Perth Amboy evening news., 1905-01-13
A WISE HUSBAND.
BY BARRY PAIN.

many happy returns OIL the day.
Thank you so mucn, dearest" said
Ida. You never forget my poor little
day, do you?"
mo, dear. no" said her husband, as
he gave her the broken poached egg and
took the more perfect specimen for him
self. Il never forget your sweet little
birthday, and now comes the great ques-
ton, What am / to give my darling!
Glow kind Of you. | hardly kno"
what to say. You see" she added shyly'
some things cost so much more than
others, don't they?"
Yes said George, medltallvely
that is a perfectly just observation.
However, on this occasion ! don't want
you to think about money value at all.
/ have had an exceptionally good year,
Even if | had not it would be painful
for me 10 think of money at all in this
connection. / always say it is not the
money value of Il present which gives II
its worth, but the spirit in which it is
offered. (Will you want this last piece
Of toast? No? Then l will take it,
Now, what is it to be? On what have
0 set your heart .t, .t..
ITO tell the truth" said Ida, Il have
set my heart on something, but am al
most ashamed to say it,"
"Why?'
They are perfectly lovely. but the
mar in the shop said c geo was the low
est price. You might be able TO get them
for less, because you are so clever in
business. 1t is only a single row and
they've got a diamond clasp. You know
these that Mary wears? Well, these are
just like them. only hers, of course, are
only imitation ~
All" said George, with an indulgent
smile. And what is ii exactly you are
talking about? What is the precise iGed
that has got into my Wife's pretty
head?'
I'm afraid it is a pearl necklace"
The indulgent smile still remained,
but he shook his head. His tanner vas
that Of the father at the 700 who is tell
ing his baby that she must not really
ride on the lion. Il wonder if you have
any idea what pearls are?"
These are G200, didn't | say?'
Yes, dearest. YOU did. but II you were
asked to describe a pearl how would you
do it?"
q should say that it was e. precious
stone" a.
1T is funny how that idea has got
about. A pearl is not u mineral at all.
1t has not that quality Of hardness which
is demanded, | believe, in every precious
stone. unless, perhaps, the opal Is eX-
cepted."
How do you come 10 know all these
things? | shan't mind q BIT about the
hardness. They'll be as hard as | want.
it isn't as if | We're gong to jump on
them. George, dear. | shall wear them
round my neck. They are a necklace,
didn't | say?'
George shuddeged. Yes, sweetheart,
YOU did. That is what is so appalling.
The mere thought OF it makes my blood
run cold. To think that you should Put
such things on You, actually allowing
them to touch your skin, is leo horrible
for words. 1t is ali ordeal | would never
under any hollow preter5c Of generosity
dream of subjecting You to. think far
too highly OF you. my dear, for that
But why? ! cant see it. | think
pearls are just too beautiful for words.
l could look at them all day"
we have to think what they really
are. That is what | cannot get away
from. can never shut my eyes to it.
So much 50 is that the case that the very
sight OF a real pearl causes me a Keeling
of nausea. Pearls are The pathological
secretion of u dirty shelltish. | am
sorry to have to use such words, but
they give you the plain fact
What is a pathological sacretion?"
81 mean that they have their origin in
disease. Am | TO take I horrible prod
uct of a diseased fish and hang it round
my wife's pretty neck? No; The idea is
too repulsive. Yes he continued, as
she began to speak. Il admit your ar
gument. | know that there are women
of supposed retirement who Go these
things, but either it says little for their
refinement or much for their ignorance.
| assure you that on one occasion i
nearly had to leave the theater because
the lady in the stall mex me was wear
ing a rope of these painful objects. Their
only right place is in a pathological
museum"
II never knew you felt so strongly
about it. OF course. George, | give up
the idea al once. It's really rather flat
tering that you should think me too
good to wear real pearls. YET" she
looked meditatiye.
yet" said George. cneerfully, you
do in your heart like the shape and the
color of these things
That's true"
'Then I'll tell you what Well 40. My
objections to real pearls cannot apply
to the artificial and at the same time the
artificial have the shape and color.
which is all that you really want. will
a little necklace for you to-day for a
or two and that will leave
over to renew the linoleum in
the upstairs passage. Now l must be