Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1906-06-06
THEIR WEDDING
ANNIVERSARY
1Copyright. by Joseph B. BOwles.,
BY T. w. HANS Ew


stairs, and the woman, hearing him.
was conscious OF a little quickening
thrill OF the pulses and or an almost
imperceptible trembling of the hand.
as she closed the lid OF the rouge pot
and pushed 1t OUT OF sight behind the
litter OF glass aud silver on the dress
iDg-table
You are earlier than usual this
evening, Jim," she said. as the man
came in and, with a careless, Hello!
Dressing. are you, Amy?" threw off
his coat and. whistling his way out to
the bathroom, turned on the taps and
get the water gushing noisily.
You don't mind If / take on my
coat In here. do YOUTHS so wretch
eddy close he remarked
What an ideal" she answered.
smiling at him over the curve OF her
shoulder. You know | am not ridi-
culously exacting in such small mat
ters. jim"
Yes. | do know" he admitted. Il
was saying to Bella Armitage only the
ether day. you are one OF the most
sven-tempered women living"
Who? Bella? Oh. yes: she returned
rom Europe six weeks ago yesterday
Didn't tell you:"
No" replied the woman. with a
curious tightening of the lips. II have
scarcely seen you for more than five
minutes at a time-unless one counts
our breakfasting and dining together
for quite period, Jim. You have
been busy. OF couIse?"
Yes. deucedly busy. But, say!
Where did you get all the flowers, The
room is quite filed with them"
"Oh. little bird brought them to
me. Wouldn't you like to know his
name?"
She looked over at him-haif yearn-
ingly. half expectantly.
Il know it already-or / shall when
be sends in his bill" he replied. with
the easy goOd-humor of indifference,
and the carelessness of confidence.
Sort Of new fad this, isn't ito have
your room filled with roses? Shall |
leave a standing order for them at
Budleigh's in the morning? Or perhaps
you'd better let one of the servants
do that when | come to think Of It.
I'm such fellow for forgetting"
YES" she concurred, with a dreary
rort Of smile. You do forget. Jim
often. Never mind about the flowers;
II is only a passing fancy-just for
tonight. / thought, when you saw
this room full of them-and the dining
room, too"
My dear girl, didn't look into the
dining ROOM he interrupted. why
In the world should /? What's up?
Are you giving au entertainment to-
night?"
No"
I'm glad of that. II would have
been no end of bore If you had Don [
mind my sitting here while my bath
lie drawing, do you?"
Not in the least. Do you like my
hair done in this way, Jim?"
81 don't know; yes-I think so. Is 1t
any different from the usual way?"
Entirely. Don't you remember? 1t
Is the way wore it FIVE years ago
when we were first married"
Five years? Aren't you little out
In your reckoning? Are you sure?"
Perfectly. Why, aren't your"
"I? Oh. I'm never sure of anything.
you know. Only--five years. Great
Scott! 1t seems like Is, doesn't it?
Seems as though we'd never been any
thing but married. for that matter"
YES" she said, with another dreary
smile. ut seems just like 1t, just like
II. But you haven't told me yet how
sou like my hair done in this way"
"Oh, I like 1t well enough; only
It's a trife young for you, isn't it?
When a woman gets to be 30"
Mrs. Armitage is over 30 and she
wears hers like this"
VERY likely. But wasn't talking
about Mrs. Arml.Pge. You can't be in
n very good humor this evening. Amy.
That's the first time In my life ever
beard you speak sneeringly OF any
body. And say! For goodness sake.
my dear girl, do take that dreadful
red stuff off your cheeks. When in
the world did you begin to paint?"
oh, about month ago-or maybe
elk weeks. Don: you remember say
ing after-after the child was born
attractive thing 4 woman can possess
is a good complexion"
Eyes. but I dsint mean an artificial
one. There's all the world OF differ
ence"
'les. I suppose there is. Shall I
wipe the color off. them"
well. should il we're you. II is
certainly not attra ctivc."
She wiped away the offending color.
and then, going t. the wardrobe. tool,
down IN evening toilette and insinuat-
ed herself into the maze and mystery
Of Ii. 20 you like this gown. Jim?"
Yes. think so. Ito rather pretty"
you know Mrs. Armitage wore one
just like it at the opera a week ago"
How could you know that? You
said ! never told you she had re-