The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-04-21
WHAT COMES or NOT
TRUSTING ONES WIFE

~ EUGENE HOLMES BURT.

BY EUGENE HOLMES BURT,
copyright. 1903 BY American Press Assoc
oiation.l
Mrs. Ketchum was seated at her es-
critoiro Ia a dainty morning gown, pale
blue to suit her hair and compIexionS
attending to her correspondence, when
the postman arrived and left a letter
for her husband she took 1t up.
looked at the postmark over the stamp
giving the date Of mailing, then at the
postmark on the back giving date OF
reception, examined the handwriting
carefully and unused:
II wonder who'll mean whom-it -
from"
The handwriting was unfamiliar 70
her, but she had NOT seen much Of
the writing Of any Of her husbands
friends, since his letters were usually
addressed to him at bis office.
"He won't be at home before 9
o'clock, she continued, thinking. and
II 1t contains anything that requires
attention Il might be too late and
cause no end OF trouble. Then would
be blamed, and Justly blamed. Be
sides don't object to Alan's opening
my letters, though for some reason or
other he never does. I'm going to do
what / think right and take the con-
sequences"
However, to guard against contin-
gencies she pried open the envelope
with hairpln and without tearing the
paper. she took out the letter and
read:
Dear Retchum--I have no objection 70
going 70 Chicago TO close the deal. but
my wife always objects to my going away
anywhere especially when I don't take
her with me- When ] do have 70 leave
her all day In a hotel in q strange city,
which Is worse for her than staying al
home / shall keep my Departure q So
cret, teiegraphing her from Chicago that
/ was called away suddenly. I give you
this that you may write me about the
ma tier at the house, for she opens sIl my
letters Otherwise she Is a model wife
and this Is the only fault have 70 find
with her. But I believe Il n common
falling with women congratulate you
on having a wife who respects your pri-
FHte cOffaoPoHuNAeN~ 1la ~ - N@&@RtA~A
20 the rule.
Now. Mrs. Ketchum was no fool
She saw in this letter a covert lecture
addressed to herself for opening her
husbands mail. Again she studied the
address, also the letter. gradually com
ing to see an excellent disguise Of Der
husbands chirography. she folded the
decoy and was about to replace II In
its envelope when there was howl
from the nursery. Dropping both let
ter and envelope ON the desk, she ran
to the nursery and picked up her dar-
ling Tommy, aged five, who in trying
to climb on a chiftonier had fallen on
the back Of his head
When Mrs. Ketchum returned to her
escritolre she was agitated. She had
heard that children who fall on tho
back Of their heads are Liable TO In
lure the base Of the brain and thereby
be crippled for life. She hurriedly
picked up the decoy letter, placed It in
the envelope, wet what mucilage re
NAMED and rubbed the flap down with
the palm Of her hand. This done. she
set the letter up on the mantel, brush
ed her own unfinished correspondence
into a drawer and went back to eoddle
her boy.
When Alan Ketchum came home to
dinner his wife was still worrying
about Tommy, who had headache
and was feverish. The father looked
at the boy, then went into his wife'a
room, where he saw the letter on the
mantel
aHslloP' he exclaimed. THAT'S from
Steve Britton. l wonder II he's going
% Chicago. II he doesn't shall have
10 so myself"
Il WONDER said the wife. 'syou DON'T
have your letters addressed to year Of
ice. You are always complaining Of
ny interfering with your private az
lalrs. II occurred to me that there
night be something requiring atten-
ion, but you're so particular about my
opening your letters that wouldn't
nave opened II for farm. Some day
IN important matter win need to be-
attended to for you and you'n wish
rou hadn't been so''
The reason she failed to finish the
sentence was a peculiar expression on
Ter husbands face. Her heart began
o beat like q kettledrum. Something
lad gone wrong. MFR. Ketchpm read
loud
Madam--I am sorry that ]. cannot get
ny stun to match your pink silk I
ave been to every store IN th4 city and
ave found Mo1hing that win be suitable.
VIII you please instruct mo what to oct
respectfully yours,
ELISE coRBTER.
BY the time the husband had finished
eading his wife was locking for an
venue OF escape. He saw her inten-
len and saunt8red to the door.
What in tae world does 1t meanY~
q asked. "A letter from your dress
maker in an envelope addressed in
teve Britton's handwriting? il ID
teve Britton's or somebody la Nine.
'erbier's shopl"
1T may be that" said che wife in q
Amt voice.
Singular would have sworn
teve wrote that. But now / look at Il
see the first letter Of the address, A,
mt steve's. he makes most Of his
apitals big little ones. This a Is
eal capital
Hope was beginning TO rise In Mrs.
-etchum's breast when her husbands
re was turned to wastabasket be-
Ide the desk in which there was but