The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1906-02-01
By JOHN woRNE

Very WELL" said BERTHE; very
well. II ones own wife"
The expression was so novel and
delightful that they joined in en-
phasizing it in the usual way.
IF ones own wife" BERTHE con-
tinued
People can see in at the windows, "
said Eva, moving further away from
him.
"All right; we're married"
How are they to know"
That seemed reasonable.
IF ones own wife sees through
one" he went on in an injured tone,
where on earth is one safer"
And If ones wife doesn't see
through one, who on earth is there to
improve one by frank criticism?"
"Ohl" said BERTHE. you married me
to improve me-"
Il did not altogether despair"
This is a pretty state Of things"
said BERTHE; and again, this is a pref
~ state Of things"
Il marry a wife," he moaned, "and
suddenly, without warning, she sug-
gests that she can improve me. Never
before has anybody suggested that l
could be improved"
WAS II so hoDeless?"
, He stared blankly out Of the win
dow.
I'VE can still be friends" she said.
"Friendsl" he echoed. Friends!
That it should come to this, that it
should come to this!"
Need you say everything twice;
need you say everything twice?" she
murmured, drearily.
II thought many things, but l never
thought we should be friends"
Things often turn out better than
we expect"
The carriage drew up. He looked
out. This seems very like a railway
station. Where are you thinking of
going for your honeymoon
Il was thinking of Sir John Ward
laws little place near Torquay."
Really" he said with some show
of interest How awfully jolly. May
get you a ticket?"
Thank you very much. And one
for my maid"
He went to the booking Office and
was back in a few minutes with the
tickets.
Thank you" she said. And where
are you thinking of going for your
honeymoon"
Il? Oh. haven't quite made up
my mind. run down to Margate
perhaps-a little Whit of the briny-
as married men say"
His man, Samson, came up at the
moment to mention that the luggage
was all in.
"who told you to put mine in this
train?"
Samson expressed no surprise, but
admitted that he had done it on his
own initiative, misled by recent events
into a false inference of fact
at is very good of you" said Eva,
ito come and see me of like this"
mot at ALL" said BERTHE. anybody
in my position would have done as
much aud more"
BERTHE raised his hat with a cheer
full smile and the train was gone.
He turned round and found Samson
sitting on the largest portmanteau,
scratching his worried head. is any
body likely now" asked BERTHE. ito
mistake us for a newly-married pair?"
mo. sir; but II that was the object.
sir, amt the means to 1t rather
strong?"
BERTHE took turn up and down the
platform.
when is the next train TO Tor
quay?" he asked. abruptly.
Samson replied with alaority: -Four
thirty-nine. sir"
"Three-quarters of an hour" BERTHE
grumbled Get tickets" He had de-
cided to forgive her At last the 4: 80
was ready to start. BERTHE approached
the guard and gave him half a crown.
THAT is for you" he said. "if you
promise TO do your best to overtake
the 1927 before it gets TO Exeter"
II was a magnificent race. The 1927
had had little more than an hours
start. and. of course, saw no special
reason for unusual hurry. The staff of
he 80 were bent on earning each
nan his share OF the half a crown.
AS they swept shrieking through
swindon BERTHE caught a glimpse of
handsome girl standing In the lamp
light by a pile of luggage on the up
platform. The vision went like a flash.
He leaped back and rushed for the
guard. He saw It all. 1t was Eva
who had got out at the first stopping
place and was now waiting for The
aext train back 20 town.
"This train must be stopped" said
BERTHE, hurriedly, but firmly