The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1895-06-27
COLLABORATION.

If you are q man who values peace
full domestic life above all things; il
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 tc
the death of all future con. .nunion
lest, in short, peradventure they tempt
you into collaboration with your wife.
In the case of Jones its beginning
was very insidious. Jones had a mag
nificent idea for plot It was modern,
without being nspeakable-never was
there happier conception. But it had a
haw. There was q 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.
what's the matter with the poor
boy, them" she inquired "The nursery
ceilings coming down. And what has
he done to his nice smooth hair?''
"Oh, don't be an idiot' groaned
Jones. "1'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 fair,
pretty woman, with brown eyes and
little chin that stuck out.
"Tell me-" said she coaxinely, set
tling on the arm of his big leather chair
Jones saw no warning shadow of com
ing collaboration.
IN just give you an idea of my
plot, he said, and proceeded to do So
The 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, "or your Merediths
and Hardys and people''
Come, come - 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-
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 back
upon Jones' consciousness in its 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 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
touched. In a demented moment he Mt
tered the words that risked the happi.
ness of two lives.
"Why shouldn't we write it togeth.
err" 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 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.
II always like you in that dress" " he
said. ITS a pretty idea, having those
sleeves one can see the arms through.
It's called net, or tulle, or something,
ISM it?'
"One 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 frivolity than
usual. 1t showed more of her forehead.
which gave an intellectual look. This
was aided by q 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 cheek. She received
he advance with touch Of dignity.
Jones began to feel trife irritated.
md ne scraped his foot under the table.
HIS wife started little elaborately, and
hen resumed the silent movement of
,er lips.
Next day, when he came back from
lis Office, he found the plaster knocked
'ut OF the wall in three places. Tram
'ling feet were heard in his own sacred
tudy. and two finely developed young
men from Shaplemann's jostled him in
us agitated progress mp the stairs. He
'urst into his sanctum, to find it filled
y writing table. Near the abomina,
ion stood his wife, regarding it with
rown eyes full of pensive pride.
"What in fha wOr1d ;s kl,;s th;rc A. |