The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1906-12-12
A Bachelors View


life. The morning after their arrival
the young husband gave his young
wife the connubial kiss prescribed for
such people and went his way to bust
ness. When he returned in the even
ing there were several letters for him
that had been brought by the postman
antique desk in the library, every one
opened.
He frowned, but, picking them up,
perused them without saying anything
to his wife, who was the only person
who would have opened them. There
were few facetious remarks in one
from n bachelor friend upon the loss
of liberty consequent upon marriage.
The rest were on ordinary affairs. He
looked up at his wife She was pout-
ing.
Il don't like those remarks of Ned
Stuart" she said.
He thought n moment and then re
T,ledsin a soft tone, IF wife is to
rad her husbands letters, she must
e..pect to find occasionally something
that doesn't please her"
''Do you object to my reading them
"Not at all. l suppose rm to take the
same privilege with yours?'
She said Certainly" but there was 4
very doubtful tone to so pronounced n
word.
"Of course If you happen on any CON
fdences intended only for me you must
keep them strictly to yourself" lie
said
"Of course. Husband and wife are
one person even in the secrets of their
friends"
There was a sound of the postman's
whistle in the street and a sharp ring
Mt the doorbell. He went to the door
and brought back Il letter for her. He
handed it to her. She read 1t. He
reached out his hand for 1t. She held
the letter tightly clasped in hers and
drew back.
aren't you going to let me see it?'
he asked.
This is peculiar case. It's from
Bertha and contains information in
tended, for the present, only for me-"
But are we not one, even in the Sc
crets of our friends?"
"Yes, unless our friends say In their
letters that any information they con
tain is only for the one to whom the
letter is written"
But II we open each others letters
how can such information be guarded
from the one for whom it is not In
tendedY
You wouldn't wish to know what
Bertha doesn't wish you to know,
would you?"
Il know 1t already-she's engaged"
I'm not going to deny all your sur
misses. OF course you'd strike the right
one In the end"
shes engaged to Tom Fletcher. |
noticed his attentions to her at our
wedding"
ITS not Tom Fletcher at all. She
wouldn't look at Tom Fletcher"
Then who Is it?"
That's one of the things you're not
to know"
Bob ArbuckleY
Il didn't say So"
But you don't say to the contrary"
She was silent
What do you think of the plan of
our not opening each others lettersY'
She thought long while, then said,
Suppose you don't open any of mine
addressed In a woman's hand"
But you continue to open any or
all OF miner
Yes.
DO you consider that an equabls
agreementr'
Certainly. Men haven't the sensi-
tiveness that women have"
DO you think Ned Stuart hasn't any
objection to your knowing what he
says about my loss of libertyr
He has no business to say such hor-
rid things"
HE didn't intend the remarks for
you"
81 should think not l shall take es-
pecial pains to open any letters he
may write to you hereafter"
DO you think 1t would be honor
able for You to possess yourself of
what he says is only intended for me
mot for you at all?"
"Of course do. What an ideal It's
proper and necessary that I should
know what ideas he puts into your
head-ideas that tend to break up
happy domestic life."
The husband frowned.
How do know" he said after
pause, what ideas your friends are
putting into your head to destroy our
domestic happinessT
III have no friends to do any such
horrid things" ,t
"But you ask me to take your word
for that while you won't take my
word that my friends WON'T
Has It come to this so soon? Oh,
that l should have married man
who won't take my wordw
my dear, didn't
You did"
She was dabbing her handkerchief
Into her eyes. He went to her, put
| his arms about her and to soothe her