Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1909-08-07
UNDER THE SURFACE
An incident That Brought Con-
tent to a Dissatisfied Woman.
BY ROY RICHARDSON.

MIS-. EumohdS TO her husband as they
dressed to go out 1--WE shant haYe a
| good time"
'Why?" her husband inquired. 81
always liked Ned
Eyes" responded Mrs Edmonds. 81
like them BOTH but, Will, try as hard
as 1 may they make me absurdly jeal-
| GUS"
Mr.. Edmonds grew serious. THE
| old excuse Grace. I thought you had
outgrown that bad habit We've got
so much that they can never have.
There" he cried, pinching her cheek.
Lets put it aside. We have each 9th
err, while you know they quarrel We
must have them here some evening
soon. You can sing while iuggle the
chatting dish Ned Constable never
could make decent rabbit. Ills wife
won't let him learn how"
Mrs. Edmonds sighed even at her
husbands picture of pleasant even
| ing at home. Il shall depend upon
you," she said as they rang the Con
stable doorbell, ''to keep me contented
tonight, Will"
1t was quite an affair Mr.. and Mrs
Constable, whatever they might be
when alone, were a charming host and
! hostess.
How well they do it, exclaimed
Mrs. Edmonds to her husband as they
sat eating. Then, with dangerous
tone in her voice, she said, Il wish.
oh, so much, that you and p
'There, there" Edmonds broke in
gently. Were not going to speak of
| that, dearie. By Jover' he calculated
suddenly. 81 do believe there's old
Tom Goodwin over there all by him
self. You remember Tom, don't you,
| Grace-the fellow who was too poor
to come to our wedding and who said
he was sending forks instead of buy
ing railroad ticket? l haven't seen
him for months He writes things, ]
believe. You must meet him, good old
| chap"
do you know" Goodwin remarked
few moments later seating himself
beside his new found friends, II al
ways promised myself the pleasure of
meeting Mrs. Edmonds And now,"
and his genial face beamed with good
nature, II see how true it is that I'M
| expected pleasures are the keenest
| Funny thing, Mrs. Edmonds, but ]
| didn't want to come here at all"
At this Edmonds smiled at his wife
Neither did we Now we are glad
we did," he said. But, Tom. why
found us before this in the directory"
ooh, yes" Tom rejoined, but you're
such dreadful swells l didn't dare
You see," he explained while Mrs. Ed
monds tried to tell him how modest
| they really were, "I'm just beginning
When you just begin people don't like
| you, and mostly you don't take to
them, and so l have thought it best to
keep away by myself until 1 had done
| something worth while"
Goodwin made himself very agree
able, and Mrs. Edmonds liked him.
Her husband got deep in debate with
a business acquaintance, and the two
men presently drifted to the other side
of the room, so when the music began
in the conservatory Goodwin took Mrs.
Edmonds upstairs.
"It's awfully good of you, you
know" he said to her as they seated
themselves next a dense mass of palms
| in the ballroom, mot to insist on
dancing, but to talk to me. You're so
cheerful and seem so contented Will
is a fortunate man, Mrs Edmonds."
"How odd! l was disconnected and
blue when l came here tonight" she
said, call because I was-well, was
cOvetous."
Tom laughed
eve all get that way at times, /
fancy" he remarked. Look at those
De Puysters standing over there, the
richest people here. You wouldn't be
lieve it, but they are ridiculously jeal-
Gus Of the Four Hundred. How the
Four Hundred fare we never know
but the De Puysters ape them as far
as they can, while some of us are silly
enough to ape the De Puysters. I am
glad you are not one of those"
Before Mrs. Edmonds could confess
that indeed she was one of them there
came to her ear from behind the palms
by which they sat the sound of voices.
They both recognized the tones of
their host and hostess. 1t was an
awkward position, but they could not
have escaped being seen from over
the palms.
Constable was evidently remonstrat-
ing with his wife. "You can't mean to
pretend" he was saying, "to be keep
ing pace with the De Puysters. One
would think you were, to see us to-
night. l tell you, Anne, l can't afford
it, and that's fat"
That's what you're always saying
can't afford this; can't pay for thatr"
cried Mrs. Constable, with Considera-
BILE heat. why don't you go into
bankruptcy and be done with it? You
never used to complain"
"We would look well bankrupt,
wouldn't we?' her spouse cut in. II
never used to complain, as you say.
because l was getting rich fast then.
1t is changed now, and Pm often
pinched for money to the verge of
desperation. I've told you so, Anne
While I've no objection to your en-
tertaining and having a good time,
there's limit to our means, you know,
and where the devil the money for this
is coming from don't see"
"You never told mer' cried Mrs Con-
stable. You merely said you were
worried. And I'll tell you right now,
Ned Constable, do intend keeping