Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-01-15
HAD IT ALL PLANNED
SHE KNEW WHAT TO DO IN CASE
OF FIRE.

expected Henults, However.
$50 you had fire at your house last
week?" said the girl with the Madonna
brow. ''Did you lose muchf"
II did" sighed the young woman
with the firm chin. II lost my self re-
spect, my peace Of mind and grand
chance to get even with my husband
There was no insurance.
"Too bad" said the girl with the Ma
donna brow sympnthetically. II un-
derstand that your husband was as
cool as a debutante at n tea, and
Don't talk to me about my husband.
l have sent for mamma and his step
mother to pay us nice long visit. 1t
will require at least three women to
restore him to his normal condition
Adele, you have often heard me say
what meant to do in case of fire, have
you notT
II have" replied the girl with tie Ma.
donna brow wearily. "You said that you
would make an elaborate toilet; then,
after waking every one in the building,
collect all your valuables and walk
calmly down stairs and out of the
house. Did you
Don't ask me so many questions IL
you expect me to be able to answer
them" snapped the young woman with
the firm chin. II suppose any one may
change her mind occasionally. may she
not?o
why, yes. Of course. For instance,
Mae has decided that after all she Will
not marry that rich old widower.
Wasn't It lucky that she should change
her mind about 1t just as his engage
ment to Miss Budd was announced?"
"very. But just think! l was not
even the one to discover the fire! You
see. Jack was out. and had hoped he
had forgotten his latchkey. 30 | went
to sleep early and slept the sleep of the
innocent. Now Jack is telling people
that II lie had not remained at the club
until 2 a. m. we would both have per-
ished,. sleeping, In the flames. How do
you suppose ! am ever to manage him
after this?'
II am sure do not know. dear. It
seems to me this world grows harder
for poor women every day"
ut does: 1t does" sighed the young
woman with the Arm chin. "Well. l
didn't hear Jack come In. He was
hardly In bed before he smelled smoke.
After oil, II was lucky that he was the
one to smell 1t. I might smell smoke
all night before he would get up and
Investigate. Men nre so selfshv'
~ know It, dear. Kathleen's hus-
band tells her that she had her own
way In regard to marrying him, and
now he means to have his turn. When
she complains to his mother, the old
lady rather more than hints that dys-
pepsln. Induced by Kathleen's house
keeping, Is the cause of his Ill temper"
"Mercy ON us! And Kathleen?'
"Oh. she partially repays her hus-
bnnd by making him live on invalid's
food, but her mother-in-law is still
ahend."
"Of course, Well. as I was saying,
Jack Investigated and found dense
smoke coming from the back OF the
house. He called up to me, and, under
the impression that he was calling me
to come down and let him In, very
nearly went to sleep again"
"But you got up?"
ooh, yes; when he rushed into my
room shouting Fire. I was ns cool as
could be. dressed carefully. opened
my desk and got out my
"Jewel box? Oh. how calm you"--
"N-no. found out afterward that 1t
was my visiting list. How could I
have performed my social duties with
out that?"
"Why. Of course. never thought"
Nobody thinks but me, 1t appears.
Next got out my best hatbox and
Saved that lovely new hat! oh,
how nice!'
"Well, no; I didn't The box turned
out to be empty. had left that hat
on the back hall table, and the fremen
apparently made target of 1t. Jack
Is so heartless. He had always insisted
that the bird on It was duck, aud
now he declares that it sought its ma
tive element voluntarily"
"Pshaw! Just laugh at his Joke and
buy n more expensive hat"
"Humph! You don't know Jack. That
Joke will outwear dozen hats. Where
was ~ Oh! Then. to show how cool
was. ] actually went to the cedar
chest for my sealskin,"
"Humph. You must have been cool
to want a sealskin In June"
- was not thinking merely Of the
present. I-er-kncw | should need 1t
next December"
"Oh. And what else did you rescue?"
Nothing, A horrld, interfering man
rushed in, gathered up me and my bur-
den and carried me, protesting, down
stairs, While people were calling him
hero discovered something queer
about my dress"
"What was the matter? A scarcity
"No; n superhuity. In my anxiety to
make full toilet had put on my yell
low evening gown and over 1t my bicy-
Gle skirt. a chiffon wrap and an apron
] had bought for the cook the day be-
fore"
"numph! That was elaborate! Did
jack
"Hhen my eye lit on him. I felt bet.
ter, for ! saw that he was not In a posi-
ton TO criticise my toilet"
"Dldp't lie think II wonderful that
you thought OF your sealskin at''--
'lt wasn't my sealskin. must have
been somewhat excited, for ! had mis-
taken a suit of his for II. BY the time
nanpla vvara ronl annuCh IN Motion ha