The Cairo bulletin., 1907-10-04
"A SLAVE
TO DUTY
ALSO q Mean Trick Played on a
FrIend.

A hurried glance under the close. }
drawn shade convinced Mrs. Owe.
that this time, at least II was q
neighhor 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 We're awayfrom home
said her visitor, making herself com
Portable. ar. aFi.,
No, | put them down so can
peek out when the bell rings. II it's
a promoter or canyasser 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 cant do
without what they are selling. or they
work on my sympathies. The house is
full of hair restoror and breakfast
foods, to say nothing of court plaster.
shoe strings and brooms"
But a woman of your Intelligence
would only buy what was worth the
| money"
/ Mrs. Owen looked pleased.
\ y wish ] was as good bargain
| hunter az you Mrs. Smythe,"
WI hen you are my age, my dear.
| you will be a wonder. just ran In
70 tell YOU OF the bargain got yes.
| terday Its real snap. sub
scribed for some beautiful books-l2
volumes at three dollars a month,
printed on handmade paper and the
| loyeltest bindings"
We don't need any books. | don't
get time TO read With housework and
the chlldrens clothes"
That's just it, Mrs. Owen: you are
a slave 10 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
felt no anxiety on that score
Il read In one Of my new books
about the belfry In Brugges, and last
night when MI smythe looked bored
and restless | jst 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
informed. Now. If ! hadn't those
books | might have been stupid, and
he'd lave 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, lie will You
won't know it at first 1t creeps like
little serpent"
My goodness, you don't mean TO
say"
Yes. | do. Unless you keep posted
ON what's doing in the world, as a
man does, it is bound to come.
read about a 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-wel, there's no telling"
What can | do? Please advise me. y
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 viii
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-thats
for their good"
iii take anything that you say"
IF you would read"
'I'll study night and day"
ITS only necessary to keep little
ahead OF your husband-and turn the
into the proper channel.
Those books of mine have little OF
everything select-but, perhaps, you'd
rather select your own reading?"
NO, no. want the kind you
have"
"Ahem! suppose could"
20, will you lend"
Il was going to say could sell you
mine or"
Il can't take yours. You might not
be able to get more at that price.
Do you know the agents nanTeG Ill
go right out and look for him.
Il am glad you realize what a fam
lily blessing those books are. have
Just taken the agency for them"
How smart of you. Isn't 1t nice
10 help your husband? I'll pay you
the cash and not bother with the