Evening star., 1908-01-26
By MYLES T. FRISBIE
Drawing by Maud Thurston

Drawing by Maud Thurston
ting all bumped in a rocking chair and having
the conversation directed their heads if they
children, because they can't hear and being
put to bed with hot water bottle at night, and
having their hair drop out and wearing false teeth.
but tell you, Henry Thompson, don't enjoy the
prospect I'd rather die first! And for you. what
difference does it make with man whether he's
few years older younger. He doesn't seem to
mind With its different
Dinner that night a sorry meal To
wholly obsessed with the idea that
premature age and early dissolution
Immediately unavoidable. the
preparation and service of meals
perfunctory duties, and eating is
farce turned tragic.
~ Henry saw Annes tears drip in
sss. her tea, with tightening at his
@-~~-1AANO throat and mist in his eyes as he
yS@s9 AyAxh realized that the Situa ton be-
k%[nvi:1 yond him. After dinner he excused
himself trivial pretext
N and made hasty visit to the old
80 family doctor, who had known Anne
80 since she was child and had been
sl>fSi intimate friend and adviser He
N told him the whole of the absurd
.T story.
Il tried to reason with her. to
- argue her out of it; but the more l
talked the worse she got 1t seemed
almost like what imagine hystera
must be, though l have never seen
Anne hysterical," he concluded
'Oh, you stupid men!" groaned DR.. Whitaker.
When will you get sense enough to be husbandsf
Tried to argue her out of it! Let see-how long
have you been married, Thompson?"
Fifteen years"
And l fifty. / do not try to argue with Mrs
Whitaker yet and | trust | never shall"
But what is the trouble. doctor? What shall I
do? l can't stand it like this"
You can't stand it,! and the old doctors eyes
flashed in their grizzled setting. 1T is she who
can't stand it and don't blame her. You've been
good to her of course you have in nice proper
moderate. deadly, dull sort ofway. She'd rather you
had beaten her. sometimes. 1t would have varied
the monotony, anyhow. She is travelling in rut.
Her in place until they are
rubbed thin and exposed, and they unable to
cope with any great crisis or even small one-hke
getting to be forty for instance anyone of half
dozen other things you stupid men unable to
derstand. / have known Anne from a baby, and her
joyousness has been like a tonic. l have often
needs is change Take vacation with her; make
plans for it. Talk about that; and you won't have
to argue.
But shouldn't you herr"
Il don't think that is necessary, or. under the Cir
cumstances. advisable But do as have suggested
and. from what you have told me, predict good
things for her,-for you both If l am right. and l
think | am she will not mind being forty when her
birthday arrives"
She will be cured!"
Il have great confidence in the remedy"
NEVERTHELESS on her fortieth birthday Mrs
- Henry Thompson spent the entire day in bed.
too weak to rise. But she not unhappy Be
side her Henry Thompson junior. And in her
heart great content
Her husband raped at the door and special
favor allowed by the white capped young
woman who reigned there to come in quietly for a
few minutes.
"Anne, dear do you know what day it is:'
"Yes, Henry. 1t is your sons birthday.
The nurse lifted the clothing gently and showed
Thompson the face of his sleeping child
" How tiny and yet how wise and old he looks al
most old. dear. you thought you would look
at" and he stopped in confusion.
AT forty" Anne concluded for him. with