Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1895-07-11
COLLABORATION.

If you are a 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. 1t was modern,
without being nspeakable-never was
there happier conception. But it had a
flaw. There was 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 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, them" she inquired. "The nursery
ceilings coming down. And what has
he done to his nice smooth harp
"Oh, don't be an idiotr" groaned
Jones. GIVE 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 fair,
pretty woman. with brown eyes and d
little chin that stuck out.
"Tell me-" said she coaxingly, set
tling ON the arm of his big leather chai
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.
The "idea" took three-quarters of al
hour to give His wife listened, at fret
with preoccupied air. She could moi
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 thu
arm of Jones' chair and embraced hin
with feryor.
"Talk of Stevenson indeed" she sale
eompassionately, "or your Meredith
and Hardys and peopler'
"Come, come' said Jones. He triet
to tell her dryly ''not to be an idiot,
but the words would not come as easil.
as usual. After all, real appreciative
ness 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 bacl
upon Jones consciousness in it's full bit
terness He laid the case before his wife
She at once suggested the only possibl
way out of the difficulty.
"That would have occurred to me i
I'd thought a minute longer" sai
Jones.
"Course it would, the clever boy 7
said his wife soothingly, and she bega
to expand her plot. Jones listened pa
tiently, sometimes vouchsafing encou,
agement, and she looked SO pretty, S
flushed and eager over it, that he wa
touched. In demented moment he nj
tered the words that risked the happi
ness of two lives.
''Why shouldn't we write it togetf
.er?" ihe said.
Once said, there was no unsaying il
Without,a word his wife arose and wer
straightttoth the nearest stationer's. The1
she bought ten reams of manuscript pi
per and 2 shillings' worth of pens. a
the t,of the day she was remarkabl
silent. Jones addressed her at the dir
ner table with remark that had neve
yet failed ito please.
II always like you in that dress, b
said A'It,s pretty idea, having thos
sleeves one can see the arms through
It's called net, or tulle, or something
isn't iti''
Zone moMent, please, DEAR al
swered his wife, and her lips move
mutely, in visible composition.
Then Jones remarked that her ha
was arranged with less frivolity tina
usual. 1t showed more of her forehead
which gave aa intellectual look. TIL
was aided by q somewhat aggressive IN
stain on one Of her fingers
Jones felt much as he did toward b
baby boy when that infant played ;
4being grown up and doin like dadda
He patted his wife 'scheek. She receive
the advance with touch Of dignit.
Jones began to feel tri1e irritate'
and he scraped his foot under the tabl
His wife started little elaborately, an
then resumed the silent movement
her lips.
Next day, when he eamo back fro
his Office, be found the plaster knockt
ont Of the wall in three places. Tran
pling feet were heard in his own sacre
study, and two finely developed youl
men from Shaplemann jostled him
his agitated progress up the stairs. T
burst into his sauctum, to find 1t tllt