Connecticut western news., 1909-05-20
Thinking of Something Else By MAUD HALLOWELL Copyrighted. 1909, by Associated
 Literary Press.
By MAUD HALLOWELL
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=. 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 wOu- 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 III nature having evaporated completely und,r the heat of her little outburst H." visitor, Susan Harland, laughed wi h her. for Dr. Murray's wonderful fe%. |; l in his fits of abstraction were famou:. "Why. Sue" continued Mrs. Murrdr. l laughing gayly at the recollection, do : you remember when l had that touch 1 of rheumatic fever? One night when wns burning with thirst 1 woke and Said to him. John, if you C, < ! get me a 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. l wanted a drink of water that much that l hung on to my patience until he was wide awake and knew what l was talking about. Then he went to the refrigerator and came back with a glass brimming full of good cold wa ter. But, if you will believe it, Sue, he just stood there looking at me, and before l could say a word that man drank every drop of that water him. self with me glaring holes through him. I declare, 1t makes me angry to this day."
 Mrs. Murray ran to the foot of the l stairs and called out: Hurry up, now, John! Sue and l 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 idget. Goodness" said Mrs. Murray at last, looking at her watch, that man must have done something fool ish! It 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 I began. to unlrcss wasn't it natural for me to keep right on and get into bed? of course it was"
 No, Sue; don't you ever marry all 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 absentmipd- cd to attend the wedding, Sue" chuc- kled pr. John. you take him, provided his name is Dick Kendall"
 Sue was glad that the darkness hid her blushes.
 Dick is going to do something great in chemistry. I do believe" said Dr John. "There's his compound of phos- pho''-
 "A wife wants something besides your old phosphates and other i'll 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 be 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 a patent leather pump on one foot and bright russet shoe on the other.
 Sue blushed, and then she flushed, and then she grew angry as the titters and smiles ran around the room when unconscious Dick hurried forward to meet her.
 She was not q young woman given to exaggerate triGes, but she was not stoic philosopher either. No doubt it is a small thing to have ones evening pleasure marrcd bit. but it 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 posthastc to hi; home for the other pump when something worse | happened.
 During Il waltz. when Miss Sue was his partner. somebody brushed against Dick There was a sharp crackliug of broken glass. and the next instant the couple vas wreathCd in beautiful viu- let smoke that gradually E.i'I thc room.
 Nobody had leisure or desire to Cb- serve the beauty of it's color though, It was so instantly suffocatng that there was mad, wild rush fer doors and French windows.
 The accident filled Sues cup. and ii brimmed .0ver-oEly a little. but too nauch In her anger she stamped her foot and cried: Dick Kendall. your ol,. la.