The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1907-12-26
[Original.l

"Very we'll I'll stay at home"
"Home! nice name for it! Blue
beard house would be better one"
"Do you mean by that that l am to
bring in another wife?'
you'll have to get divorce first"
ST shall be in no hurry for that, but
I must have some one to keep house
for me-"
"Your Aunt Harriet would do very
we'll"
"Thank you, no. To live with Aunt
Harriet would be worse than
Another insult"
-"liying alone l must have some
one who will be companionable, to be
here when l come home for dinner, to
speak a word to me when 1 come in
from the club before going to bed
In short, to make the house as cheer
full as it can be made while the wife is
away"
"You seem to consider it an easy
matter to find such a person"
"I have one already in mind"
"Whom?
81 can't see what interest 1t is to
you to know, but since you are curious
/ don't mind saying that refer to
Mrs. Beardslee."
Mrs Beardsleev'
"She's been very unfortunate-mar.
ried but year when she lost her hus.
band and her father failed. l under
stand she's looking for situation as
companion for some old lady"
do you call yourself an old lady?"
ooh, no, only an old fool. Mrs.
Beardslee you know, before my mar
Rage with YOU
'Oh, yes / know very well the eff
forts she made to get you"
warned me against matrimony
She had hard time of it, poor woman
with q husband who drank"
"And she accused me Of drinkingY
holly.
mo; at the time she didn't know
that l was engaged to you. If you
leave me, / know of no one would
rely upon for companionship-she's a
splendid housekeeper = except Mrs.
Beardslee.'
eff you have NO regard for your own
good name, insist that you should
have some for mine. For you to bring
an old flame into your house would
make frightful scandal"
SIT will not trouble me, and, as for
you. you must remember that when a
couple separates neither has any con-
troll over the acts of the other"
This was an ounce Of prevention in.
stead of a pound of cure The lady
was staggered.
'"That's when they are divorced" she
said.
"a divorce would necessarily follow
In time. It's a great drawback in ev-
cry way for couple to be married and
1--we apart"
"And you would marry your old
name?'
"Since that pertains to me at pc
Rod after our separation / must de-
cline to take you into my confidence"
''Why not shut up the house-you go
I'm one direction, in another?"
"What advantage would there be in
that?'
"You wouldn't need housekeeper."
'Tm content here. l have no desire
to leave my comfortable home"
ST see how it is. You're trying to get
me out so that you can get that horrid
Mrs Beardslee in my place"
She put her handkerchief to her eyes:
but depressing her tears, she nerved
herself to appear Indifferent.
when do you goT' he asked with.
out noticing her remark.
at shall consult my own conven-
fence. I'm not going to be turned out
of house and home till get ready, and
IL it is for the purpose Of making room
for your old fame | shall not 60 at ALL"
''If you go, shall certainly get Mrs.
Beardslee to keep house for me, If
can
"Oh, never fear for that. She'll come
quick enough"
''Then understand that you will not
go?"
mo. / WON'T
"And you are disposed to stand my
brutality for a lifetimeT
'For ages rather than have that wo
man come into the house, being turn
ID out of it."
Suppose we spend the evening at
the theater. I've been rather tried In
a business matter today, and / think
some recreation would do me good"
She glanced at him. He looked tired
and careworn.
after all she said, II think have
been the one to blame. Yes, let's 60 to
the theater''
What took place during the next few
minutes would not sound al well in
words as in the original.
EUGENE HOLMES BURT.