Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1909-02-05

That last is one Of my wife's pet
phrases. Of course Beatrice will put
the worst possible construction on 1t,
and it will, serve her right for being
so Jealous of every move make.''
II can remember the time, Philip
Sturgis." l told him coldly. when you
yourself were mighty Jealous If Bea-
trice so much as looked at another
man. 1t is hardly fair Of you to at
tempt to punish her for one Of your
own offenses."
For minute my friend looked
,hamefaced and uncomfortable. Then,
nanlike, he attempted to justify him
self by a process Of sophistry.
"But have got over IT, he ez-
planned, land want Beatrice to get
over 1t too. 1t will be for her good in
the long run. Besides, 1t makes me
feel uncomfortable to know that she
is always watching me in that way
There was time not so long ago."
l reminded him. when it would have
pleased you.''
YES" he agreed, still looking some-
what squeamish; "you are right. of
course. to limited extent. Ill not
deny that. And it would affect ne
that way now only that I'm so abso-
!utcly certain about her loving To-
ut is rather selfish Of you. this point
of view," reminded him caustically.
"But don't you see," he objected.
"what good joke it will be?''
"Philip Sturgis.' l demanded saw.
agely, haven't your COMPOUNDED prac-
teal jokes, as you call them, made
you enough enemies already? The
fellows at the club have all been hop
ing your marriage would cure you Of
that silly habit. Practical joking has
never gained you one friend. 1t has
made you many enemies and has cool
ed the feelings Of more than one friend
toward you.''
But" he insisted, with the air Of a
man who is unconvinced, this is
harmless"
ut is not harmless" rejoined. ut
is the most cruel attempt at Joke
have ever known of your perpetrating,
and it makes me very angry with you
to think that you should propose maxi
ing your wife. whom you ought to
love above all others in the world, the
victim Of it,
Philip Sturgis and went our ways
with no words on our lips. knew
that his proposed action was nothing
short Of shameful, though he obsti,
nately refused to admit, even to him.
self, as could see, what he must have
known in the bottom of his heart all
the time.
| When q man is in a dilemma he
will, as a rule. make confidant Of
his wife and get her advice. This was
my course Of action. have not lived
with Edith for going on to four years
without learning that her qualities Of
perception, as regards affairs in which
the workings of the human heart are
involved. are fnestimably superior to
mine was convinced of that when
was led to propose. There is as
much difference between her and me
on those things as there is between
the sun and the moon.
told her the simple story Of Philip
Sturgis' despicable plot and found her
quite as indignant as had been. If
this had not been the case I should
have been greatly surprised. And. once
enlisted in the cause, Edith remains
forever it's faithful adherent. was
not little elated, then, when saw
that her quick and active feminine
brain was at work to devise plan Of
fitting punishment for the man who
could, in the name of practical joking.
so basely treat his young and loving
wife,
AS the direct result of my confer
ence with Edith she and walked
across the street to the modest resi-
dence Of the Sturgises the next day
Immediately after Philip had boarded
the in town trolley. Mrs. StErgis an.
swered our ring and pleasantly invited
us to come in. We came. we talked.
and we conquered.
After exposing the full sum of her
husbands villainy we had hard time
I of it IT, bring Beatrice to treat him as
he deserved, and do not think now
that the punishment was at all COM
mensurate with the magnitude of the
offense.
Even before we had left the tele-
gram came 1t read:
Beatrice:
Have gone to Salem to see Felice.
perfect dear. Particulars later.
PHILIP.
Beatrice rose to the occasion. She
looked at my wife, and there was in
dignation in her eyes.
ga perfect dear!'" she shifted, with
the same poise of head that I had ad-
mired on the golf links. Her self as
sertiveness was again coming to the