Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1909-05-15
Thinking of
Something Else
Bv MAUI HALLOWELL
By MAUD HALLowELL
Copyrighted, 1909. by Associated
Literary Press.


whatever you do, Sue," said DIR.
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 at 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 Ill nature
having evaporated completely under
the heat Of her little outburst. Her
visitor. Susan Harland. laughed with
her. for DIR. Murray's wonderful feats
In his fits OF abstraction were famous.
"why. Sue" continued Mrs. Murray,
laughing gayly at the recollection, do
you remember when had that touch
Of rheumatic fever? One night when
l was burning with thirst l woke John
and said to him. John, II you don't
get me n drink Of water quick 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 a 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
glass brimming full Of good cold wa
ter. But. II you will believe 1t, Sue,
he just stood there looking at me, and
before I could say word that man
drank every drop Of that water him
self with me glaring holes through
him. declare, It makes me angry to
this dayw
Mrs. Murray ran to the foot Of the
stairs and called out: Hurry up, now,
John! Sue and I 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 must have done something fool
ish! 1t can't be taking him all this
time to dress"
DR.. John had done nothing foolish.
He had done something rather wise.
He was sound asleep in bed.
Miss 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? OF course It was"
mo. Sue; don't you ever marry an
absentminded man." said Mrs. Murray
impressively when they drove away at
last. with DIR. John safely opposite
them.
''As long as he isn't too absentmind-
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 III smell
ing things" said Mrs. Murray. "Dick
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.
Murray's dark prophecy literally, but
he did so In effect. It Is true that he
was soberly and blamelessly clad In
his evening clothes, being correctly at
tired even to the tie, but the tout en-
semble was somewhat marred by the
sad fact that he had patent leather
pump on one foot and q bright russell
shoe on the other.
Sue blushed. and then she flushed,
and then she grew angry as the filters
and smiles ran around the room when
unconscious Dick hurried forward TO
meet her.
She was not young woman given
to exaggerate tribes. but she was not
a stole philosopher either. No doubt It
Is a small thing to have ones evening
pleasure married a bit. but 1t seems un-
duly important at the time.
Luckless Dick was doomed to fur
Their disgrace. He had barely repaired
the disaster of the shoes by sending a
messenger posthaste to his home for
the other pump when something worse
happened.
During a waltz. when Miss Sue was
his partner. somebody brushed against
Dick. There was sharp cracking Of
broken glass. and the next instant the
couple was wreathed In beautiful vio-
let smoke that gradually filed the
room.
Nobody had leisure or desire to OBJ
serve the beauty Of its color though.
It was 30 instantly suffocating that
there was a mad. wild rush for doors
.oA E.~a0rl, x.,fn1Aw0