The Washington herald., 1908-07-26
by HELEN ROWLAND.


scream as I entered. Il thought you
were the-the butcher with the BILL" and
she sank back into her chair with a sigh
Of relief. 7 was just going 10 call my
husband
Does your husband settle the bills2" 7
inquired. taking the seat to which she
motioned ne.
Becky's green eyes flashed scorn and
her lip curled-
of course not" she replied mockingly.
He settles the butcher a husband" she
added meditatively. is a great convent
ence- Rawdon Crawley is worth the price
OF his board" and she took Up the tiny
shirt which she was still crOcheting for
the baby Rawdon-
-RawdOn CrawIey," exclaimed When
did he come back?"
"Oh. as soon as I started this place.
and Becky waved her hand proudly round
the clearinghouse parior. Have you
seen my cards2" and she handed ne a
Heat bit Of white DastebOard on which
was inscribed: Mrs. Becky Sharp Craw-
ley Select Lodgings Rue du Diable"
The moment Rawdon laid eyes on
them she continued. he scented hash
ard pudding for life and-turned Up again.
Hes as much Of a bore as ever. but he's
a great asset in the business"
But" began delicately. how about
that little unpIeasautness in your past
"sh,' cried Becky, glancing round aP-
prehensiveIy. He never mentions il Ny
dear" she continued impressiveIy, "peo-
pie don't bother about ones antecendents
nowadays II ones income is above ques-
ton. Rawdoa IS as meek as a lamb with
mint sauce The balance Of power n
| fa1aily IN these days goes 70 the person
with the largest balance in the bank: and
10 q woman with any business instinct g
husband IS merely q harmless. necessary
I adjunct"
Harmless" agreed, but why neces-
I sary II you can pay your own bIls7"
"Oh. well now" returned Becky, taking
Z a stitch refectIvely, why Is a door place
{ necessary. for that matter. or q potted
palm. OF monogram note paper. OF parsley
I garnlshing Or
They add an air. I broke n hastily.
I so does q husband" declared Becky
enphaticauy. "a human garnishing. He
stands for capital in the eyes OF trades
/ men and FOR success IN the eyes Of other
I women. aud-well. any kind OF a husband
gives a woman e more distinct social
/ standing than none at all"
And Mrs On her calling cards. I IL
( terpoIated-
] And credit al her dressmaker's and
I weight with the landlord. and more re-
l spect among the servants A husband Is
L 70 & Won -. ---b IS TO e mal-an
( indispUtabIe personal reference, q card OF
{ introduction. & certificate OF eligibility
And a defense against calumny.- I
| added
Yes" agreed Becky. and a weapon
I with which 10 sab az her friends ard pro
I text herself against her enemies and
! threaten the landlord. and the bell boys
( and bully the grocer AID TIE tauitor- IN
Z short. he's a kind os social rolling Pin
I that rolls life out smooth for her"
Ard makes It awIully tist" I declared
with a WY face.
Becky smiled and took another stitch.
oh not Il you know how 10 handle
him she returned Significantly a WON
an IS very foolish 10 let matrimouy inter
fere with comfort IN these days OF 70 al
low & husband 70 make any change n her
+ usual routine That old-fashioned idea
that marriage was simply the ceremony
that gave one man the exclusive right 70
I find fault with q woman and that a wife
. was merely the source OF his meals and
I the mother OF his children Is quite passe. %
But 7 thought 7 protested, that peO-
PIE stu married for the purpose Of sh2r-
Ing one anOther's JOYS and sorrows-
They do. NY dear" and Becky giggled
behind her hand. and usually end by
sharing nothing but the parlor furniture
and one another's towels and brushes
But all that can be avoided by giving a
man 20 understand at the start that he Is
merely q Iuxury-
WHAT"
And not necessity"
And that YOU are merely an or5l-
ment.- I re5oined enthusiastically.
And not sewing machine nor a. a.
tomato co7her.'' added Becky. and that
you are not roing TO be responsible FOR MS
socks nor his digestion, nor 10 all7w bin
20 be responsible for your manners noI
your morals
"It soun -S easy" sa'J duoIoUsIy ''hu'
every husband thinks he mas he righc--
''POufs,- Becky blew my objections Ike
feathers into the afr. Maria &c isn't :
matter OF right. but OF might and-and
convenience And IN order 10 make It per
! fectly convenient you have got 70 g
about Il IN scientific way, Just as yOu
would go about planning q campaign OF
preparing q dinner or working out 8
problem OF a dress pattern"
; "I-See." ! said obviously You select
the easiest possible method"
The easiest possible husband, my
dear corrected Becky with a twinkle II
her green ewes You should select {
husband lust as you would a pound ot
steak OF a cantaIoupe or a head OF let
tuCe
While he IS still young and tender"
suggested with sudden enlightenment.
And before he has learned to crow OF
10 fight acGuiesced Becky. 1t is as dif-
fcuIt to tame man after he has lost his
front hair as 70 tame 4 lion after he has
gotten his second teeth An old bachelor
or a hardened wording IS as unpalatable
as an cid rooster or an old sheep Before
yOu have gotten him sOftened down and
I seasoned up you find that you have made
nothing but hash of your matrimonial
dish But q young husband. Ike spring
lamb. can be done effectively il almost
any way. There is everything IN the Sc
lection"
Is there-any love IN it?'' inquired
cynically-
"Of course Becky looked properly
shocked. That's the seasoning. To De
anv comfort at all q man must be in love
with you. People have insinuated that
don't know what love means. but do. i
means diamonds ard rev frocks and go
ing where You please in the summer and
living as you ike in the winter. and never
being cCCss-qUestiOled and having every
thing YOU do and wear seem just right
and awfuIIy fascinating Love IS beau
tiful thing - IN the other person" anC
Becky raised her green eyes 10 the cell
ing Pensively-
Then I said. having found a mar
who is young enough 20 be tanned and
enough IN love 10 be bind
you proceed" Interrupted Becky witt
a bUsiness-like air, TO prepare him..
''To wkatZ''