Middletown transcript., 1894-06-02
wished to see YOU about. .

lunch, if you please" adding, as sh
leaned back in her chair, sits habit
never indulge in. It's bad for one. w
can have talk in the smoking-rool
afteraard. How are the children?"
VERY well, thank you. The littl
girl is little hard on the boy, an
knocks him about bit, but they ar
getting on very WE'LL"
"Pocr little fellow, ''said Mrs. Madax
"Boys are such worry to their parent
when one thinks that they have to Ell
counter this world alone. l must rLl
down and see them next week, if
can."
II wish you would" said Madax
"the children miss you very much
Why don't you come home oftener"
"Well, very soon | expect to be ab!'
to do 50, she rel lied, "but, like you.
have great deal on my mind at pres
ent, aud the market requires clos'
watching"
Cant you come home with me to-
night2' he asked. "The children woult
be SO pleased to see you."
"No " she answered, II have to take
Sir Caesar Camp out to dinner to
night"
Tomorrow night, thenp" he sug-
gested, depricatingly.
NO." said the lady, shaking bel
head, "it's worse still tomorrow night.
have lot of stockholders dining
with me at the Holborn.'
1T must cost you a lot Of money.
these dinners on every night"
Eyes, it does," said Mrs. Madax
"but my experience is, if you want to
make a good business deal with a man
yoa must first feed him well. always
see that the wines are irreproachable.
l will say one thing for the men, that
they always know good wine when they
taste it."
"Well," said Madax, 81 will tell the
children that you send your love to
them, but 1 think you know that a
woman shouldn't lose sight of her
children, even though business is alb
sorbiDg."
She urged him to take his share of
the champagne, but Mabax declined,
saying: "a man must keep his head
clear for business nowadays"
Yes said his wife, 81 suppose a
man must"
There was slight tinge of sarcasm
in her voice, and she put unnecessary
emphasis on the noun. Madax looked
grieved, but said nothing. How often
do women in their though,less rudeness
cause pain to the tender hearts of those
who love them!
After lunch was over Mrs. Madax
led the way up stairs to the private
smoking room which she had reserved
for their use. 1t was in a corner of the
club building, overlooking bit of the
river and commanding a view Of Char
ing Cross railway bridge.
"We will be quite undisturbed here, .
she said, "and can talk business.
Ringing bell to give an order, she
asked her husband:
"What will you drink"
"Nothing, thank you," he replied,
but added afterward, Il will have a
glass of milk and soda, if you can get
it."
"You will smoke, of course" said
his wife.
"a cigarette" answered Madax.
When the waiter appeared Mrs.
Madax said: Bring glass Of milk and
soda, some of the best Egyptian cigar
cites, two Havana cigars and glass of
special Scotch with seltZer."
When these materials were brought
and the waiter had disappeared, Mrs.
Madax walked to the door and turned
the key in it. Her husband lit his Gig
arctic from the match she held out to
him, and then, biting the end from her
own cigar, she began to smoke. She
thrust her two hands deep down in her
pockets and began to pace up and down
the room.
"Now, John," she cried, whats the
trouble?"
Mr.. Madax's name was Billy. but
everybody called him John because his
wife's name was Joan. Mr.. John Madax
was the name he was known by.
"Some months ago." began Mr..
Madax, II went into a wheat deal, and
l don't quite see my way out"
Mrs. Madax stopped In her pac-
ing, and faced her husband in sur
prise.
"a wheat deal?" she cried. "Which
sids of the market are you on2"
"Oh, Pm for rise."
His wife made a gesture of despair
and began walking up and down the
room again.
"What, in heavens name, did you
buy for raise forY"
"Well," said Madax, very humbly,
"you see, the American wheat
crop had practically failed and ]
thought was pretty sure of rise"
'Why didn't you speak to me about
itp" she cried.
Her husband flushed uneasily.
II wanted to do something off my
own bat," he said. "Of course l had
no idea at that time there would be q
corner in wheat"
'Cornerl" she cried contemptuously
"there's always corner; there's
bound to be a corner. Don'tyou know
enough not to look 10 the United
States any more for indications Ot