Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1907-10-05
a SLAVE
70 DUTY
Also a Mean Trick Played on a
Friend. 4.

uioWh oHduc CoHNlHCeu MIS' OWCh
that this time, at least, it was a
neighbor who stood on her doorstep,
and not that silky person with some.
thing to sell.
Come right in, Mrs. Smythe," said
Mrs. Owen, Hospitality.
THE shades were drawn and
was afraid you were away from home, .
said her visitor, making herself COM
Portable.
No, l put them down so l can
peek out when the bell rings. II it's
a promoter or canvasser, l don't open
the door. They always persuade me
TO buy against my own judgment.
can't trust myself, so don't take any
chances"
But if you don't need the ar
ticle-"
But | can't get rid of them. They
either make me think that l can't do
without what they are selling, or they
work on my sympathies. The house is
full of hair restorec and breakfast
foods, to say nothing of court plaster,
shoe strings and brooms."
But woman of your intelligence
would only buy what was worth the
money"
Mrs. Owen looked pleased.
Il wish l was as good bargain
hunter as you, Mrs. Smythe."
When you are my age, my dear,
you will be wonder. l just ran in
to tell you of the bargain l got yes
terday. It's a real snap. l sub
scribed for some beautiful books-12
volumes at three dollars month,
printed on handmade paper and the
loveliest bindings"
I'VE don't need any books. | don't
get time to read. With housework and
the children's clothes"
That's just it, Mrs. Owen; you are
a slave to duty. / believe in keeping
pace with my husbands brains.
don't intend to forfeit his love by let.
ting my intellect get rusty. Some
women don't care. They think their
husbands can't escape, and so they
neglect this great duty"
Mrs. Owen smiled pleasantly. She
Il read in one of my new books
about the belfry in Brugges, and last
night when Mr.. Smythe looked bored
| and restless | just opened a CONVEX.
sation and steered 1t to the subject on
which | had been studying. He had
lots of interesting things to say, and
seemed so pleased to find me so well
iy,fn Ia
books / might have been stupid, and
he'd have gone to the club instead
| Of having such a nice evening at
home. A woman should not be slave
to household duties. No wonder men
tire of their wives
But Mr. Owen never tires of me.
That's just it, He will. You
won't know it at first. 1t creeps like
little serpent"
my goodness! you don't mean to
say"
Yes, l do. Unless you keep posted
on what's doing in the world, as a
man does, it is bound to come.
read about man who loved his wife
| for ten years and as she became oc-
| cupied with her household affairs he
began going to the theaters-and he
met another woman"
"Oh, Mrs. Smythe, you brighten me!
What If my husband should be led
astray that way?"
Il don't want to make you uneasy
but If you won't do anything to
| prevent-well, there's no telling"
What can l do? Please advise me-
1t would kill me to lose him. We
are all the world to each other"
"Yes, now, while you are young,
| and pretty. But some time he will
| tire of you and your petty troubles,
rising to go.
20, Mrs. Smythe, don't go yet. You
| have not told me what to do. Don't
leave me with this awful tragedy star.
| ing me in the face"
"People seldom take advice-that's
| for their good
I'll take anything that you say"
IF you would read"
"I'l study night and day"
Its only necessary to keep little
ahead of your husband-and turn the
conversation into the proper channel.
Those books of mine have little of
everything select-but, perhaps, you'd
rather select your own reading?"
mo, no, / want the kind you
have"
"Ahem! l suppose ] could"
20, will you lend"
Il was going to say / could sell you
mine or"
81 can't take yours. You might not
be able to get more at that price.
Do you know the agents name? I'll
| go right out and look for him."
81 am glad you realize what fam
| lily blessing those books are. / have
| just taken the agency for them"
How smart of you Isn't it nice
| to help your husband? I'll pay you
Il Al