Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1895-09-14
COLLABORATION.


her own; if you are secretly immensely
proud of her and her parts" but fear
full lest you encourage in her an AFRO
ganco of equality with you and your
own, then beware of moments of sym
pathy and keep a guard upon your tongue
in hours of confidence, lest they lead to
the death of all future communion !;
lest, i'll short, peradventure they tempt
you into collaboration with your wife.
In the case of Jones it's beginning
was very insidious. Jones had a mag
nificent idea for plot. 1t was modern,
without being unspeakable-never was
there happier conception. But it had a
flaw. There was a hitch in the action
which disturbed the flow. Jones stared
wildly at the paper on which he had
jottcd 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. 1.-The nursery
ceilings coming down. And what has
he done to his nice smooth hair?''
ooh, don't be an idiot" groaned
Jones. Tive got the finest idea l ever
had in my life, and now Pm simply
stuck ~
His wife's little face became grave
and important at once. She was fair,
pretty woman, with brown eyes and a
little chin that stuck out
Tell me-" said she cOaXingly, set
thing on the arm of his big leather chair
Jones saw no warning shadow of COM
ing collaboration.
III 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 a 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 peopler'
Come, comet" said Jones. He tried
to tell her dryly mot to be an idiot, :"
but the words would not come as easily
us usual. After all, real appreciative-
ness is u 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 i'll it's full bit
terncss. He laid the case before his wife
She at once suggested the only possible
way ont of the difficulty.
That would have occurred to me if
I'd thought minute longer" said
Jones'
Course it would, the clever boy 7"
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 Il demented moment he ut
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 shilings' 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
Il always like you i'll 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:'
lone moment, please, DEAR" an
swered his wife, and her lips moved
mutely, i'll 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 a 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 dom like dadda. "
lie patted his wife IS cheek. She received
the advance with a touch of dignity.
Jones began to feel trifle irritated,
and he scraped his foot under the table
His wife started a 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
pling feet were heard in his own sacred
study, and two finely developed young
men from Shaplemann jostled him in
his agitated progress up the stairs He
burst into his sanctum, to find it filled
by Il writing table. Near the abomina-
ton stood his wife, regarding it with
brown eyes full of pensive pride.
What in the world is this thing do
ing here?" gasped Jones.
"Why, you couldn't write anything
decent without writing table and how.
can you expect mo tor" she inquired.
Her air was so important, yet withal SO
guilty, that Jones subdued his indigna-
ton and tiled to laugh. When they had
both LETT the room, he went back and
permitted himself tho satisfaction Of
kicking the thing gently in several
places.
The evening saw them both estab-