Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1900-03-22

noon last, Will you NC SOOu ellOuSA ~ tottSli
that button beside you? | want to summon
my man and have him take message down
to the station for me. | have been sitting
here longing for southern California, and
I'mgoing to send James down to tell the man
in charge of our private car to put 4er into
commission and have her ready to be tackled
on to the outgoing western express tonight.
/ suppose you are ready and will be glad to
go, my dear, even if | have suggested it
rather suddenly"
His young wife put her finger to her lip
and studied for a moment. lie could see
by the expression on her face that his plan
for a speedy departure was not entirely in
accord with her wishes, and he prepared
himself for a harsh answer if she should OBJ
ject. And why shouldn't he, he reasoned,
for had he not made sacrifices to crafty her
whims for travel, and departed for extended
journeys to all parts of the globe on almost
moments notice, and now If she could not
accommodate her engagements to this one
desire of his he would tell her what he
thought about the whole domestic arrange
ment in their home.
Il really don't see how / could possibly
get ready so soon, jack" she said. "0f
course, Nitouche, my French maid, could
probably pack in time-she is 50 quick and
so thorough at luggage packing, Nitouche!
and Deborah, my other maid, could help
her; but, Jack, there are 50 many other
things to be considered! For instance, those
dresses from Felix. Now, they should have
been here by the last French steamer,
and | was so grievously disappointed
that they did not come! The next French
steamer is not due until Wednesday, and
they surely should arrive then. Then, too,
that tiara that is being reset for me.
should really like to have that before start
ing out on a trip to southern California.
You know what lovely jewels the women
wear out there. And, oh my! | forgot all
about my new paddock coat and my new
sealskin ulster that is coming from London
when goodness only knows; it should
have been here two weeks ago No, Jack,
don't think it would be at all practicable
to start tonight"
Glow very annoying" said the young
husband, pettishly. II do wish, Matilda.
that you would give up your obstinate habit
of always placing obstacles in my path when
You see | want to do a thing! Fact is,
had quite set my mind on going tonight,
and | thought ! should please and surprise
you by telling you Of it suddenly"
But, Jack, YOU know would really
like"
Now, when you decided suddenly last
January that you wanted to 60 off on that
Mediterranean cruise interrupted the
young husband. did | have any stock of
excuses ready to spring why should or
could not accompany YOU within the 24-hour
time limit that your fancy dictated? In
deed did not! ! ordered our yacht, the
Crescent Moon, put into commission instant
ly-fact is, telegraphcd to our skipper to
that effect within ten minutes after you
suggested the cruise-and at seven o'clock
the next evening we were bound for Glib
raltar! Surely you remember that
why, of course, ! do, YOU unreasonable
old thing, Jack, but"
And, now that I've quite fixed my mind
on taking little run out to the southern
coast Of California and starting this blessed
evening on our private car the Arcturu, YOU
seem to have a thousand and one rea-
sons to present why you can't start for
week or So Matilda, il is distinctly ex-
asperatng,
And the young husband rose from his
chair and strobe up and down. after the
manner OF man very much put out.
"Oh, well, Jack, said the young wife. I'll
you're going to take il to heart so, why, I'm
sure ] can try and"
"Oh. no; ! wouldn't have you inconven-
fence yourself for worlds he intelposed
mot under any circumstances would have
you put yourself out in the slightest degree
OF course, if YOU wanted to 60 somewhere.
! could say no. ! won't be able to start for
couple of weeks, my dear. I've got to run
up to Vermont and look after my kennels
in the first place. fear those dogs. and
especially our prize $4,000 ST. Bern. are
being frightfuy neglected b. that dog ex-
pert we got in England last summer. Or
| could say that my stable Of hunters down
IN Virginia needed looking after-that
ddn believe my corps Of trainers were civ
ing them the proper schooling over the
jumps. Or | might, if ! wanted to get ont
OF accompanying you right off, say that our
lodge up in the Adirondacks, or our chateau
down in North Carolina, needed looking
after. Again, ] might say that the prospect
of the issuance of new loan by the gov
eminent would keep me tied here for a
couple of weeks. But never make any such
excuses, now, do |, honest, Matilda
why, no, of course not. who ever said
that YOU
And then, do you remember when We
were in Cairo last winter when YOU sud
denly took it into your head one night that
you'd like to take dahabiyeh voyage
down the Nile? Remember how | chartered
the very finest dahabiyeh on the river that
very night, so that she was ready to receive
us the next morning."
why, Of course I've not forgotten
that"
And do You remember when we We're al
Marselles, You felt too much fatigued to
travel back to Genoa where our yacht was
and | teegraphsd our skipper ard had tile
Crescent Moon ii AIarselles harbor in the
quickest time that was ever made between
the two ports? And yet, when ! suggest,
thinking I'm making YOU happy. that
would like to start this evening fer little
spin out to the coast, you invent"
Now, Jack, wait minute interrupted
the young wife. II only ventured to sug-
gest that there were a few little things
would like TO attend to. but. really.
should be quite overjoyed to go immediate
y-this very hour, if YOU wish We can
arrange to have all those things men
toned shipped after us And isn't it jolly
that the Crescent Moon just happens to be
lying in San Francisco harbor now. We
can take little run to Japan in her when
we become tired of southern California.
can't we, Jack? And to the Hawaiian
islands? Won't il be delightful? Oh. / am
ready"
well, then, it is decided that we leave
tonight, and | shall have my man send a
message to the railroad company immediate
ly to have our private car ready for the out
going train tonight, and shall also telegraph
to the captain Of the yacht to have her
ready for voyage when we reach San Fran
cisco. | think we shall enjoy the trip"