The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1910-08-27
When Ada
Went Away


It was the first time the Gartmanys
had been separated since they were
married. Mrs. Gartmany said it was
perfectly dreadful to leave Harry, and
she didn't see how on earth she was
going to do it when the time came,
but her people simply insisted on her
going to visit them.
Gartmany bore up hefoically He
said it would seem mighty strange
with Ada away, and it would be hard
TO bear it, but he would do his best
to endure the separation, inasmuch
as he did not see how he could leave
his business just then.
Yet down deep in his heart, uncon-
fessed even to himself. he looked foE-
ward to enjoying his little vacation.
OF course he loved his wife and was
perfectly happy, but he knew it would
seem good to hunt up the boys and
stay as late as he wanted to at the
club without having to watch the
clock.
1t would be fun. too, to have smo-
kers and Dutch suppers at the house
and not have toNremember about not
scattering cigar ashes on the porch.
Such things wouldn't matter, because
nobody would see them but himself
before the maid swept. He would get
Likemore to come over and stay with
him. Likemore and he had been
chums before his marriage, and of
late they hadn't seen much of each
other. Ada called Likemore sarcastic
instead of clever and amusing, and
somehow she and Likemore did not
get on well together.
Il wish you were going too," said
Mrs Gartmany, tearfu1ly, when her
husband put her on the train.
80 do T." said Gartmany, dutifully
But business he added firmly, "sim-
ply will not let met
81 know" agreed Mrs. Gartmany,
resignedly.
Gartmany walked out Of the rail-
road station briskly. Ada would have
a. nice, restful visit, and meanwhile
he had to get home to greet Like
more. They had dinner together and
Gartmany was surprised to find that
Likemore was strikingly devoid of
tact. Likemore said outright that he
didn't care for that kind Of lemon
pie-and it was Ada's favorite recipe,
which she had taught the cook Then
they smoked and talked on the front
both of them yawned before $50
o'clock.
Lets turn in, said Gartmany ITO
morrow we'll have in some of the
fellows and have real old talkfest!
I'm tired tonight"
Six of the old crowd gathered there
the following evening and there was
2 lot Of laughter and fun, and Cart
many enjoyed himself hugely till they
left and he surveyed the house.
"Corsarn them!" he grumbled to
Likemore Look at the place! Re
sembles a residence struck by cy-
clone Here is a cigar stub that has
burned right into the mahogany
who was fool enough to lay it down
there, I'd like to know? Ouchi Who
left that pitcher on the stair step?
Well, the maid can clean up tomor-
row. I'll make it all right with her,
/ never remember the crowds being
so careless before!"
"Why, I didn't notice any differ
enee," said the surprised Likemore.
sit was just like old times!"
"Was it," asked Gartmany, dubi-
obviously.
They went to the club the next
night and when Gartmany thought
1t must be about three o'clock in the
morning and they started for home
he found it was 1880.
well, there weren't many there we
knew" he told Likemore. "And then
there wasn't anything to do but bill
liards."
"You used to say you never could
get enough of the game" said Like
more. you kicked frightfully last
time at stopping because you had
promised to be home at eleven"
did II" asked Gartmany, unbe-
1ievingly.
After that he and Gartmore had a
hard time thinking up things to do.
They went to summer garden and
walked around lonesomely and Cart
many said the music was very slow.
They stayed home apd yawned in
each others faces and Gartmany got
snappy. He had never noticed before
T rOsr
house looked queer. He jumped at
the stiffness of it. Whenever he went |
into the living room he mechanically
looked to see Ada in her accustomed
chair, and then scowled and pretend
ed he had come to open the cigar jar.
Besides, there were two days when
he did not get letter.
Exactly a week after Mrs. Cart