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

both left the room, he went pack and
permitted himself the satisfaction Of
kicking the thing gently in several
plaees-
The evening saw them both estab-
Hshed at their desks The horrid impos-
sibility of it all struck upon Jones only
too soon He had written the opening
chapter in his best manner, and the
time came when he wanted to read 1t
ont To give her her due, his wife lis
tened eagerly, and did him full justice
when he ceased
"And now listen to mine. y she said
blithely.
Jones felt it to be his own act and
deed, and he resigned himself to listen.
Her chappter was really not badly writ
tenl Her style was evidently modelled
ON his own. Jones put his finger tips to-
gether and smiled hopefully. But when
it came to her hero. alas not only had
he ga comb at the back of his head. +" as
Stevenson puts it, but he was altogether
impossible. How to wipe him tenderly
out of the chapter without breaking OF
hearts? Jones fidgeted distressfully.
"That's not quite the sort of thing a
man would say. dear, he suggested
mildly
ooh, isn't itr' she answered. with
derision. CAS- it happens, a man did say
it-those very words. Do You imagine
you know how every kind of man talks
TO a woman when he's alone with her?''
Heaven forbidl'' said Jones. And
who said it to you, may aslS?"
s'I didn't say it was said to me, " she
replied, with some haste. s1How do you
like this ending? L think it's rather
neat, don't you? And when they had
both left the conservatory there was
something frail and pink lying on the
marble floor. twas a moss rose bud. l
rather admire that sort of ending"
Where is the pointr" inquired Jones
"Oh, we'll, if you want points to ey-
cry single sentence
'Wel1, but don't you see that unless
you mean something by it there's no
sense at all in the thing? It's simply
Family Herald business. should have
thought you'd have seen that
cts matter of taste, and differ
from you, said his wife very coldly,
''and if we are to pick holes in each
others work allow me to tell You that
no lady would have behaved as your
ulI G1ldI nttlcOll&
"Why, that actually hap"-began
Jones unwarily.
stI knew iti'' cried his wife, oyerturn-
ing the ink bottle eft was that day
you saw Kitty Cameron home from the
theater. thought so at the timel She
shall never enter my house again
Jones was enraged, but saw posi-
BILE "score.
at was on the same day." he said
slowly, with q painstalzing smile, "as
that ON which you permitted yourself to
be addressed by man, not your hus-
band, in the way you so tastefully chose
to read me-. !"
There was silence. They glared at
one another Then Jones' wife got up
and left the room with a queenly step,
closing the door behind her with osten-
tatious gentleness.
Jones heard no more about collaborat-
ing for some time, but next day the bill
came in for the writing table,
guineas-
He bargained with Shaplemann, who
consented to take it back for 4, and the
incident closed.
Some months later JONES' book actu-
ally appeared, and his wife received nu-
merous letters congratulating her on
the authorship OF it.
t'what in the world do they means"
he demanded
why, DEAR" said she, little shame
facedly, "I'm afraid told most of them
about that time when you and p
'fWell, when we what?'
'sCollaborated, dearest Don't you re-
member?''-New Budget.