Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1895-07-16
COLLABORATION.

COLLABORATION.
IF you are man who values peace
full domestic life above all things; if
you happen to possess bright and com
panionable young wife, with ideas of
her own; if you are secretly immensely
proud of her and her ''parts, (" but fear
full lest you encourage in her an AFRO
gance of equality with you and your
own, then beware of moments of sym
pathy and keep guard upon your tongue
in hours of confidence, lest they lead to
the death of all future communion;
lest, in short, peradventure they tempt
you into collaboration with your wife
In the case of Jones its beginning
was very insidious Jones had mag
nificent idea for plot. It was modern.
without being unspeakab le-never was
there q happier conception But 1t had
flaw. There was a hitch in the action
which disturbed the flow. Jones stared
wildly at the paper on which he had
jotted down Outline of Plot in his
boldest hand. Staring did not seem to
bring inspiration, and Jones forgot him
self so far as to stamp upon the floor.
His wife heard the unwonted sound.
She was giving the children their nurs-
cry tea at the time, and a little plaster
fell off the ceiling into one of their
bread and milk bowls She went up
stairs.
WHATS the matter with the poor
boy, then?' she inquired "The nursery
ceilings coming down. And what has
he done to his nice smooth llair?''
.'Oh, don't be an idiotl" groaned
Jones' 'tI've got the finest idea ever
had in my life, and now I'm simply
stuck -
His wife's little face became grave
and important at once She was a fair,
pretty woman, with brown eyes and a
little chin that stuck out.
'fTell me-" said she coaxingly, set
Ting ON the arm of his big leather chair.
Jones saw no warning shadow of com
ing collaboration.
"I'll just give you an idea of my
plot he said, and proceeded to do SO.
Tho "idea" took three quarters of an
hour to give. His wife listened, at first
with preoccupied air. She could not
forget that an open jam pot stood ON the
nursery table at baby's elbow. Soon,
however, the full beauty of the thing
burst upon her. She got down from the
arm of JONES' chair and embraced him
with fervor.
"Talk of Stevenson indeed, she said
compassionately. cor your Merediths
and Hardys and peoplep
"Come, come p' said Jones. He tried
to tell her dryly mot to be an idiot, :"
but the words would not come as easily
as usual After all, real appreciative-
moss is rare gift.
"Write it straight away off, dear, !"
she begged. write it, and get the mon
ey for it. -
This brought the fatal hitch back
upon Jones' consciousness in it's full Bit
terness He laid the case before his wife.
She at once suggested the only possible
way out of the difficulty.
"That would have occurred to me If
I'd thought a minute longer, said
Jones.
Course it would, the clever boy"
said his wife soothingly, and she began
to expand her plot. Jones listened pa
tiently, sometimes vouchsafing encour-
agement, and she looked SO pretty, so
flushed and eager over it, that he was
LII IL u6Lu6llLCO IllO1AlCAH AAO w
tered the words that risked the happi-
ness of two lives.
"Why shouldn't we write it togeth-
er?'' he said.
Once said, there was no unsaying it
Without word his wife arose and went
straight to the nearest stationer's. There
she bought ten reams of manuscript pa
per and 2 shillings' worth of pens. All
the rest of the day she was remarkably
silent Jones addressed her at the din
ner table with remark that had never
yet failed to please.
SCI always like you in that dress, " he
said. Its pretty idea, having those
sleeves one can see the arms through
It's called net, or tulle, or something,
isn't it?''
Zone moment, please, DEAR" an
swered his wife, and her lips moved
mutely, in visible composition.
Then Jones remarked that her hair
was arranged with less friyolity than
usual. 1t showed more of her forehead,
which gave an intellectual look. This
was aided by somewhat aggressive ink
stain ON one of her fingers.
Jones felt much as he did toward his
baby boy when that infant. played at
being grown up and doin like dadda- !"
He patted his wife's cheek. She received
the advance with a touch of dignity.
Jones began to feel a trifie irritated,
and he scraped his foot under the table.
His wife started little deliberately, and
then resumed the silent movement of
her lips.
Next day, when he came back from
his Office, he found the plaster knocked
out OF the wall IN three places Tram
ping feet were heard in his own sacred
study, and two finely developed young
men from Shaplemann's jostled him in
his agitated progress up the stairs. He
burst into his sanctum, to find it filed
by a writing table. Near the abomina-
ton stood his wife, regarding it with
brown eyes full of pensive pride.
what in tho world is this thing do
ing here?'' gasped Jones
"Why, -ou couldn't write anything
decent without writing table and how
can you expect me to9'' she inquired
Her air was SO important, yet withal so
guilty, that Jones subdned his indigna-
ton and tried to laugh When they had