The Dickinson press., 1898-03-26
WHYsHEWAs OUT SHOPPING

WAS OUT SHOPPING.
She HAD Hiddsp \ the clesst a.siHard;
What He Said.
They met at the remnant counter.
In one of the big dry goods shopa.
One OF them was evidently married
and the other looked like a teacher.
"You look sort Of haggard today,
dear" said the teacher. Didn't
you sleep well last night"
"Um-no," was the reply. ct
we'll, you see, James went to his
club right after dinner, and I knew
he meantt to stay pretty late, because
he told me so carefully that he ex-
pected to meet a Minneapolis man
with whom he hoped to do a nice
little stroke of business. He also
unnecessarily mentioned the fact
that I should have the p1ettiest new
frock in Chicago if he succeeded"
"Ohi"
"M'hm! Well, as it happened, I
was going out myself. It was the
evening for my card club, and I
didn't really mind his going, too,
though, of course, ! told him not to
stay late"
Eyes. Wells"
II reached home at 1880 and
found, to my horror, that he hadn't
come yet. The truth is that I had
let both Of the maids go to a ball,
and
"But I thought your husband told
you never to do that"
HE did. But a mans place is at
home with his wife, anyhow. Be-
sides, ! knew that even if he found
out that I had doneit he would only
scold a little, while if I refused to
let Alma go she would probably
leave and coax Christine to give
warning too"
"Oh, I never thought of thatl"
mo, dear, they don't seem to
teach girls how to be wives and
housekeepers at Vassar. When I
found that Fred hadn'treturned yet,
I was awfully frightened. Nell and
Tom brought me home, but they
were so anxious to get off and begin
to quarrel about the way she trump
ed his c and how he frowned at
her publicly for it that they slipped
away as soon rs my key turned in
the lock. And there I was, alone in
that big house at nearly i o'clock,
and my lawful protector at his club
playing pokerI"
ut certainly was not a very pleas
ant experience"
1T was not at all pleasant, and I
waited an hour and a halt, getting
madden all the time. The worst Of
it was that I knew he'd meet my re-
proaches with the story of the Min
neapolis man and the promise Of the
new frock."
"Well, didn't you want a new
MY dear, I meant to get the frock
anyhow-a man can't let his wife
wear rags. At $3.50 I heard him
coming up the street with that hor.
rid Mr. Wilde, and I just determined
to give him a fright. I turned down
the gas and slipped into the little
closet under the stairs where we
keep the coats. Then I waited, with
the door opened about an inch, tc
hear what he would say when he
found the house empty and the
woman he had sworn to love and
cherish probably robbed and muir
de1ed."
"Yes, and what did he do4" asked
the teacher breathlessly.
HE hunted all over the house
then went out and called to Mr.
Wilde, who had stopped to light /.
cigar: 4 cay, old man, I'm in luck
she isn't home yeti Let's 60 bao1
to the club for an hour, and I'll tel
her I got home at 1880 and tn,
house was so lonely without he,
that I went over to the Young Men,
Christian association to pass tn,
time.' And then the two of then
walked away down the street whis
Ting Sweet Rosie O'Grady.'"
eyes, but you had the comfort o
telling him all about it at breakfas
this morning. said the teacher can
solingly.
Eyes, I had, and that's why I an
out shopping now" returned he
friend grimly.-Chicago Times-Her
aid.
Tho Sphlnx.