The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1901-01-18
! THE MAN IN THE MOON ,
How a Husband and Wife Forgave
One Another For Mutual
Indiscretion.


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Indiscretion.
@<-<A<-<-<>-<-<-<-<Nt
1T simply won't do" observed Mr..
Portland Rhodes, with emphasis.
MAY l ask what you are talking
aboutT
~ am talking about your extrava-
gance," said her husband. IF 1t contin-
ues, you will simply burst up the show"
he added, relapsing into slang.
'T'm afraid your theatrical friends are
demoralizing your English"
"The English language has nothing to
do with the conversation" he snapped.
"Not with your conversation, DEAR"
said his wife sweetly.
"And I'm tired of these dark illusions
to my theatrical friends. It's absurd to
imagine that because l take a girl to
supper that-that there's anything in 1t.
She was an old friend"
II should hardly call her DID," said
Mrs. Portland-Rhodes critically. "Sup-
pose we say middle aged?"
Anyway, we are drifting from the
point"
What is the point of this dialogue?
inquired his wife, with extreme affabili-
ty.
the pace. What's to be done with these
things?' indicating little pile of bills
"I'm afraid / have no head for bust
ness" said his wife, looking tired.
"But how are we going to meet themY"
Mrs. Rhodes shifted her smelling bot
tie with an air of extreme patience.
"Why not write out a checkW she
murmured.
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 in
dependent husband. Mr.. Portland
Rhodes gathered up the pile of bills,
housekeeping and otherwise, placed them
by his wife's plate and stalked to the
door.
you've made a very poor breakfast,
Charles" said his wife alphabetically.
"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 hus-
band banged out of the room, muttering
expressions which would not be permit
ted even at religious demonstration.
1t was a pretty piece of acting on her
part-the airiness, the nonchalance, the
magnificent contempt for debt. 1t was
all put on. She was in complicated
frame Of mind. She was jealous of her
husband on account of an innocent
spree" Of his, which green glasses had
made hideous. She was uncomfortably
conscious that she was ON the high road
10 nf he
to her pretty little ears in debt, and,
above all, she was in funk about it.
In short, Mrs. Portland Rhodes had
cast herself for an unsuitable role. At
the bottom of her heart she was q ro-
mantle little creature, ridiculousy in love
with her husband, with philanthropic
tendencies and reasonable weakness
for dressing decently."
There is no more pitiable sight than
that of scrupulous person trying to be
unscrIpulous. She hated to owe money,
but TO keep level with the times she ran
headlong into debt and suffered agonies.
She adored her husband and quarreled
with him. She despised married flirts
and was carrying on three open fiirta
tons, to say nothing of n mysterious one,
at the mere thought of which she trem-
bled. In short, she was a poor, worried
little woman who was walking in slip
perry places and expecting to come a
cropper every minute.
A week before she had attended
fancy dress masked ball given at the
Ambidextrous. 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 Lad
broke. whom she counted among her ad-
mirers. They became quietly confden-
tial. and Mrs. Rhodes rather let the cat |
out of the bag with regard to her fnan-
cial scrapes. The man in the moon was
sympathetic. He had had straight |
tip" Should be put bit on for her? Mrs. |
Rhodes hesitatcd for variety of rea-
sons one being that she had no spare |
cash to lose, and was already out of her |
depth.
"I'll tell you what l shall do" said the
man in the moon. 81 shall have q flutter |
myself, and I'll buy few shares for you
too. If it turns out badly. III get it back
for you some other time. But it's too
good to miss. You must be in it,
This arrangement sounded very COM
Portable and Mrs. Rhodes assentcd.
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 a polite letter of congratulation from
the man in the moon, inclosing note for
81 900. The dabble in Angelicos had sue
ceeded beyond her expectations.
II was curious position for a married
woman. What was she to do? A man
she did not know, for he had not even
signed his name. probably thinking she
already knew II. had sent her n round
sum of money. He might be mad, but
who would believe the story? Would
any sane person. especially a mere hos
band. believe that stranger would
hand her share Of a speculation in
which she had not staked n farthing?
On the other hand. she gave a sigh
Of relief when she recollected that, not
knowing who he was, she could not re-
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