Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1897-10-28
CHAPTER I.

wv 1hAoo 1liNO L11-AS oeACA Oh
the Thursday, % for Mrs. Leslie was ar
ranging two dinner parties. "She will
be in her element that evening, but
what are we to do with Mr.. Marsden?"
Isn't it rather the custom to invite
a husband with his wife? He might
even expect to be included" said John
Leslie. edo you know, I'm glad we
came to Putney. Spring is lovely in the
garden
"Never mind spring just now," as
Leslie threatened an exit to the lawn.
"You might have some consideration
for an afflicted hostess and give your
mind to the Marsden problem.
1t was Marsden brought spring into
my mind.' And Leslie sat down with
that expression Of resignation on his
face peculiar to husbands consulted on
domestic affairs. "He was telling me
this morning in the train that he ha6
just finished table of trees in the order
of their budding, sort of spring priori-
ty list. His love for statistics is amaz-
ing
'He is getting to be known on the
train. The men keep their eyes on him
and bolt into thirds to escape. He gave
morning on the influenza death rate
lately, and that kind of thing spreads.
"But he's not bad fellow for all
that, +" concluded Leslie. "He's perfect
~ straight in business, and that is say
ing something. I rather enjoy half an
hour with him. %
Very Nkely.you do, said his wife
with Impotence, because your mind
has squint and you get amusement
out of odd people, but every one has not
your taste for the tiresome. He is
enough to devastate dinner table. Do
you remember that escapade of his last
year?"
"You mean when he corrected you
about the American passage and gave
the sailings Of the Atlantic liners since
49," And Leslie lay back to enjoy
the past. sit seemed to me most in
structive, and every one gave up con-
versation to listen"
Because no one could do anything
else with that voice booming through
the room. can still hear him, The
Columbia, 6 days, hours, minutes. )
Then rose and delivered the table,"
1t was only human to be little
nettled by his accuracy, but you ought
not to have retreated SO soon, for he
gave the express trains of England
little later and limited at the American
lines. One might almost call such q
memory genius.
(Which is often another name for i'd
iocy. Some one was telling me yester-
day that quiet, steady men rush out Of
the room at the sound of his voice and
their wives have to tell. all sorts Of
! fhlsehoods -
"Trixy is one of my oldest and dear
est friends, and it would be shame to
pass her over, but will not have her
husband on any account"
Perhaps you are right as hostess.
1t is little hard for frivolous circle
to live up to Marsden, and I hear that
he has got up the temperatures of the
health resorts. It's large subject and
lends itself to detail. "
"It will not be given in this house.
What Trixy must endure with that
mani He's simply possessed by didac-
tic devil and ought never to have mar
ried. Statistics don't amount to cruel
ty, suppose, as ground of divorce?'
Hardly as yet. By and by incompat-
Utility in politics or fiction will be ad-
mitted. But how do you know that Mrs.
Marsden does not appreciate her hus-
band? You never can tell what a woman