The Minneapolis journal., 1903-03-14
THE HAPP|EST TIME
No. l0-A Matrimonial Episode.
By MARY STEWART CUTTING.
Copyright, 1868 by Mary Stewart Cutting)

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1t was in the year that Dick Martindale
went out west in the service of the Elec-
geographic company that his wife became
acquainted with Sarah Latimer. Although
the latter was by birth a western girl, she
had lived long enough in the east to seem
like a compatriot to Bertha Martindale, who
had come from the dear gregarious sub
urban life, with it's commingling of family
interests and sympathy, to land peopled
thin,y with her husbands friends, mostly
men. Dick laughingly asserted that she
had never forgiven him for his few years
of western life previous to their marriage,
ascribing all his faults of habit and ex-
preston to that demoralizing influence,
and he wondered at her courage in ex-
posing little Rich and Mary to the chance
Of acquiring the wide ease and careless
ness she objected to in him. He had been
q little uneasy, in view Of her previous
opinions, as to the manner in which she
would dispense hospitality in the little
furnished house that they hired, but he
need not have feared. Bertha had always
been used to popularity.
Don't you think get on we'll with peo-
. ple?" she asked.
Like a bird" said her husband.
NO, but really. Don't you think
adapt myself?"
You do so much adapting that I'm get
ting afraid of YOU"
Don't" She put his newspaper one
side and kissed him, and he submitted to
the caress patiently, his eyes still follow
ing the paragraph on which they had been
fixed.
1.-The two women I really feel at home
with" she continued. musingly, "are the
clergyman's wife, who is just dear, poor
SOUL and living reproach to every one,
and Sarah Latimer. I wonder that you
never told me about her, Richard" p
Sarah Latimer! I always thought she
was stick" said Richard, glancing up
from the newspaper.
''Well, she is not, at all; at any rate,
she's only the least little bit sticky. Oh!
I suppose if I were at home I mightn t
have taken such a fancy to her, but out
here! and do think it's pathetic about
her." ~
How on earth you can discover any
thing pathetic about Sarah Latimer Ber-
tha. beats me. That long, sandy haired
wisp OF a girl! Let me alone; I want to
read. my paper" - 49,.
NO" she held the paper down with
one hand. Its really important; do lis
ten to me, Dick! I want to do something
for her"
you are doing something for her; yor
have her here morning, noon and night
She's forever going about with little Ricf
and Mary; people will be taking her fol
my wife some day, you just see if they
don't. I nearly kissed her by mistake
for you yesterday; she was right in the
way as I came in the door. Now dom
feel jealous"
mo, won't" said Bertha with indig
nation. But look here, Dick! know
she is with US a good deal, but do wan
to give her chance" "-...
"a chance of what?"
"A chance to enjoy herself, and to Sc,
people. and to feel that she's young, ant
oh, chance to get married, If yol
will have me say it,"
IT thought so," said Dick You ma.
as well let her go back to private life
Bertha; she'll never be a success on an!
stage Of that kind. I don't believe an.
r man ever wanted to marry her, or eve
WILL
J. You can't tell" said Bertha musing
ly./ 80 many fellows come here! shoul
d" think some of them might fancy her."
u mo, they will not'' said Richard de
liberately.> You mark my words; tina
girl will never get married. Yes, I knoy
she's good, and she's clever, and reall
not bad looking, either, when you TAX
her to pieces. But she's not interesting
that's the gist Of the whole matter, an
nothing you can say or do will alte
that"
"She may not be interesting to you, b,
she Is to me-" returned Bertha IAN
that argument goes for nothing, Dicl
Scores Of uninteresting girls get marie
Or near it, with nothing in this world
occupy her or take up her attention. HI
uncle and aunt are very good to her, b1
they don't need her-she Is rather In Il
way, If anything. That big house is 6
solennly comfortable and well arrange
and oppressively neat The servants ha,
been there for years. The furniture WI
bought In the age when it was made
last, and 1t has lasted. The curtains a.
always drawn in the parlor, and If
chink Of light comes in, Mrs. Latin
draws them closer; everything is di
and well preserved and smells stuffy VIII
1t doesn't smell of oilcloth. It gives n
the creeps."
'You are eloquent" said Richard.
''There Is only one place that looks as
it were ever used," continued Bertha, u
needing, "and that's the sitting-room
the parlor. It has a faded green loun
in it and discolored family photograp
in oval walnut frames, and two big hal
cloth rockers, with tides on them,
either side of the table, which holds
lamp, a newspaper-not pile of thel
they are always cleared away neatly-a
a pieoe Of knitting work. Here Mr.. a.
Mrs. Latimer doze all the evening""
What on earth has all this to do wi
garah's marriage?' asked Richard.
Everything! Don't you see that t.
poor girl Is just being choked by degree
it's case Of slow suffocation. She liv
east after she left school until five yea
ago, and came back to find her girl frien
married and moved away. ~g People,
course, sent her invitations, and were p
lite to her, but there seemed no particul
place for her. anywhere. She's too cley
for most Of the men here, and her stan
ard Is above them. She's what I call
very highly educated GIRL
'You seem to suit them," said Richa1
laughing.
I'm naturally frivolous" said Bert
with sigh. ''but Sarah isn't. If she OF
had to work for a living she would be
great success, but she has enough OF
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