The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1900-12-29

then il was not to be supposed that
business man could give up his bust
ness in order to get home to dinner on
time. It was certainly small Of the
fellow to take advantage of a miscon-
ception Of the terms Of the bet, and
it was, in a sort, dishonorable in him
TO listen to private conversation and
profit by what he had heard to the
injury Of the man who confided in his
gentlemanly instincts. That was
about the way he felt as he went out
to Oak Park, and the shadow of his
reflections appeared on his face when
he greeted his wife.
After a perfunctory dab at her face
The glanced disapprovingly lat her
gown. II thought you were going to
be all ready, SO that 1 wouldn't have
to wait for you" he remarked.
did you ever know me to keep 56u
waiting2" asked the lady.
At this Potwin could do nothing but
gasp for moment or two. When he
i recovered he began to indulge in some
sarcasm, which his wife listened to
with calm and superior smile.
let me ask you," she said when
| he had finished, didn't you sit for
20 minutes waiting for the curtain to
60 up the last time you took me out,
and didn't you worry me until l near
ly had fit before we started? Now,
don't try and crawl under lot of
glittering generalities, Herberts just
own up for once"
'In my opinion" said Potwin, sit is
better to be 20 minutes too early or
an hour too early, for that matter,
than half minute too -late. That is
the maxim by which you ought to
govern yourself, my dear. OF course
you may have your views on the sub
iect, but it is always excessively an
noying to me to miss the first act of
a play and have to guess at the con-
nection of everything that follows. Al
most always the last two acts hinge
to great extent on the first one.
should think you would have noticed
that yourself"
II have, now you mention it. BY
the way, dinner has been waiting for
you for over half an hour, and when
you are ready we will sit down to it.3
"That is rather a new idea, isn't it?"
asked Potwin, after the soup.
Meaning"
.Dinner in kimona, or whatever
, you call it, I'm not critieising, you
understand, I'm only seeking for I'M
formation. It may be the latest for
all iknom don't nreteHd ~ he on
to all these little frills.'
SIT is the latest"
81 can't say that 4 like it. may
get used to it after awhile, but it viii
: take time BY the way I thought
had given you time to dress"
Il always take it, anyway You
seem to worry great deal nnneces'
! sarily ] think I shall be ready by
) the time You are DO you want to BET
: me hat thatI'm not?'
II like your breezy confidence" >" s9it
Potwin, glancing at her, suspiciously
e 'Are my things put out?
/ Everything is spread on your bet
and the studs are in your shirt"
: "I'll take the bet, said Potwin. y
t would have taken it, anyway, even if
! had been compelled to send my coat tC
he cleaned and pressed, but you know
E that hate to bother with the details
e after hard days work. I'm glad that
I, YOU were considerate enough OF my
comfort to do it, my dear"
81 shall beat Eou," exclaimed Mrs
Potwin, with CLEAN Of anticipated
4 triumph in her eye.
e 'sWe shall see. In a little while yor
/ "a s. vfft III
, your mouth full of hairpins and beg
t ging me not to walk the floor. Do yol
j know what time this play begins@
4 eat the usual time, suppose; but
e will excuse you now if you want to gC
r and dress. I want to finish my dessert
Take your time, said Potwin, conf
\ IDENTIFY. ''I'm going TO smoke cigar
0 1 know to a dot how long it takes me K
dress"
He smoked his cigar leisurely for sey
eral minutes after his wife had left tht
! table. Presently he called to her tina
he expected her to dress fairly and t
make as elaborate toilet as usual.
+ "What is that ?" she asked, reappear
! ing in her hmona.
/ 'Great Scott" exclaimed Potwin
: "Aren't you blessing? Don't you know
) that we've only got half an hour t.
train time?'
), 'Thirty-eight minutes she correct
|, ed. cit doesn't seem to be worrying
you, though expect shall have t,
wait for you after all. Do throw ava.
that cigar and get ready, if sou Intent
to 60 at ALL"
POtwin got up and went into hi
room Mrs Potwin went into hers
she remained there about three min
L utes, and when she came out again ST.
was ia full evening dress, her hat on
y her cloak on her arm and her gloves il
= her hand. She went over to q shadow
corner Of the room and put her glove
e on, listening the while, with mali
e cious smile, to the eEclamations tina
It proceeded from her husbands room.
.r where's that confomded button
/ hook2n he roared.
e She told him and he INDUCED in fey
q general observations on women VIII
q couldn't let things alone. Then h
wanted to know why the dickens sh
d couldn't find a laundry that woul