Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1910-05-12
A FEMALE
VOICE R hsk {ssa H.

male voice at the door as you came
ln?" asked Mrs. Ramfounder, as her
husband briskly stepped into the room
and rubbed his hands vigorously to
start the circulation.
81 can't say" replied Ramfounder,
indifferently.
81 repeat, Mr.. Ramfounder, didn't
hear female voice at the door as
you came in?"
"How can 1 tell? You have your
ears and ought to know what you
hear. If you don't would advise that
| you consult 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?"
Il think you did," said Ramfounder,
half-heartedly.
"You think! Don't you know?"
Eyes, you heard one"
Just as I thought, Mr.. Ramfounder.
You need not say another word. Do
not add insult to injury by taking me
for fool. can draw my own conclu-
slons. have suspected all along that
you have been walking home from the
office with some pretty girl-probably
a stenographer-and now my suspi-
cions are confirmed The moment you
opened the door could hear her voice
floating through the air, and could
tell, Mr.. Ramfounder, that it was a
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, enslaved to her domestic
duties, and"
If you" spoke up Ramfounder.
II will not listen to your silly en-
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-
slderation 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, l 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 l know you are
coming. Instead l remain at my work
and then you have the monstrous au.
l dacity to open the door purposely to
: let in that wretched female voice sc
{ 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. l suppose she sale
some loving words of farewell"
3 you certainly"
!, Don't open your mouth. never
. want to hear you speak again. l car
see by your manner that you arc
guilty. And-no, you need not thinl
that am jealous, Mr.. Ramfounder
: My mother always taught me never t.
;. be envious, and | have profited b,
: her lessons. | shall maintain my char
acter, no matter what happens. AL
o though you have tried to excite my
jealousy you have not succeeded, ant
q you never will. | am too busy will
my own affairs to be worrying abou
other peoples, but when my husband
deliberately goes out of his way tt
show his untruthfulness by walkin,
q home with al will not say it. l an
(. too much of a lady to lower mysel
# to discuss your friends, Mr.. Ramfound
> err. leave that to you, who have n,
o better conception of right from wrong
: shall not interfere with you an,
: longer. l shall not stand in your path
: You have boldly displayed your insin
! certify, your unfaithfulness and decor
ton with characteristic effrontery, an,
e shall make my plans to immediatel,
It rid you Of my presence. The femal
}, voice at the door revealed your du
y plicity. | want to say just one WORD
+ Mr.. Ramfounder, before I go, and
implore you to pay attention to il
Just one word"
But" exclaimed Ramfounder, il
a desperate effort to be heard, 9Th
voice was our neighbours, Mrs. Ricke
brand, and she was calling to tn