The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1909-05-05
TRYING TO PLEASE I'm

To say that Jonzene was amazed
would be stating the situation mild
ly.
When n man has been married
Ave years and got in the habit OF
coming home to a house in neat and
shining order, an Immediately ar
rayed wife and a piping hot and
tempting dinner, with later supplies
OF evening papers and magazines and
slippers, he begins to take these
favors as his right. But this time
Louise did not meet him at the door
and the living room was dark. Hs
stumbled over things while searching
for the electric button. When ne
had turned on the light he blinked
at the room dazedly.
A litter of sewing scraps covered
the floor; one rubber, three spools OF
thread and the scissors added to the
disarray. Open magazines were or.
the table and a veil was carelessly
wound about a vase on the mantel.
The shades were up unevenly and a
lace curtain hung crooked. The
room had a distinct rowdy and for
lorn expression.
Jonzene sat down u~ndecidedly
and actually turned pale. Then he
became conscious of the stiffness
that regined in the kitchen regions.
He Investigated and found no maid
there and not a sign OF dinner.
While his surprise was rapidly
changing into actual worry he heard
Louise's key In the front door, She
walked in beaming. There was an
airiness about her which her hungry
husband felt was out OF place under
the circumstances,
She threw her gloves On n chair
and her hat on another and sat on
her new coat, after careleSsly slip
ping 1t OF. Jonsene remained
speechlcss. He wondered Il sudden
madness had stricken his pretty wife,
whose symbol Of life was order,
Don't YOU like these new shoes
OF minee" she asked, ewing her pat
ent feathers With satisfaction
They are sl rjsAL said Joa-
sene. "Are-arert we soinS 10
have dinner to-niSht,"
Mrs JonIene REGARDED Aia vita
s childlike perYleNU which also W&s
new. Il WAS as Il size A&& Sesa
asked a question iu mental 2rtA-
uletic BY s stern teacher. rSs2 81
pSrently realization GSN&s3 hs- =s2@
and she threw NJ hs- hands sad
laughed
Well. jus; fancy she cried, Es~
rily. Il had totally forgotten anas
this was THURSDAY aud NsctisS LAY
out, What 90 you think q that,
don't suppose there Is a scraP il
the house % eat,
Joureue waited for her as usual
to suggest what they should DO. but
she merely smiled at him Is one
who IS resolved to be good-natured
under severe provocation.
What shall we do he heard
himself ask.
Mrs JanEeue hummed a little
tune. My goodness" she said. Il
haven't an idea! Isn't it funny?
What had We better do, John?"
Jonzene felt his throat contract at
his first logical notion of suggesting
that maybe she could manage some
thing in the chatting dish. This sud
denly care-free creature and work
seemed wholly incompatible.
I'VE could go to the cafe down
the street" he said meekly.
They went and the dinner cost
him just $3.50. Louise had betray-
ed a childish delight in asking for
new dishes and had ordered liquid
refreshments besides.
When they were at home again
Louise went to the piano. Jonzene
stealthily picked up the things Oh
the floor, because being a neat man
he could not read in peace with them
there.
Did my shirts come from the
laundry" he asked.
Again his wife turned a beaming
face on him and wrinkled her brows'
Goodness! | don't know, John!'
she confessed. II never can remem.
bre to bother about those thingsl'
And this from a woman who had al
ways known by instinct If a buttoI
were missing!
LOUISE" cried %Jonzene, as witt
paper in hand, unable to read, hi
surveyed his wife playing ragtime
though she had always professed t
loathe 1t, what the dickens is the
matter? What has come wei your
Mrs. Jonzene turned around, still
childlike-and then she laughed
The longer she looked at the pathet
ically harassed face of her husband
the harder it was for her to stop.
She sobered suddenly and spok,
in her natural voice.
Didn't | sit here the other even
Ing" she demanded, " and listen Il
you raving over Alice Harmon TO
for an hour? Yes. Mr.. Smith wa
talking, too, but you did most of 1t
You said she was so appealing witt
her bright childishness and continu
ed gayety and her husband didn'
appreciate it. You said you liked