The National tribune., 1905-11-02
CHAPTER I.
"Just Like q Woman

Mrs. Willoughbyy did not. as was hel
usual custom. run to meet him. But
then Mr.. Wiiloughby hadn't expected
that she would. This was Monday
he very we'll knew. was downtown buy.
ing two yards OF ribbon Chat she didn't
want) for ~ cents (actual value sc
cents) and a handkerchief (that she
didn't needy for % cents (slightly
soiled, reduced from q quarter).
/ Mr.. WillOughby disapproved of hi:
wife's propensity for bargain hunting
but he lacked the moral courage to tel
her so.
He took the evening paper out of hi.
pocket and laid it on the hall table
Then he opened the front door in re.
with hands full of bundles trying flu.
tilely to locate the door-bell.
Mrs Willoughby, with more pack
ages than she could comfortably man.
age, tumbled in.
"Oh. Henry" she gasped reproach-
fully, "why didn't you wait for me?
was only half a block behind YOU"
But, my dear" expostulated Mr.
Willoughby, chow could l know you
were there? / haven't eyes in the back
of my head. Why didn't you yell al
me?"
Il did," said the indignant Mrs. Will
loughby. land you didn't pay any at
| tention."
But l didn't hear YOU" Mr.. Will
loughby urged in self-justification.
Mrs. Willoughby smiled forgivingIy
She was constitutionally unable to re-
main angry for more than two INITIATES
at time.
"Of course. you didn't hear me-" she
conceded amiably., I'm nearly starved;
aren't you? Let's go and tell Mary
Ann to put dinner on"
Mrs. Willoughby trailed Kitchen
ward. her husband following to pick up
the packages with which her path was
thickly strewn. He arrived in time to
see her lay knobby brown paper par
eel on the kitchen table.
MARY Ann" she said. there's the
new egg-beater you wanted. And" she
announced triumphantly, Il got it for
! IA cents"
Did We now num-" responded
Mary Ann. THE regular price Of thin
cgg-beaters is Is cents.
Mary Ann was q kindred soul and
appreciated bargain. Mr.. Willoughby
did not.
1.-THE soup he prompted in the voice
| of a martyr.
| Put on the soup. Mary Ann, please"
Mrs. Killoughby directed.
| She took her place at the dinner
table. tossed her hat onto a nearby
chair, and stacked her purchases beside
her plate. a.
/ NOW, WING. we eat 1 can SHOW you
what I've been buying" she suggested
with the air Of one comforting an ines
! Unable boon.
Mr. Willonghby politely assumed. an
rair Of anticipating. interest he was, far
/ from feeling. AZ
Mrs. Willoughby let her soup grow
cold while she .unwrapped and lis
played her treasures. Mr.. Willoughby by.
with a proper regard for his digestive
apparatus, ate his, while it was nice and
hot, ~, "a
the gem of the collection =.
She shook out and held up for her
husbands inspection a bit OF delicate
| lace embroidered, In lavender silk.
The. soup had been. very good indeed.
Mr.. Willoughby was perfectly aware
that not even the a1lurements of a bar
gain sale could tempt Mrs. Willoughby
to neglect her household duties. He
| permitted himself a guarded expression
of approval.
| But what" he asked. lis it?'
| Just like a man." she commented
saily why, my dear, it's collar"
And she proceeded to demonstrate with
the tit Of lace.
by. IT'S; all right in itself. but 1t fights
With your gown" ,,., 49,.
Mr. WilIoughby had an in's eye to color
combine tons. But for an unfortunate
lack of Temperament he probably
would have been an artist.
Mrs. Willoughby laid her new collar
on the tablecloth and smoothed 1T with
appreciative finger-tips.
1T fights with every gown I have
she observed meditatively.
Mr.. Willoughby laid down the cary
| ing knife and stared at his wife.
MY dear" he said helplessy. that
being the case, would you mind telling
i m hOnpht
so | could buy gown to match 1t, .
Mrs. Willoughby explained TRANQUILITY.
And / presume also a hat?"
Yes, and gloves and a parasol''
and is that" inquired Mr.. Will
| loughby, sarcastically polite, your idea
Of economy"
! Fortunately fer her own peace of
mind. Mrs. Willoughby never recog-
nized sarcasm even when she met it
| face to face. s..-
| 1T was 81 collar" she said remin-
! iscently. land | got 1t for a dollar and a
bali. And when you're buying a new
gown you've got TO have something to
start fronl--as well a collar as anything
else
| Mr. Willoughby sighed and resumed
his carving. He had been married long
enough to recognize the futility of ar
guing with the lady who bore his name
and spent his money.
| Mr.. Willoughby looked with disgust
at the dirty, slouching figure that had
suddenly appeared beside his desk. Mr..
| Willoughby wondered how he had man.
| aged to elude the man whose duty 1t
| was to keep agents and beggars out of
the building, and he proposed to see
| that such thing didn't occur again.
BOSS, don't yer want to buy a dog?"
| the fellow whined, as he pulled from
beneath his ragged coat a shivering,
| blinking, badly frightened puppy. He s
| worth So boss, but I'll let you have
him for two"
Mr.. wiloughbs frowned, then he
smiled. for hel'had suddenly become
possessed of anq6fea. Not that Mr.. Will
loughby was uifaactustomed to having
| ideas Far from IT. But this one was
not like other ideas. 1t was, Mr.. Will
loughby was c6nVRced. but little short
of a heaven-sent inspiration.
HIM" he fsdid. What sort of a
BIRD dog" eaid the man.
Mr.. WillougHbS was quite willing to
take his wordIffor lit. personally, he
cared but littld a'fbr most dogs, and
knew even less about them. But a bird
dog-df course,,2a Bird dog was used to
hunt with Fink!.
| M .tSy;llr,,, ovTE, sf,ct,c5 +uyo c;I,,or a.,