River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1910-12-15

herself swept off the piano stool and installed
where on the rounded arm of big easy chair,
she had little more liberty of movement than
that of swinging her feet naughty and rebel
liously, while her husband questioned her.
What book were you reading SO intently
this afternoon when I came upon you in the
corridor? Let me see it?"
"Shan't!" CA time). ooh, you coward! Be-
cause you are strong I shall go Toto"
"Where? To whom?" said Harry, easily.
"To my-to Aunt Laetitia."
"She wouldn't have you, child" laughed her
husband, "and besides, she would charge you
board-which should have to pay!"
well, 1 would pay it out of my own mon
ey-there!"
what own money!"
"My house money!"
"You forget, Mrs Morris-Moore," said her
husband, gravely, eff you run away you
wouldn't have any house money!"
Then in burst as he shook her, ooh you
great baby" he cried, make up. Bring the
book! 1t was volume of your diary. | knew
by the lock. I'll show you mine. Fair ex-
changei Off with you!"
"Wel come with me, them" said Clara,
holding out her hand, "but don't you think I'm
giving in. It's only yielding to brute force. My
spirit is unconquered."
Never mind your spirit" said her lord
"fetch the book"
And in these books, the greater and the
lesser they read late into the night.
And this was what they found.
"'Christmas eve" - said Clara, "beg1n
there!"
And she paused waiting, with her finger
in it's place.
"Oh," said her husband, 81 don't think there
is much!"
"And you call yourself a writer!"
"Well, shall 1 begin?" Clara was all on
pins and needles now. She could hardly keep
still. The quarrel was forgotten.
"'Christmas eve (she read). "A dull day
Paid calls in the lane-Went to Margaret's
Baby is adorable and Tom begins to love me
and calls me Aunty dee-ar. Came home by
Grants and brought back fruit for dinner.
There is a man coming, friend of fathers.
1t is horrid nuisance"
Here Clara Moore broke off suddenly.
ooh, 1 wrote everything fresh, you see.
wanted to remember. You've no idea how bad
nv memory used to be in those days Being
married helps. One has to remember ones
husbands iniquities."
"'Set in notebook, learned and conned by
rote,' murmured Harry.
His wife stopped and looked severely at
him.
well" she said, 'T did write lot know,
and yours is no fair exchange. l did 1t partly
very good at composition at school, whatever
you may think Besides, don't believe you
have anything in that book at ALL"
ooh, yes-I have!" and he fourished
closely written page Of memoranda before her
eyes.
WELL" she said, with sigh (and her eyes
were dim and dstantJ, II will read-though
never thought to let anyone see-not even you.
But since you have been so horrid to me,
will"
1t seemed an odd reason, but Harry wisely
nodded. Clara f1uttered some leaves thought
fully. where shall go on?" she asked, knit
ting her brows.
"You did begin from the beginning" he
smiled as he spoke, why not continued"
She g.anced up with sudden shyness, almost
as he spoke why not continue?"
She glanced up with sudden shyness, al
most like surprised Eve.
you were saying that it was a horrid nu
sance. having me come to dinner" said Harry
Moore. Ibid you change your mind?"
Here it is" said his wife, running her eye
down the columns of closeknit writing. 1l:OO
n m. He is gone. 1t not so horrid after
ALL But I think he likes Edith best. He is
big and badly dressed. Why can't writer's and
artistic people dress humanity? He had on the
funniest tie | ever saw, and beard and ne
came in big gray cloak like one of Millet's
shepherds. But he talked-yes, II was worth