Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1909-03-05
The TElEnlIonE
GALL
By John \. MoNseIy.

'Mr. Ramfounder, how does It ixp-
pen that the telephone was busy all
afternoon" inquired Mrs. Ramfound.
er, as her husband appeared IT. his
home from the ONCE.
Busy" exclaimed Ramfounder.
That's exactly what ] said.
called you up at least six or seven
times and couldn't get connection"
"Too bad!"
"Mr. Ramfounder, don't need any
Of your feigned sympathy. have
asked you civil question and e.
pect a civil answer. Now there isn't
a bit OF doubt that you were talking tol
some party, unknown to me, Of course,
because you are 30 secretive that you'll
would not tell me, and / am certain
that have no curiosity to find out,
the greater part Of the afternoon"
u am accustomed to transact myl
business by tongue" replied the hus1
band, mysteriously.
Just as thought. Mr.. Ramfound1
er, you have frankly admitted. then.
that you have been talking with some
one over the telephone. So far a
business is concerned, / do not have
to depend upon your statement, as n
can draw my own conclusions. You
were carrying on with some GIRL of
course, and when"
You are mis-"
Never mind contradicting me, Mr.
Ramfounder. It Is Just like you to-
stand there and try to deceive me-
but | am so well acquainted with your
personality that l have long ago bel
come accustomed to your gauzy and
f1imsy apologies. OF course, II ID
plain now why could not get conA
nection. Here have been calling and
calling at one end Of the line for my
husband, while he is at the other
warbling lot Of Silly rubbish at Q
blonde stenographer or probably one
OF those girls employed In some cigar
store. So this is the kind of use you
are putting your telephone to, Is II,
Mr.. Ramfounder? suppose you were
laughing up your sleeve when the Cd
orator informed you that | was ma
king desperate efforts to get connec.
ton. And then you went on talking
to the other party, ignoring my call
altogether. Well, It's just like you.
You take an extreme delight In In.
sulting your wife on every occasion
possible. Especially when you know
that l have something important to
communicate. But, Mr.. Ramfounder,
you have taxed my patience too far.
Your repeated trials at deception have
had their effect. / have not expected
much from a wavering and frail weak.
ling like you except the ordinary
courtesies due a faithful, loving and
obedient wife. In even this you have
tailed ANONYMOUSLY. You ought to
despise yourself for refusing to talk
to me over the telephone. But no!
You were too busy with your childish
prattle to carry on a serious converse
ton with a member of your own fam.
lily, the one who has sacrificed every.
thing In the world, including her moth.
er and father, to make your home
happy and cheerful. | want to ask
you what you mean by such"
III you will allow me to"
"Mr. Ramfounder, win not allow
you to tell me another one of your
fixed stories. You have probably
been racking your shallow and mar.
row mind all afternoon, planning an
excuse to tell me when faced you with
the truth. have had enough Of them.
But the day Of reckoning has come,
and ! shall not be with you when you
cry out in remorse at having abused
and mistreated me. Knowing, as you
do, that | have always made 1t q pointI
to be proper whatever emergency mayl
arise, so that the neighbors can never
find the slightest provocation for sayI
ing anything against my character,
you take advantage Of 1t to humiliatel
me. l want to inform you, Mr.. Ram
founder, that | had no callers at the
house when | tried to get you oysH
the telephone eight or nine times. II
was alone, thank goodness! | realized
that you would have been tickled toI
death IL some Of my friends could
have heard me making frantic and
fruitless struggles to call up my hus-
band by telephone. And they would
not be so ignorant as not to compre-
bend that you were conversing with
some new prey-understand. sayl
prey-of your admiration. No doubt II
could have induced the operator 20
break In on the line and heard your
brilliant conversation, but l am tool
honorable for that"
Mrs. Ramfounder, | beg to-"
What do you mean by having ths|
unmitigated audacity to address mel!
Have you no conscience? You hadl
your opportunity 10 talk to me thls
afternoon, but you preferred to spsall
your time conversing with another
and deliberately repulsing your wife.
Ii you had the least bit Of feeling you'll
would get down on your knees and
beg my forgiveness. But you are not
that kind. ! realize 1t now, after 1
have married and lived with you Is
l0nU uanr, 4n1x,