Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-12-17
DAILY. STORY.
WoMAN'S DIPLOMACY.
IOriginal.l

| that man needs no such talent unit
| after marriage, and after marriage he
| has wife to manage other women fol
| him. The economy consists in the facI
that men shall marry. A single man
| never appreciates the sensitiveness OF
| the opposite sex. Woman hides heI
| wounds, and man often stamps through
her feelings with seven league boots.
An incident that occurred to me aft.
er my marriage taught me this, and
since then / have invariably left the
settlement of my differences with 9th
er women to my wife. / had passed
middle life before marrying. l had
met ladies, as other bachelors meet
them, socially, but my club was my
home, and l was never thrown into in
innate association with any woman.
But l considered myself sufficiently
mild hammered and deferential to the
softer sex for all ordinary social pur-
poses What wounds / had inflicted l
did not know, nor was 1 conscious of
having inflicted any.
The honeymoon over, my wife took
me in training. and it soon became ap-
parent that l needed great deal of
it. However, in about a year l sup
posed 1 was thoroughly educated. One
day my wife informed me that her
dearest friend, whom she had not seen
since we had been married, was COM
ing to visit her, and she was especial
" anxious that l should make good
impression. l resolved to be on my
guard and put on my most affable and
deferential manner
The first evening of Miss BANDS ar
rival my wife, my sister and our guest
sat down to game of whist. l was
of course assigned to play with Miss
Bland. l got on swimmingly. l saw
that my partner knew little of the
game, and it gave me an opportunity
to show my wife that l could pass
her friends mistakes without the
slightest reference to them. l would
probably have gone through the even
ing without trespassing on my part
ners feelings had not she made a
misplay that gave me an opportunity,
as l thought, to make brilliant strike
in soothing her.
l had 4 fine long suit, all of which
l could make if 1 could draw my OPP
ponents' trumps; but. having only four
trumps myself, all depended upon my
partner outstanding hers. My wife
led small spade, and /, desiring to
get the lead put on the king When
my partner played, the trick was mine
nothing My partners error gave our
opponents the odd trick.
II shouldn't have trumped your
trick, should II" said Miss Bland, red
dening.
My wife explained to her that to
trump ones partners trick was not
considered always the best course, but
that in this case it didn't matter since
we were playing for fun.
/ didn't see the fun in playing that
way. but refrained from comment.
Now think of it," said Miss Bland,
much mortified. somebody told me
once that to trump ones partners trick
was the worst mistake a player can
make"
My wife looked at me appealingly to
say something to make my partner feel
easier, and it was then tried to soothe
her
You only trumped my king. There
is n worse thing than that" 1 said
softly.
what is it?" asked Miss Bland.
ITO trump your partners ace"
Miss Bland cast a quick glance at |
me, and l cast a glance at my wife, |
to see approval in her face. |
[ saw q frown.
There was an ominouS tremor on |
Miss BANDS lip, and presently she |
arose, left the table and went upstairs. |
"Now you've done it," said my wife |
Is she left the room to follow her |
friend.
1 walked up and down the floor ours
ng myself for fool and wondering
f my wife would be able to explain
matters and get me out of the scrape.
also wondered how she would man
Ige the diplomatic task. OF course she
would tell Miss Bland-what else could
he tell her?-that l had intended my
emark to make her blunder seem less
blunder. But had 1 solely so in
ended it? Women are quick to see
light, and perhaps Miss Bland might |.
ave detected a trace of sarcasm in
ny voice. THANK heaven" l NUT
cred, Its woman against woman.
IN sure the more l excused myself
he worse / would make the matter"
My wife returned, but without her
riend.
"Well?" 1 asked eagerly.
shes coming down presently, after
he's got rid of the appearance of
ears"
'Tears?"
"Of course. Do you suppose her feel
1gs are sheet ironT' Then, seeing the
ain she was infiicting on me, she add
d, ITS all right now"
did you tell her intended
Nonsense! 1 told her nothing Of
our intentions"
'What did you tell her?'
"Why, 1 told her that you had been
bachelor all your life. had lived at
ond oil fbof onI boIy,,t taz,, ,,co,l |