The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-08-11
WOMAN MISSING.
Husbands Rarely Appreciate Wives
Till They Go Away

Till They 90 away
Two men sat behind the vines OF Sc
GUIDED veranda 10 smoke their alter
dinner sigars the other evening.
they grew confidential and tod each
other some secrets that were burdensome
10 their comfort. A woman sal "ltail,
The house, near a window mat opened
on the yerarfda. 1t vas q warm nlSht,
and the window was open But the
men forgot her existence. Snatches oil
tie conversation Toated IN 10 her, anu
as the theme was particularly interest
ing 10 femininity, the woman listened
/, couldn't be wrong, she argued, because
one man was her husband. and the other
was her dearest friends husband. Ihelr
talk amused and interested her SO much
size told it TO a friend. and that person
repeated ii in newspaper office, ai'4
so il was a secret 40 longer.
The theme OF the mans conversation IS
not an unusual one in Buffa!o ihis
month. Dozens of other men couio
take part in it if they chose. Inc
dearest friends husband was trying 10
keep house while his wife and the chill
dre1, were in the couptry for a few weeks.
You know CLIFFORD. l can make a
CUP of coffee alpd broir steak as Well
as the next person. but when II comes
to washing the dishes l funk, that's all.
How the women keep the dishes in shape
is more than 1 know. Then it beats
can't understand it, for never had any
difficulty in keeping my Shoes ties,
collars and that kind of things in their
place before. l suppose i forget TO put
them away now, that l have the break
fast to cook
The woman listening, laughed, for she
knew all about certain bags and boxes
which her dearest friend had. in which
She slowed away her husbands SOiled
linen and handkershiefs and kept his
neck-ties straight. She remembered
too. her friend telling her she had left
everything in apple-pie order for Her
bert. Hell get along nicely the lit
tie woman had said, for the fiat is in
perfect order, there isn't soiled arti-
Gle anywhere, and I've left a supply Of
cooked things and have told the nlikman
and baker to call every morning in time
for breakfast"
ut wasn't SO bad until I made my
first breakfast the voice on the veranda
Went on, - that was not a success, for
after L had made the coffee and put
on the eggs, I sat down to read the paper
a minute. What's 4 minute when you
want to find out about the situation in
China. and if the Democrats have agreed
on their platform But it was long
enough for the coffee to boil all over
the range and the eggs TO get as hard as
bricks What coffee was left, tasted
queer, and l hadn't time to wash the
dishes. j was sure had used only one
plate and cup and saucer. but there
was enough for half a dozen persons.
After / udied up the kitchen 1 thought
would look over the evening paper,
when I remembered / hadn't made my
bed yet ! colld have sworn burglars
had been in the room. for there We're
more shoes and neck-ties. and things
lying around, than / could wear in a
week. couldn't begin TO put them
away Marion has one oil those long
narrow boxes for my neck-ties, and
tried TO straighten the things out and
put them away 1 usually keep them
but 1t toak too long
Again the woman on the other side OF
the window laughed SOFTLY for she re-
mernbcrad her friend telling how Her
bert always tried every pair of sh es
he owned before he could decide which
ones to wear. and how his neck-tie box
had to be tidied every morning as resu-
larry as the bed was made
at is two weeks now since Marion
want away. the man continued "a.,cs
though / have written he- that every
thing is all right, and that. ] en-, 5
housekeeping. I shall be mighty glad to
see her back. Every dish in the house
was used nearly a week ago. and /
have given Gp trying 10 wash more inan
The plate and cup / need for breakfast.
After this I am going downtown for
breakfast. and / am going to send for
the washerwoman to come and clean IN
the house. ] told Marion it wasn't
necessary TO have any one come in. that
could keep things going To-: q Inc,iti
all right Our fat is so small, there
never Seemed much TO do, but either
am too busy at the office. or have
not felt 50 well as usual, for this house
keeping beats me-
You'll be glad when 1t is time foi
your Wife TO come home. eh2" said the
friend. as he knocked the ashes off tbs
end OF his cigar, and the woman who lis.
tened made UP her mind she would writs
her friend that Very night, and tell he,
how glad Herbert would be to see he,
and the children.-Bufralo Express.
southern Tennis.