“Then why do you say you hope he’ll never try it?” she pressed. 61
“Oh, because I do,” said Joe, bending over his plate.
“I’d think you’d be glad if he did try it, so you could pay him off for his meanness,” she said.
Joe looked across at her seriously.
“Did he slap you this morning?” he asked.
Ollie turned her head, making no reply.
“I thought I heard you two scuffling around in the kitchen as I came to the porch with the milk,” said he.
“Don’t tell it around!” she appealed, her eyes big and terrified at the recollection of what had passed. “No, he didn’t hit me, Joe; but he choked me. He grabbed me by the throat and shook me–his old hand’s as hard as iron!”
Joe had noticed that she wore a handkerchief pinned around her neck. As she spoke she put her hand to her throat, and her tears gushed again.
“That’s no way for a man to treat his wife,” said Joe indignantly.