Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-11
DAILY SHORT STORY
A Domestic Farce.

"But we have been married only five
weeks, one week more than the honey
moon"
1T doesn't matter if we have been
married only five minutes. 1 am re-
solved not to live another day with a
man who will treat.me so abOminably."
Il treat YOU
"It is useless for you TO protest. L
listened to your deceitful words dur
ing the period of our engagement to
find out now, when it is too late. what
you are"
"But what are you goingsto do-get
a divorce?"
mo" after reflection; 81 shall not
give you an opportunity tomarry some
other woman whom you will deceive
as you have deceived me. 1 shall go
abroad with my mother and leave you
here. You can give out that L have
gone for my health. Later it may be
known that We have separated for
ever"
Forever
Eyes, and if find some one suited to
my mind perhaps in time 1 may get
divorce from you and marry again
Every WELL since you are determined
to leave me, since you will not listen
to reason
Reason, Is there reason in suffer
ing n lifelong torture? Not l. 1 shall
nip it in the bud" She snapped her
fingers Viciously.
GsT &c I inI- q
we must part your plan is a wise one.
1t will avoid a social shock. Besides,
people will say that you left me, not L
you"
Certainly. Do you think 1 would
have them infer that L permitted my
self to be deserted?"
True Your head is always level.
That's one of the features that won my
heart-your level head. l shall remain
in this house. l must have some one to
manage my household affairs. Iset me
see 1 wonder if Mrs. Ruston would
consent to he my housekeeperF'f
who is Mrs. Ruston?"
"A widow"
IAN old woman:"
Not unless you call twenty-five old"
Hin! Do you propose to set people
talking from the start?"
"Oh. no! Mrs. Ruston is not pretty.
The world knows from my having
married YOU that L must have beauty"
II should wish to- She stopped
short After all. it is nothing to me
whether she is beautiful or ugly"
Il have box of my old photographs
in the storeroom. and if l mistake not
Lily Ruston's'-
Lilly huston. First it was Mrs. Rus
ton. now Lily RusDn. L suppose it
will soon be dear Lily"
Without reply the husband left the
room and presently returned with
photograph which he tossed on his
wife's dressing case. She took it up
and looked at it with a flush of anger.
DO you suppose for one moment that
am going to leave you in this house
with that bold looking thing"
why not:"
Il have some regard for your good
name even if you have made it impos-
sible for me to live with you, and
don't propose TO have it said that l
was turned out of the house to make
room for such creature as that
Il told you she was homely."
You didn't tell me she was loud
looking"
There was an ominOus silence that
was broken by his wife.
This is what l have come to-mar-
ried to man whose past, if had only
known it. doubtless foreshadowed that
doors
Turn you out of doors, Why, 1
thought you were going and wouldn't
be induced to remain"
for one of his old associates whom
he would bring into it, perfectly care
less of the opinion of respectable peo-
pie"
What interest have you in my house
keeper"
II have this interest-people shall
not say: Poor womanl To think that
she should be sent away to make room
for
''Then you are not going?"
Under the circumstances l am not"
"And Eily's services will not be re-
quired?"
Most assuredly they will not
"Well?"
'Well, 1 shall have Cynthia, the old
black woman who occasionally does a
days work for me- She is a good cook
and will satisfy that most important
part of you, your stomach"
"And who will satisfy those diminu-
tive parts, my head and hearth"
You married wife for that, but
treated her so shamefully that she was
obliged to leave you" She said this
less angrily.
ut seems to me this is a matter for
compromise. 1 want Lily Ruston for
my housekeeper. You want me to have
Cynthia. Now, what do you say to-
''Oh, l dare say you have a large
stock of old flames. any OF whom
would be brazen enough