The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1909-02-25


compliment d d
not draw her to
his side as such remarks usually did.
She remained sitting in the weathered
oak rocker and looked up absenty
from her embroidery.
Was it?" she inquired.
Fine said the young man with
tremendous enthusiasm. He did not
exactly understand why, but he felt
an impulse to be blithe and emphatic.
He felt there was something in the
| air.
I'm glad you liked It," said his
wife.
The young married man coughed
ana picked up the newspaper. For five
minutes he read the advertisements
upside down, frowning. He was think
ing that Mabel certainly did not act
as usual. Perhaps she did not feel
we'll
Have you a headache" he asked
anxiously.
The young woman in the weathered
oak rocker gave him brief and fleet
ing glance. Il feel very well. thank
you,' she said, politely.
oh, said her husband, a little
blankly. I'm glad. | didn't know.
l-er-just thought I'd ask"
Over the edge OF the paper he sent
inquiring glances at her He had
never noticed it before, but when she
looked down as she was doing now
Mabels profile certainly was severe.
Perhaps 1t was because he was used
to seeing her laugh. Now that he
thought of it she hadn't laughed all
during dinner. He wondered why.
Were you alone all day." he asked
automatically. Were you lone
some?"
Three OF the girls were here all
afternoon" said his wife. 1--WE had "a
very good time. No, was not lone
some"
"Well-what-has anything gone
wrong asked the young married
man.
oh, dear, no." said his wife, with
polite Why, what could
go wrong?"
Il didn't know" said her husband
i thought something might. Things
do sometimes, you know. thought
you seemed 50 quiet"
"Oh, do II" asked his wife, turning
her embroidery about.
The young married man held his
head. horrible feeling of helpless
ness was stealing over him. He won
dered with sort of chill IL this was
natural thing and to be expected.
Maybe Mabel had grown tired of him
already. Perhaps it was the usual
thing to have ones wife grow cold
and distracted after a few weeks. But
a whole lifetime q it!
Inc young married man made a
great fuss over getting cigar and
lighting 1t, wandering around the
room as he did So When he passed
Mabel he touched her hair lightly as
he had way of doing, but no an.
swering upturned face resulted. May
be she did not notice It, he concluded.
for the touch was very light.
i saw Billy Hamins to day he be
gan briskly. as he sat down again.
Did your said his wife.
He told me big piece of news"
went on her husband desperately.
Did he?" said his wife.
See here" said the young married
man huriedly. what's the matter.
Mabel?"
Nothing is the matter" said his
wife.
Yes. there Isl" protested her hus.
band. His tone was tinged with alarm.
Tell me what 1t is"
Il don't see why you should think
anything is the matter" protested his
wife, raising her chin trife.
why, you act so odd" insisted her
husband. Not a bit like Yourself! /
wish you'd tell me-
I'm surprised, said his wife with
her chin still higher, that you should
even notice how ! act
why, Mabel"
Eyes. | am! You-youve shown
plainly enough-well, never mind"
Now. Mabel" cried the young mar
ried man standing anxiously before
her, tell me instantly what's wrong,
What have | done?"
"You-you f-f-forgot to k.k-kiss me
when you came home tonight for the
fffrst time since we were married !"
sobbed his wife. dropping the EN-.
broidery and hunting her handker.
chief, and new never once said you
still llloved me! think that
enough"
Great guns said the young mar.
ried man contritely and relieyedly. y