Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1909-01-07
THE PEACEMAKER.

pacified," | tried to tell her. They
like to fight 1t out. It's really better,
and more conducive to friendly feel
ing than interrupting before they've
said all the nasty things they have in
their minds. There's nothing more
irritating than thinking how you
might have routed your enemy and
didn't"
II can't agree with you,' she said,
shaking her head 81 think word in
season--a little oil on the troubled
waters-is duty we owe to each 9TH
er. So often the outsider can see at
once who is in the right and who Is
In the wrong"
"Do you think that has anything to
do with it," | asked They probably
don't either Of them care a rap about
the rights of the case once they are
In the thick of the fray. Human ma
ture still loves fight, and very
good thing, too Have you never
heard the Irishman's advice to his
son when they plunged into a scrim-
mage just for the love of the thing:
Whenever you see head, my boy,
hit It, That is the proper spirit"
II know you don't mean half you
say" she said, patiently I'm any case
must continue to do my duty as I
see it." And she did
We were both dining at the Richard
Smiths that night, and | was not sur
prfsed that before the dinner was half
over there were mutterings of COM
ing storm We were both old friends,
and neither Mr. nor Mrs. Smith troub-
led to repress their feelings on our
account. They never agreed on any
point, and arguments were the order
OF the day, but if they were left alone
they soon quoted down A third per-
son joining in only added fuel to the
fire.
If | ever get into parliament" Mrs.
Smith began, II shall bring in a bill
for preserving the best names of our
country. How often a fine old historic
name Is lost when a woman marries.
Take my case, for instance Fancy a
Macgregor becc ming Smith, It's
too absurd" This was one of her
grievances. | had often heard it be-
fore, but Constantia had not.
You didn't seem to think it SO abb
surd at one time" her husband re-
piled, picking up the glove 81 should
have said you rather seemed pleased
than otherwise. You might have been
a Macgregor still, you know; it was
quite optional"
You are too modest about your
own attractions, Mr. Smith," said
Constantia with a charming smile.
"She forgot the name in the man, you
see." She was beginning to pour oil,
and | looked on with interest. But
instead of it calming the troubled
waters, Mr.. Smith quite bristled up.
Il don't want anybody to forget my
name,' he said. I'm not ashamed of
it. It's a COOL honest English name.
l don't pretend to have come from
cattle-lifting, bare-legged. red-headed
night-raiders of ancestors"
No, it would be of no use," Mrs.
Smith said sweetly NO use at all,
dear"
Not but what" her spouse contin-
ued holly, 81 could fight as well as any
man if saw occasion to do so. They
thought good deal of me In the vol
unteers, I believe"
Il am sure they would" Constantia
said with generous emphasis, land I
am equally sure" looking at Mrs.
Smith with an olive-branch smile,
that your wife agrees with them, but
she is just testing you little bit.
can imagine she continued, warming
to her subject, how she would fy to
you for protection in the hour Of
danger"
As Mr. Smith does not much more
than reach up to his wifes shoulder
this was rather bad shot, and was
received in chilly silence by all sides.
But Constantia is not easily dismayed.
I'VE cannot measure courage by
inches" she said, cor judge of
mans strength by his size Many of
our greatest generals have been little
men, not any taller, I should say-if
as tall-as our host"
Mr.. Smith had been wriggling I'm.
comfortably on his chair for some
minutes, and could no longer retain
himself.
Our friend is very kind to make
such f1atterlng comparisons" he said.
with not very successful laugh "but
| am afraid | cannot take them to nv.
self. | have never been considered a
small man, though | may not be suit
able for the Life Guards. What T
have always aimed at has been
breadth even more than heighth I
don't like your long, weedy chaps"
[ suppose Constantia saw as 7 did
the obvious retort that rose to Mrs.
Smiths lips, and determined to ston
1t at all costs, she knocked over her
wine glass. There was a little pool of
claret on the spotless tabIecloth and
the glass was broken. But she had
gained her purpose and turned the
current.
I'm so sorry" she exclaimed. "How
careless OF me! hope | haven't done
much damage"
oh, no." Mrs. Smith said resigned
ly, 1T doesn't matter at all. Please
don't trouble. | told Richard when he
bought those glasses that they wonld
go over at a touch.'
Il don't remember you saving anv-
thing of the kind - returned hor 49,
nand, who was obviously put out at
the accident. ''But at the same time
it would certainly he unucro1 e -