The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1909-06-11
Thinking of
Something Else
nv MAID HALlOwEn
BY MAUD HALLowELL
Copyrighted, 1909. by Associated
Literary Press.


IL II
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
whatever you do. Sue" said DR..
John Murray's wife. half laughing
half angry, don't you ever marry an
absentminded man. A man that is al
ways thinking OF something else like
that big husband of mine. may be won
derfully good ut his profession, be-
cause that's what he's always think
Ing about. but he is surely domestic
trial at times"
Mrs. Murray laughed, her III nature
having evaporated completely under
the heat Of her little outburst Her
visitor. Susan Harland. laughed with
her. for DR.. Murray's wonderful feats
I'm his fts Of abstraction were famous.
"Why, Sue" continued Mrs. Murray.
laughing gayly ut the recollection, do
you remember when had that touch
OF rheumatic fever? One night when
i was burning with thirst | woke John
and said to him, John, IL you don't
get me a drink of water quick l don't
know that I'll live till morning.
HE got up sort of dazed. walked
over to the mantelpiece and came back
to me holding out an empty vase.
wanted drink of water that much
that hung on to my patience until
he was wide awake and knew what
was talking about. Then he went to
the refrigerator and came back with Il
glass Drumming full Of good cold wa
ter But. II you will believe 1t. Sue.
he just stood there looking at me. and
before | could say word that man
drank every drop Of that water him
self with me glaring holes through
him. | declare. 1t makes me angry to
this day."
Mrs. Murray ran to the foot of the
stairs and called out: Hurry up, now,
John! Sue and | are both waiting.
You will find your evening clothes laid
OUT for you In the bedroom, and there
isn't any time to lose"
Miss Sue and Mrs. John sat down to
talk. They exhausted their store Of
new gossip after awhile and began to
fidget. Goodness" said Mrs. Murray
at last looking at her watch, that
man mnst have done something fool
time to dress!
DR.. John had done nothing foolish.
He had done something rather wise.
He was sound asleep In bed.
NJ. IS Sue overheard some very active
and excited conversation carried on
exclusively by Mrs. Murray. At last
the deep bass of her husband resound-
ed. my dear" said DR.. John, don't
you know anything about the wonder
fully powerful control that habit has
over all the species Of the animal king
dom? When began to undress wasn't
1t natural for me to keep right on and
get into bed? or course 1t was"
mo. Sue: don't you ever marry an
absentminded man." said Mrs. Murray
impressively when they drove away at
last. with DR.. John safely opposite
them.
''As long as he isn't too absentmiDd-
ed to attend the wedding, Sue" chuc-
killed. DR.. John, you take him. provided
his name Is Dick Kendall"
Sue was glad that the darkness hid
her bushes.
"Dick is going to do something great
In chemistry. do believe" said DR.
John. There's his compound of phos
pho
"A wife wants something besides
your old phosphates and other Ill smell
ing things" said Mrs, Murray. "Dicb
Kendall is as bad as you are. He's
just as likely as not to come to the
dance tonight with his old laboratory
coat on
Dick Kendall did not fulfill Mrs
Murrays dark prophecy literally, bu
he did so in effect. 1t is true that hi
was soberly and blamelessly clad II
his evening clothes. being correctly at
tired even to the tie. but the tout en-
semble was somewhat marred by tn,
sad fact that he had a patent leather
pump on one foot and bright russo
shoe on the other.
Sue biushed. and then she flushed
and then she grew angry as the filters
and smiles ran around the room whel
unconscious Dick hurried forward t,
meet her
She was not young woman givel
to exaggerate tribes, but she was no
a stole philosopher either. No doubt I
is small thing to have ones evening
pleasure married bit but 1t seems un
duly important at the time.
Luckless Dick was doomed to fur
ther disgrace. He had barely repaired
the disaster of the shoes by sending
messenger postbaste to his home TO
the other pump when something wors
happened.
During waltz. when Miss Sue wa
his partner, somebody brushed agains
Dick. There was sharp cracking o
broken glass, and the next instant tn
couple was wreathed In beautiful vic
let smoke that gradually filed tn
room.
Nobody had leisure or desire to OF
serve the beauty of its color though
L..