The Falls City tribune., 1910-06-10

nedical banquet. and was sorry he
could not be home to dinner-he would
not be back till late. and she was not
To sit up. While she vas listening. the
tears fell down her cheeks. She an
swered pleasantly.
She made a pretense at dinner, and
finally got the children to bed. Then
she came down to the hammock un
der the trees. Her headache lessened,
and she tried to think things out calm
ly. as a mar would. After hours she
reached only one solid conclusion
hat If she only knew that he really
loved her and the children better than
all the rest of the world together; If
1t was a grief to him to see so little of
them, she could bear II. And then
she fell asleep.
When she awoke she was, somehow,
conscious that it was very late. The
moon looked as If 1t had been up a
long, long time. The woman rose and
went softly into the house-she must
be in bed before Robert came home
1t would irritate him to find her wait
ing up for him like a reproach at his
long absence. Things ought to have
been dark in the house, but as she en-
tered the hall she ga that his den
was lighted up. She heard his voice,
carefully lowered. Whom could he be
talking to?
She started upstairs, and then
stopped. She came softly back, stoop-
ing to remove her h~igh-heeled slip
pers. She knew it was a base thing
to do, but she simply must know what
he was saying and whom he was adj
dressing in so heartfelt a tone-not
his professional tone. She crept along
the hall to a little turn where she
could safely listen.
That's all very well, Trafton," he
was saying. So it was Phil Trafton.
his bachelor friend, come from no.
where. "All very we'll" he continued,
but I've something to work for and 1t
looks to me as if you haven't. get
as sick as you, as any other doctor
gets of women-an ailing, whining,
fawning lot. Half of them need a
spanking worse than they need medi-
cine. Some of them need a little COM
mon ense. We almost never see a
hat appeals TO us-save as a
burden-except the nurses, the bust
MSS women. who, from my standpoint,
are not really women at all. They
simply serve my need in my work. It's
different, now, When-a fellow has a
wife. It's the woman at home that
counts with a man like me-with any
real man. | give you my word, wom-
an-surrounded as ] am, that ] V
really give a thought to any
but Maryland my mother. And al
most never see them! | am straining
every nerve to get the place where
| can have more time with them.
That's what | live for" He paused.
The other man spoke in the queer,
quick way Mary remembered so well.
You married men are all alike, and
uppos you are right. But must
say | know married men who wouldn't
dare to bring a friend home at mid
night, without permission. like this!
She could almost see her husband
swell with pride.
Mary never fails to welcome any
one ! want" he said. There Is no
body like her. Say, Traf, why not
come on a trip with us? ] thought 1t
out to-day that | would ask Mary in
the morning if she wouldn't take he
babies and come to the mountains for
a two months vacation. She needs
rest worse than | do, and we could all
have a good time. providing we can
lose you occasionally"
Trafton laughed. Not for mine"
he replied, but thanks all the same. l
don't fit in with married bliss, old
mani"
Mary Ainslie slipped off upstairs,
slippers in hand. Once in her own
room she redonned them, touched her
hair into order, twitched the soft dress
to the proper folds. Then, with shin
ing eyes and a thankful heart, she
went downstairs to greet her husband
and his friend.