Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-10-31

that the wndowboxes were doing beautifully her hus-
band said care they, indeed1 Now that's encourag-,
ing +" with such unconsciousy elaborate snow OF
hearty anxiety that his wife lost patience
"Oh please stop seeming Interested she cried.
When she kissed him good-by she slipped her hands
about his neck beneath his coat collar
You love me?" she inquired soictously.
Every dearly" he responded promptly.
"And YOU understand how 1 feel about-the othere"
About" he Intercepted deterentally
about keeping my day toto myself" said little Mrs
Award with quaver.
"Oh quite" he agreed heartily; oh, quite"
She went with him to the door
"Good-by" she said little wistfully.
"Good-by" he assentcd, cheerily and was gone
Triumphantly she formed her conclusion, with the
gratihed vanity of all little people who arrive at wise
decisions only because they have taken the OF least
resistance. To lacking Mrs. Awards dexterity
in eyadng the significance of crucial moments the de-
would have cleared the vision at least as to the inward
state of the mind But Mrs Award by the hackneyed
plea of personal choice and left her abandoned cause to
flap its wings in the rarehed air Fortunately for her
sponsble intuition two is all he asks as dtdleetfc.
1t was the custom of Mrs. Cynthia Lee PageP to
devote part of her day to what she termed atruistc
endeavor She had awakened that very morning with
when her unasserting household had finished breakfast
she set out in pursuit.
"Dear Mrs Award" she said, entering upon the blue
fog of her hostess's rambling reflections, came di-
recy to you this morning because telt that we nave
much to talk over
Mrs Award murmured. something in that suave, un-
clear speech of the who without really wishing
to please, finds it easier to assume that attitude
my own ideals very high" pursued Mrs Page
Price, and saw yesterday that you were struggling
toward them-that you wanted to make for freedom-I
may say for elegant freedom among women OF winch
the suffrage does not yet conceive Woman the Arch-
tect of her Own Exemption | have sometimes desig-
mated it, In brief wish teach that marriage
need destroy the sweet freedom and peace OF home
You see find middle ground wherein old prejudice
I'D The ,nOef advon
Mrs Award listened with the sinking conviction that
against this array of words her poor little hutter
ing decisions were like bodless wings She had the
obstinacy which serves small natures as vehicle to
valid destinations; at the same time she was fattered
by the interest of the distinguished older woman There
fore, perhaps, an inexorable law OF her nature
that she should hit on expedent She leaned toward
her guest with pretty humility.
Dear Mrs Page Price," she said, evenly Il have to
thank you for something delightful left you yester
day enthusiastically deciding to follow your advice
did And"
"Yes?" said Mrs. Page-Price eager confident
al find" went on Mrs Award, gently, that my hus
band is of the same mind. He quite agrees with US
Mrs. Page-Price, brows delicately lifted head Just
posing at grahed angle, said an amazed Indeed
Eyes," said Mrs. Award, l discussed the matter
with him. And he said that since the issue had arisen
it would be quite as wished"
"Ahi" exclaimed Mrs. Page-Prce, suddenly en-
If Mrs Award had not been easily hattered en-
barrassed from useful retcence, she might yet have
left the field with grace but skilful with negative
weapons she unequal to the moment OF silence that
fell And as all women who not diplon1atsts take
refuge in declaring for the simplicity and straghtfor
wardness of their own natures Mrs, Award rsked too
much in an airy attempt to be cunningly frank
"That, of course" she added with charming inconse-
uuence makes me resolve to tell him everything.
ALL" said Mrs Page-Prce again, and did not smile
her understanding And the social amenities being
trained by their keeper there appeared on her face no
premonton of the conviction with which she presently
closed her carriage door.
She is an average little woman she thought IN
disappointment which as much at having found no
opponent as at having missed partisan She is bindy
in love with her husband and ready to do everything he
wants But she is not willing to own up to It. what
pity
phone number fresh from her lips, was conscious q
charming woman and that she did understand every
thing and that exciting but not necessary to be
demanding mans telephone number Besides, she re-
Aected convincingly, Mr.. Penn was different
"A headache!" Mr.. PENIS distressed voice
in a moment Shall | confess just how disappointed
am? Grace telephoned half hour ago that she cam
not go to-day either Yes, and have been making up
my mind whether to tell you or to deceive you !,
Mrs Awards words blurred and huttered down the
"Ah, am afraid" he confessed, that the car would
have been at your door at twelve
After an exciting day the ofice-a day so packed
with other peoples concerns and the provocations OF
others that his own lapsed into unconcern Martin AZ
ward turned home with the struggling consciousness OF
disaster with which in deep trouble returns to wake
fulness His face clouded as he remembered. He had
no definite alarm, expectation OF grievance, only
heavy-heartedness which he had long been strangers
for he was of snguarly placid disposition, and able
to harbor many Ill favored guests SO log do
they remained unannounced.
At their meeting he greeted his wife in warm effort
to be natural, and put some trivial question FOR all
answer she projected herself in his arms.
"And OH Martin" she said permitting herself
prodgaty of intonaons after her confession, have
done nothing all to-day And I'll tell you all about
it. And will every day Because
Because what?' said Martin Award, very tenderly
Because it so much more womanlyl sad
little Mrs Award and believed in herself and her in
spred answer with all her heartl
Martin Award smiled into her penent uplifted face
which radiated consciousness of deserving AFFECT
praises and traghway for him the incident was closed
He dismissed without having really lifted its veil as
men dismiss score of the events that crowd their days
If he understood something of her need of revolt of the
mere fule upon which his happiness depended, he did
not admit it to himself ~