people*havc rights, tbo." But Kittie, her face rcark-t, had disappeared, Halliday promptly following. Charteris laughed. "A little mw-imderstanding is sometimes a very good thing to clear the atmosphere," lie; ."aid, "and added -to a little absence is an excellent recipe for discovering one's real sentiments. Poor Pussy, has it. been a very hard week?" "It has been rather a tug," admitted nis wife. Charteris tightened his arm about s her remorsefully. -• ' "I have been a-brute. But, any way,; wo have taught Hiose, two silly idiots j their own minds, er> something has been accomplished. Can you over forgive mc for all the annoyance and worry though, sweetheart?" His voice was'very tender. .Mrs Charter's lifted her .face. • ' "Why, there's nothing to forgive," she said simply. "I love you."