Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-02-07
THE PEACEMAKER


People, as \ rule. don't want to be
paeiled,' | tried to tell her They like
to fight it out. It's really better, and
more conducive to friendly feeling thar
interrupting before they've said all the
nasty things they have in their minds.
There's nothing more irritating than
thinking how you might have routed
your enemy and didn't"
Il can't agree with you," she said,
shaking her head Il think word in
season. little oil on the troubled wa
tersis duty we owe to each other. So
often the outsider can see at once who
is in the right and who is in the wrong"
do you think that has anything to
do with it?" | asked. They probabi &
don't either of them care rap about
the rights of the case once they are in
the thick of the fray Human nature
still loves a fight, and very good thing,
too Have you never heard the Irish
mans advice to his son when they
plunged into scrimmage just for the
love of the thing: Wherever you see
head, my boy, hit it, That is the proper
spirit"
Il know you don't mean half you say, !"
she said, patiently. In any case l must
continue to do my duty as | see it," And
she did
We were both dining at the Richard
Smiths that night, and | was not sur
prised that before the dinner was half
over there were mutterings of a coming
storm. We were both old friends, and
neither Mr.. nor Mrs. Smith troubled to
repress their feelings on our account
They never agreed on any point, and
arguments We're the order of the day.
but if they were left alone they soon
quoted down. A third person joining in
only added fuel to the fire.
IF / ever get into Parliament" Mrs
Smith began, Il shall bring in bill for
preserving the best names of our eoun-
try. How often a fine old historic name
is lost when a woman marries Take
my case, for instance. Fancy a Mac
gregor becoming a Smith! It's too abb
surd." This was one of her grievances.
had often heard it before, but Con-
stantia had not.
You didn't seem to think it so absurd
at the time" her husband replied, pick
ing up the glove. Il should have said
you seemed rather pleased than other
wise. You might have been Macgregor
still, you know; it was quite optional"
You are too modest about your own
attractions, Mr.. Smith," said Constantine,
with a charming smile. "She forgot the
name in the man, you see.' She was be-
ginning to pour oil, and | looked on with
interest. But instead of it calming the
troubled waters, Mr.. Smith quite bristled
up.
Il don't want anybody to forget my
name," he said. I'm not ashamed of
it. It's a good honest English name |
don't pretend to have come from cattle
lifting, bare legged, red-headed night
raiders of ancestors"
No, it would be of no use," Mrs. Smith
said sweetly, mo use at all, dear"
Not but what" her spouse continued
hotly, Il could fight as well as any man
if | saw occasion to do so. They thought
good deal of me in the Volunteers,
believe"
Il am sure they would" Constantine
said with generous emphasis, "and | am
equally sure" looking at Mrs. Smith
with an olive branch smile, chat your
wife agrees with them, but she is just
teasing you little bit. ] can imagine"
she continued, warming to her subject,
"how she would fly to you for protection
in the hour of danger"
As Mr.. Smith does not much more than
reach up to his wife's shoulder this was
rather bad shot, and was received in
chilly silence by all sides. But Constan-
tia is not easily dismayed
I'VE cannot measure courage by
inches" she said, ''or Judge of a mans
strength by his size. Many of our great
est generals have been little men, not
toll / CHI z ALL
our host"
Mr.. Smith had been wriggling uncom.
fortably on his chair for some minutes.
and could no longer restrain himself.
Our friend is very kind to make such
flattering comparisons" he said, with a
not very successful laugh, "but / am
afraid l cannot take them to myself /
have never been considered a small man.
though l may not be suitable for the
Life Guards. What have always aimed
at has been breadth even more than
height. l don't like your long, weedy
chaps"
| suppose Constantine saw, as | did, the
obvious retort that rose to Mrs. Smiths
lips, and determined to stop it at all
costs, she knocked over her wine glass.
There was little pool of caret ON the
spotless tablecloth and the glass was
broken. But she had gained her pur-
pose and turned the current.
Pm so sorry" she exclaimed. How
careless of me, / hope 1 haven't done
much damage"
''Oh, no" Mrs. Smith said resignedly,
lit doesn't matter at all, Please don't
trouble. l told Richard when he bought
those glasses that they would so over at
touch"
Il don't remember you saying anything
OF the kind" returned her husband, who
was obviously put out at the accident,
But at the same time it would certainly
be unusual if you approved of anything
said or did"
"Oh, come now, Mr. Smith," said Con-
stantia playfully. you must not be too
hard on us poor women You know. RS
some great writer said, The shadow of
the harem still rests on the woman of
today We had to hide our feelings for