Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1910-03-03
HER
MEMORANDA

perfectly absurd that they should hap
pen to her.
The voices at the next table came to
her distinctly. She had been away a
whole month, visiting, and Harold
had not expected her back for two
weeks, but she had grown homesick
She remembered now that in his last
letter he had written: do not feel
that you must hurry back, dear Your
visit is doing you so much good that 1
want you to stay just as long as you
like"
When she had read that she had
thought how perfectly self-sacrificing
and thoughtful Harold was when she
knew he must be wandering around
like a lost sheep in the family hotel
where they made their home Harold
was always so dependent upon her for
company. She had thought just that!
And the voices at the next table kept
right on with their hateful chatter.
She remembered now of having once
read that trying to surprise people
was foolish. 1t was foolish indeed, she
nounced just at dinner time and, hid
ing her suitcase in the depths of the
closet, had gone down to the dining
room, anticipating gleefully Harold's
surprise when he walked in to his soil
tary meal and found her there.
She had noticed the occupants of the
next table when she entered because
they were strangers to her and be-
cause one was so surprisingly pretty
with masses of blonde hair and lovely
coloring. The older woman had spoken
first.
Are you going out again this eve
ning?" she had asked. 81 noticed Mr.
Winnick's car being brought around
as | came in
Yes, the pretty girl had answered.
He telephoned from downtown an
hour ago saying it was such a fine
evening that it would be pleasant to
take ride and get supper somewhere.
The last time he took me out
By this time Mrs. Winnick had
Strengthened up with beating heart
and begun staring at the third knob in
the fresco, meanwhile giving her
waiter perfectly unintelligible order.
And she had been plying Harold be-
cause of his siege of loneliness!
Il don't know when" the pretty girl
went on, 1--WE met man who was as
fascinating as Mr.. Winnick. And he's
been so lovely to me since l came"
Well" remarked the older woman,
that's a mild way of expressing it!
He has hung around you every minute
OF the time, to tell the truth"
Her Harold! What a monster of
duplicity! Mrs. Winnick fiercely ate
piece OF celery so covered with salt
that it strangled her
He's so amusing caid the pretty
girl And witty He kept me in a
perfect gale of laughter last time all
the way out and back
And Harold in all the years Mrs
| Winnicl had known him had been dis
tinguished for his quietness! Mrs.
Winnick ate her dinner mechanically,
thinking bitter thoughts. The worst
of all was to find there were angles to
Harold's nature which had been hid
| den from her, his wife. She never had
! been kept in gales Of laughter for
/! hours at time
| She heard the pretty girl mention
/ ing Mr.. Winnicll and the theater. Mrs
Winnick regretted wildly that she had
1 been so idiotic as to abstain from a
/ theater party while away solely be-
cause there was to be a man present
! whom she had Tilted in order to marry
Winnick
She had heard that the more you
care for a person the more violent is
your dislike when you begin to hate
him or her. Now she felt that she
hated Harold Winnick desperately. All
she hoped for was that she might be
able to maintain a cold and calm de-
meanor when he came in. AT that
/ instant she saw him enter the big din
1 ing room and watched feverishly as
he threaded his way toward her cor
! ner. Her heart sunk hopelessly as
near the next table, he bowed beam.
ingly to the pretty girl and her com
panion.
i At his own table he paused in Devil
dered surprise. Then, with a joyous
exclamation which Mrs. Winnick la
beled hypocritical, he bent over and
kissed her before everybody.
We'll, if this isn't splendid!" he
cried.
Is it?" asked Mrs. Winnick icily
with her eyes on her plate.
Don't you feel well?" asked Win
nick, anxiously. you look pale. Ant
I've been boasting to Tom about YOU
pink cheeks"
who is Tom?" queried Mrs Win
nick, with no animation.
I've been saving him for a sur
prise" explained her husband. IN.
cousin, Tom Winnick, who is here OF
\ business for few weeks. l had hin
come to our table-he ought to be here
now. l thought he'd be lot of com
pany while you We're away. but he go
so interestG IN that pretty blonde a
the next table that Good gracious
Mabel, what on earths the trouble
What are you crying about?"
G0h " olavarad Mrs Wippicly hive