New-York tribune., 1904-08-08
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- L&GEENS'

! They were three or four women lunching to-
gether, and they were arguing 70 the qualities
which constitute the ideal wife.
The absolutely Indispensable quality" said one
OF the group finally. rs adRptabil!ty. quite
realized what can DO in that line" she
added refectiveIy. It'll during the visit I've been
making my cousins IN the West. When my cousin
Bell girl she OF Puritan or1erliness-
the kind Of girl whose conscience would oblige her
70 stay in and tidy her top drawer when she would
have liked 20 go and play tennis. When you
took up a book from her table, you uRconsciousIy
made mental note OF where IL lay. that you might
avoid the mistake OF putting it down in different
place Rudolph Hildebrande was a happy-go-
lucky artist who kept his cravats in pair OF old
shoes under hts bed. cast care 10 the winds and
generally conducted himself ike a lizard q sum
me-s DAY They loved each other deyoutIy but
I wondered as I came away from the wedding how
they'd get on together.
They settled in Chicago. and I didn't see them
for years till last month I went ror the VISIT
I've always been talking of making them. Bells
letters had sounded If she were happy, but you
never can tell from letters and l stepped from
the rraiu at the Union Station in Chicago 7 real
ized that I was about 10 satisfy q long cherished
curiosity. I looked al Rudolph, when he rushed Up
10 greet me TO see II he bore any signs OF having
been broken TO harness. but ne seemed just the
same sunny. careless fellow in the old days.
We reached the house. and the minute J got inside
! was conscious OF the free-and-e -e2sy atmosphere.
Rudolph's old painting blouse and some Of his
sketches were lying the hall seat, and some OF
them had fallen 10 the floor. When Bell had kissed
ne watched 70 see her gather them up and
speak reprovingly 70 Rudolph, but she just walked
over them a. uuconcernedly as possible The three
little girls were presented 10 me, ana saw at
once that they were small editions Of their father.
1 wondered II that had been a blow 10 Bei, but
sDparentIv she was sioriously satisfied with them
A little later the oldest girl burst IL from play
fun some youthful grievance. and on her stormy
way 10 her mothers lap Knocked down and stepped
s-gHu ZHFr4g7a
made q move 10 repair the damage till she had
comforted her small daughter back 10 smiles
Presently Rudolph proposed some eXpedltion or
other Bell was busy with piece OF sewing thaI
] knew she particularly wanted 20 finish but she
put II aside. and as we went on together you
wouldn't have supposed she had responsibility
in The world. In fact. she was so unlike the Bell
] used TO know that after had been there week
or two I couldn't help asking her "hAt had brought
about the transformation
.sbe looked amused 1 did used to be prig.
DIDN'T r. she said. / shudder when think no"
near leading Rudolph desperately un-
comforts ble life. l fancy I did FOR the nrst Few
wears But by degrees my eyes opened oeBall
20 say 20 myself: Bell Hudebrands. it is becoming
evident that you turn Rudolph into any
thing but ne bohemian he is. and you are s ~ear
ing yourself and him 10 q fraZZle u tIe euoIt-
Why not Let used to seeing his paint brushes IN
mat II isn N those things that really count Pick
up II yo1 AA Hnootrus!!iie.S osf ,e e3' before YOU
dry the tears In their eyes II tears there re And
yany everyW mere he goes does Interfere VIII t1s
orderly pert JimaEce OF your domestic duties. tsn
II more important TO be his eomrade Than II is & 10
have the tablecioth straight In SNORT per
ceived that the New England ancestors n me ~sIs
undesira bic members OF our househoid-so Threw
them overheard. , -
And The result Is" said Bells cousin, as sae
finished tbe story that If that home Is a tine
harurl-scar rllm il II a very happy nome; there are
no Jars Rudolph adores his wife. and the chldren
VIII always have the memory OF rree ana joyous
Childhood -,
! II Know a woman" said one OF the other lunch
crs who has marvellous faculty for adjusting
herself not only her husband's little ternpeIa-
mental ways but 10 the ve4 trying circumstances
those ways frequently induce Her nusoand .. i a
Z dear good man put his ulpracticalIty Would d-lNe
any one but that woman wild Some time ag9
thrv decided 10 take what money tney nap AItu
( 20 20 California William was 20 go on flTst, ~
land. and build good house ana arm -
could be managed out OF the cash tnat was leLLt
/ She WAS n fooN later with the ch1lcren era the
furniture Well IN due time she arrived with her
I impedimenta and he met them AT The railway STA
ton ard thew were all carted out 70 the spot nt
had selected for home. ne nrst thing Flle 55as
was a large elegant. imposing barn She walked
around II -upposing the house was on the ntiler
sid~t but there wasn't any house. The fact was
that William had begun with the barn ana ha,
got So Interested n sdorning il that when ne got
through with q al his money was gone
Well lie was truly sorry for his error II ca5-
culation. and blaming him wouldn't DO any soou-