The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1900-12-12


'May / ask what you are talking
about:"
II am talking about your eXtrava-
gance," said her husband, in his best
House of Commons manner. IF it con-
tinues you will simply bust up the Show
he added, relapsing into slang.
"Tm afraid your theatrical friends are
demoralizing your English
1.-THE English language has nothing to
do with the conversation" he snapped.
mot with your conversation, dear,
said his wife, sweetly.
land I'm tired of these dark illusions
to my theatrical friends. It's absurd to
imagine that because l take girl to
supper that-that there's anything i'll 1T.
She was an old friend"
II should hardly call her DID, said
Mrs. Portland-Rhodes critically. Sup
pose we say middle-aged?"
ANY way, we are drifting from the
point
what is the point of this dialogue"
inquired his wife, with extreme affabil-
ity. -,
..Your extravaganza I cannot stand the
pace. What's to be done with these
things?" indicating little pile of bills.
.'Fm afraid 1 have no head for bust
ness said his wife, looking tired.
Mrs. Rhodes shifted her smelling-bottle
with an air of extreme patience.
why not write out check?' she muir
INJURED.
Write out a check?" he gasped.
"What the
IF you wish the servants to know all
our private affairs, I'll ring the bell"
said his wife but don't shout, dear,
because it makes my head ache
There was only one reply for an indie
pendent British husband. Mr.. Portland
Rhodes, NJ. p, gathered up the pile of
bills, housekeeping and otherwise, placed
them by his wife's plate, and stalked to
the door.
you've made very poor breakfast,
Charles" said his wife, sympathetically.
And you'll make me very poor
man." he muttered.
''I'm sorry, dear. [ forgot how many
calls you have upon your private purse"
This was the last straw. The Mem
ber' banged out of the room, mutterins
mltted even at religious demonstration.
1t was a pretty piece of acting on her
part-the airinesS the nonchalance, the
magnificent contempt for debit was all
put on. She was in complicated frame
of mind. She was jealous of her hus-
band on account of an innocent "spree"
of his. which green glasses had made
ulutOuS. kcuc was uuCOIHIOrl1DIy con-
sclous that she was on the high road to
making a fool of herself She was up
to her pretty little ears in debt. and,
above all, she was in a funk about it.
In short, Mrs. POrtland-Rhodes, wife
of the member for Tattenham Corner,
had cast herself for an unsuitable role.
At the bottom of her heart She was y
romantic little creature ridiculously in
love with her husband, with philanthropy
ic tendencies, and 4 reasonable weak
ness for dressing decently.'
There is no more pitiable sight than
that of a scrupulous person trying to be
INSCRIPTIONS. She hated to owe money,
headlong into debt, and suffered agones.
She adored her husband, and quarreled
with him. She despised married f1irts.
and was carrying on three open fiirta-
tiOns, to say nothing of mysterious one,
at the mere thought of which she trem-
bed. In short, she was poor, worried
little woman. who was walking in slim
perry places, and expected to come a crop
per every minute.
A week before she had attended fan
cy dress masked ball given at the Am
bidextrous. Mrs. Rhodes was robed as
the Morning Star, and paired off with
the Man in the Moon. She believed her
partner to be a certain Percy Ladbroke,
whom she counted among her admirers.
They became quietly confidential, and
Mrs Rhodes rather let the cat out of the
bag with regard to her financial scrapes.
The Man in the Moon was sympathetic.
He had had a straight tip from
ON for her? Mrs. Rhodes hesitated for
a variety of reasons, one being that she
had no spare cash to lose, and was al
ready out of her depth.
''I'll tell you what I shall do" said
the Man in the Moon; 81 shall have Il
futter myself, and I'll buy a few shares
for you, too. If it turns out badly, I'll
get it back for you some other time.
in it,
This arrangement sounded very COM
Portable, and Mrs. Rhodes assented
Her first shock was received next day,
when she learned that the Man in the
Moon was not by any means Percy Lad
broke, as that young gentleman was
away in the country. The next shock
was polite letter of congratulation from
the Man in the Moon, inclosing a note
for $3.50. The dabble in Angelicos had
succeeded beyond her expectations.
1t was curious position for a mar
ried woman. What was she to do? A
man she did not know. for he had not
even signed his name, probably think
ing she already knew it, had sent her
round sum of money. He might be
mad, but who would believe the story?
w QUO any Same person, especially d mere
husband, believe that a stranger would
hand her u share of speculation in
which she had not staked farthing?
On the other hand, she gave a sigh of
relief when she recollected that, not
knowing who he was, she could not re-
turn it. That fact, combined with the
pile of bills and her husbands irritation
on financial subjects, decided her, and
she cashed the note, and utilized it to
stop the mouths of her hungriest credit
ors. But it seemed as if she was doomed
to face the unexpected. 1t happened
that night that, for a wonder, she and
her husband dined tete-a-tete. He was
gloomy and silent; she as airy and flip
pant as usual.
Il have. had lucky speculation in
Angelicos," he said, quietly, when the
servants had left the room.
"lou don't look as if you had," she
said, cracking a nut
''And | hoped to give you pleasant
SURPRISE" he added; $50 I drove around
to some of your people this afternoon
to pay your bills
She went white, and nearly pinched a
finger instead of nut.
Il was rather surprised to learn that