The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1904-04-29

thing in the way Of terrestrial or su-
pernatural beings
In fact ltor such is the inconsist-
ency Of woman. rather began 20
wish that the ghosts would walk, or
otherwise make themselves known. or
that anything exciting would happen.
For. after the advent Of my two Celes-
tials. my occupation was entirely gone;
no longer did | daily wrestle with the
Kitchen brasero. and harangue the
fruitman and the other purveyOrs 10
our inner needs In other words. mat
tiers waxed deadly duh and porous 50
that I complained bitterly TO my other
half. who only laughed uproariously.
and gave me little sympathy 4ou
see. he had his work. And said he.
"Aly good wife. you don't know a fine
thing when you see IL. Here you are
with plenty OF leisure and all the
chance you want 10 shine in the Amer
lean colony OF Pinal' yet YOU let IT
slip. Put on your gaudiest gown Gf
YOU have onei: all the jewelry you can
beg. borrow or steal. 20 and pay your
calls and III WAGER you a Nirot hat
that youll have all the diversion you
can stand"
Meekly. but without the jewelry. !
did as was told | called on many
ladies. and opened mp a new horizon
to myself in the way of topics Of con
versation For in Pinal. YOU always
discuss your servants. and other peo-
pies servants. your own and other
peoples position in society; and the
fact that society in Mexico is not
what il is mt home" To hear the wives
Of groccrymen. cheap clerks and ma
chinists discussing social position
gave me rather a sort of "Alice-in-
Wonderland" feeling but | held my
peace
Not many weeks passed before So
ciety and | mutually dropped each
other and gave my husband no peace
until he decided upon and arranged
nice long ducking trip 10 the lakes.
some 30 miles from Piaal. And. oh
me. how enjoyable il was But when
we returned. with sunburned faces and
hands showing traces Of powder and
hard work, the ladies of the American
colony shook dubious heads over me
and my probable fate woman who
actually went hunting with her hus-
band. could ride 30 miles in a day. and
was reported to shoot as well a a
man. was a paradox To them. For
their parts. they wondered why any
man wanted 10 marry such a woman
SO unfit Tor society.
To tell the truth. l rather regretted
the tan and sunburn myself. when
found upon our return invitations 10
the usual yearly big bale al the
Casino. | hadn't been TO a dance OF
| any sort since our last country house
visits on Long Island. | had a par
ticuarly pretty gown. knew that the
floor would be good and slippery. The
native Mexican band fair and thai
there would be plenty OF presentabl'
men 10 dance with. mostly delegation.
from the outlying camps But how
in the name OF all that was consist
ent could appear in an evening gown
topped of by a face. neck and arms
| that were about the consistency OF
color OF burned leather? My hus
band unfeclingly suggested whitewash
but applied lemon juice and mourned
Il really was disappointing. you know
Three DAYS before the dance ths
partner OF my joys and SORROWS was
called away 10 inspect the installation
of some new machinery. He left with
reluctance: for. while our big, old
house seemed absolutely safe. there
had nevertheless been some burglarie'
OF late. and he dreaded leaving ms
| alone with the servants for a couple
| OF nights. But | urged him TO 20
saying that the doors were perfectly
| robber- proof. the servants trustworthy
and that would keep a shotgun
handy. so that he need have no fears
In point Of fact. for once | preferred
his room 10 his company. having q
face bleaching process in view. the
/ which | knew he would never con
sent 10. did he come to know of IL. SC
he departed. and. feeling relieved and
sneaky by turns. set about prepare
tioas for the surreptitious whitening
Of my unlucky countensnce. Mos
schoolgirls will recognize the beauti'
fer which | FASTENED TO apply as soor
as my light dinner had been dis
patched. that night. With doors care
| fully locked. and q revolver handy. In
case of burglars. experimental witt
a piece of chamois-skin until il amply
covered my face. concealing even th'
ears Then cut very small holes fol
| my eyes. nose and mouth. so that
could barely breathe comfortably
Then. sewing on strings To hold thu
contrivance in place. | proceeded e
smear it literally with good. strong
Mexican leeks-and how they diC
smell 10 high heaven
When ready for bed | carefully ap
piled this odorous mask. and tied j
on so that il could not by any posi-
bility come on As | put ont thu
candles I caught n glimpse Of mysel
and came near shrieking al the sight
for | looked more like a first-clas
ghost than anything else. had twist
ed my hair back tight. and. TO protec
il from the leeks. covered il with al
old white bathing cap. The mask en-
I ,frot,- bfd my fara and I look l iiki