The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1910-05-22
A FEMALE
X/nTCE By John H.
v OlAL McNcely

MI. haHilOun0er, ul0n l near Ie-
male voice at the door as you came
in?" asked Mrs. Ramfounder, as her
husband briskly stepped into the room
and rubbed his hands vigorously to
start the circulation.
Il can't say" replied Ramfounder.
indfferently
Il repeat, Mr. Ramfounder, didn't
hear a female voice at the door as
you came imp
How can | tell? You have your
ears and ought to know what you
hear. If you don't | would advise that
you consult a specialist OF course,
having good hearing myself. can tell
what hear but as far as your expect
Ing me to know what you hear. that's
out OF the question"
Don't try to dodge my question by
a technicality," began Mrs. Ram
founder anew. ''You should realize
by this time that tricks OF that kind
cannot deceive me Mr.. Ramfounder,
did hear female as you just opened
the door, or not p
Il think you did," said Ramfounder,
half-heartedly.
You think! Don't you know"
Yes, you heard one"
Just as | thought, Mr.. Ramfounder
You need not say another word Do
not add insult to injury by taking me
Tor a fool can draw my own conclu-
sions. have suspected all along that
you have been walking home from the
office with some pretty girl--probably
a stenographer--an now my suspi-
clons are confirmed The moment you
opened the door could hear her voice
floating through the air and could
tell, Mr.. Ramfounder that 1t was 4
young and sweet voice--not an old
one. Yes, indeed, can distinguish in
moment voice that Is cracked with
age from the girlish and chirpy kind.
How dare you do such an outrageous
thing? Have you no sense OF man.
hood left? Have you no spark of love
In your heart for your wife, who stays
at home, enslayed to her domestic
duties, and"
IF you spoke up Ramfounder.
i will not listen to your silly ex-
cuses. Anyone with grain of sense
can see through you, But | want you
to understand right now that the end
has been reached. You have treated
me with shameless and brazen incon.
sideration for years. You have hurled
your bold disregard for me In my face
and thrown my affection back at my
feet for the last time. OF course. Mr..
Ramfounder | have too much self-re-
spect to shadow you like detective.
Know how the neighbors talk and | al
ways take particular care not to have
them gossip about me- Otherwise
could sit in the window every evening
and watch you coming home with your
companion Even then / would have
to leave my work in the house simply
because | have husband who IS not
to be trusted out Of my sight But,
no! am too conscientious to leave
my household duties for five or
ten minutes when know you are
coming. INSTEAD remain at my work,
and then you have the monstrous all.
dacity to open the door purposely to
ltt In that wretched female voice so
that it can be heard all over the
house. just to taunt me. You want
to fiaunt your escapade at me. You
were anxious that should know about
1t, and when you realized that in my
innocence and love would not play
the part of spy you took particular
care to arrange SO should hear the
hateful voice. suppose she said
some loving words of farewell"
you certainly"
Don't open your mouth. never
want to hear you speak again can
see by your manner that you are
guilty And-~no, you need not think
that | am Jealous, Mr. Ramfounder
My mother always taught me never to
be envious, and have profited by
her lessons | shall maintain my char.
acter, no matter what happens. Al
though you have tried to excite my
jealousy you have not succeeded. and
you never will. am too busy with
my own affairs to be worrying about
other peoples, but when my husband
deliberately goes out OF his way to
show his untruthfulness by walking
home with al will not say 1t. | am
too much of lady to lower myself
to discuss your friends, Mr.. Ramfound.
er. leave that to you, who have no
better conception OF right from wrong.
| shall not interfere with you any
longer. shall not stand in your path.
You have boldly displayed your insin-
cerity, your unfaithfulness and decep.
ton with characteristic effrontery, and
| shall make my plans to Immediately
rid you Of my presence. The female
voice at the door revealed your du.
plicity. want to say just one word.
Mr.. Ramfounder, before | go, and
implore you TO pay attention to IT,
Just one word"
But" exclaimed Ramfounder, In
desperate effort to be heard the
voice was our neighbor's, Mrs. Rickel.
brand and she was calling to the
miIkman."