The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-01-11
I THE MAN IN THE MOON ,
How Husband and Wife Forgave
One Another For Mutual
Indiscretion.
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ut simply won't do" observed Mr.
Portland-khodes, with emphasis.
May ASK what you are talking
aboutT
Il am talking about your extrava-
gance." said her husband IF it contin-
nes, you will simply burst up the show
he added relapsing into slang.
I'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 | take a girl to
supper that-that there's anything in it,
She was an old friend"
Il should hardly call her old" said
Mrs. Portand-Rhod critically. Sup,
pose we say middle agcd?'
Anyway, we are drifting from the
point"
wv hat is the point of this dialogue?"
inquired his wife, with extreme affabil.
ty.
Your extravaganza cannot stand
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 them?"
Mrs. Rhodes shifted her smelling bot.
tie with an air of extreme patience.
why not write out a check?" 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 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 hus-
band banged out of the room, muttering
expressions which would not be permit
ted even at a religious demonstration
1t was pretty piece of acting on her
part-the airiness the nouchalance, the
magnificent contempt for debt. 1t was
all put on. She was in a 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 uncomfortable
conscious that she was on the high road
to making IA fool of herself. She was up
to her pretty little 'ears in debt, and,
above all, she was I'M funk about it,
In short, Mrs. Portland Rhodes had
cast herself for an unsuitable role At
the bottom of her heart she was ro-
mantle little creature. ridiculously in love
with her husband, with phianthropic
tendencies and reasonable weakness
for dressing decently."
There is no more pitiable sight than
that of scrupulous person trying to be
INSCRIPTIONS. She hated to owe money.
but to keep level with the times she ran
headong into debt and suffered agones.
She adorcd her husband and quarreled
with him She despised married firts
and was carrying on three open firta
tions, to say nothing of 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 a
fancy dress masked bali given at the
Ambidextrous. Mrs Rhodes was rohed
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
ont of the bag with regard to her fnan
cial scrapes The man in the moon was
sympathetic. He had had a straight
tip" Should be put bit on for her? Mrs
Rhodes hesitated for a variety of rea-
sons, one being that she had no spare
cash to lose. and was already out of her
depth
'I'n tell you what shall do" said the !
man in the moon. 81 shall have iutter /
myself and I'll buy few shares for you
too. If it turns out badly. I'll 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 aud 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 note fnr
81 ZOO The dabble in Angeicos had sue.
ceeded beyond her expectations
1t was a 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 it, had sent her round (
sum of money. He might be mad, bet |
who would believe the story Would !
any sane person, especially mere hus'
band believe that a stranger would !
hand her a share of a speculation in |
which she had not staked farhing2
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
financial subjects, decided her, and she !
cashed the note, and utilized 1t to stop |
l-tht mouths of her hungriest creditors. |!
ill