The denial was made, and then the lie was given; and many to this
day wonder exactly where the truth lay. At any rate, votes were lost and
few gained, and many a worthy friend of good government lost heart and
bemoaned the degeneration of the gentleman into the politician.
Perkins, worn out, irritated by, if not angry at, what he termed the
underhanded lying of the opposition, drove home for luncheon, and found
his wife and her mother in a state of high dudgeon. They had been
insulted.
"It was frightful the language that man used, Thaddeus," said Mrs.
Perkins.
"He wouldn't have dared do it except by telephone," put in the
mother-in-law, whose notions were somewhat old-fashioned. "I've always
hated that machine. People can lie to you and you can't look 'em in the
eye over it, and they can say things to your face with absolute
opportunity."
The dear old lady meant impunity, but it must be remembered that she
was excited.
"Well, I think he ought to be chastised," said Mrs. Perkins.
"Who? What are you talking about?" demanded Thaddeus.
"That nasty O'Hara man," said Mrs. Perkins. "He said 'he'd be damned'
over the wire."
Thaddeus immediately became energetic. "He didn't blackguard you, did
he?" he demanded.
"Yes, he did," said Mrs. Perkins, the water in her eyes affecting her
voice so that it became mellifluous instead of merely melodious.
"But how?" persisted Perkins.
"Well--we--we--rang him up--it was only as a surprise, you know,
dear--we rang him up--"
"You--you rang up--O'Hara?" cried Perkins, aghast.
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