The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1909-01-07
IT IS MY TREAT AND MY APOLOGY"

his arm about her shoulders and went
In to welcome Aunt Adra.
Jimmie was genuinely fond of his
maiden aunt, even if she did call him
James. Sometimes he wished that he
did not have "eXpectations" from her
so that he might insist upon her call
ing him Jimmie.
1t was the first time since his mar
rage that he had seen her. He mar
ried Dolly because he could not help
it. From the moment that he had set
eyes on her as she stepped on the
stage at studio recital Jimmie had
told himself that she was the one wo-
man in the world whom he wanted for
wife. After that he was in the
hands of fate.
Two months later they were mar
ried, and it was not until they had sat
themselves down to address the we'd
ding invitations that Jimmie even
thought of asking Aunt Adra's permits
sion.
A long letter of explanation had
gone with the invitation, and the re-
Spouse had been a plated berry spoon
and a promise from the old lady to pay
them visit.
Now, she was none the less welcome
because she had come unannounced,
and there was real sincerity in jim
mics greeting. Aunt Adra unbent ii
little as he came in, but as they went
out to dinner Jimmie was conscious of
a certain air of disapproval which bore
down on his spirits.
For Jimmie was proud of the little
woman he had married and wanted all
the world to approve his choice In
deed he could not understand how one
could do otherwise.
All through the evening this feeling
wet blanketed their pleasure For the
first time the little parlor seemed dis
tasteful to him. For the first time Dis
content was guest.
1t was not that Jimmie was dscon-
tented with his wife 1t was the first
/ time that he was discontinued with his
home. The tiny parlor was no longer
the center of paradise, and as Jimmie
kissed Mrs. Jimmie good night he
whispered that the visit would not last
long, since Aunt Adra was clearly as
unhappy as themselves
But the visit did endure far beyond
the first week It was we'll toward the
end of the first month that Jimmie
was startled by the appearance of
Aunt Adra at the Office.
us there anything the matter with
Dolly?" he gasped.
Aunt Adra shook her head.
"She is well, so far as | know she
answered coldly. II want you to come
out and have lunch with me. That is
the purpose of my visit here"
1t was the work of q minute to ar
range with the managing clerk for a
little additional time at lunch, and Jim
mic led the way to the quiet cafe
where he had often entertained his
aunt before.
Then they had been jolly little occa-
sions; now she sat grim faced and
silent. while her nephew devoted him
self to his lunch. Not until the table
had been cleared and only the coffee
cups were left did she speak.
II have kept silent as long as
could. James" she began. "But this
morning something occurred that felt
you should be Informed Of
II have tried to like your wife be-
cause she is your wife. l have with
held criticism and have sought to in
dorse your choice even while the first
glimpse told me that yon have been
roped in by designing woman. Don't
say anything" she commanded hur-
riedly as Jimmie sought to make OBJ
lection. II know what I am talking
about. There never was man who
was a match for a woman
Il made up my mind to overlook the
extravagant taste in dress that leads
her to wear silks and satins. | over
looked the fact that you have piano
that is Of 4 far more expensive make
than | could afford to purchase. She
even had the audacity to tell me thai
the piano was loaned her by the maker
Then she made you put in a tele-
phone, and her extravaganza about
concert tickets is something shocking.
James, there are hundreds of concert
programmes in her room and even
tickets that she purchased and did not
use. They cost 81 and 50 a piece.
All that | could stand-tllough such
an extravagant woman never will get