Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1911-03-16
DOMESTIC
DIPLOMACY

Joyce swung jauntily into the dining
room, took from his wifes lips the
usual peck and, seating himself at the
table, was soon doing justice to the
dainty meal she had prepared for him.
He Kept up stream of conversation
and was busy with detailed descrip.
ton OF how he had secured an order
for his house in spite of the best eff
forts of rival concern to land it,
when 1t suddenly dawned upon him
that he was not getting the attention
that his story merited. Then it crept
into his mind that all his remarks had
been answered in monosyllables.
Are you sick, dear?" he asked his
wife.
NO. The answer was brief enough.
Worried about Johnnie again ?"
NO"
Joyce began to think in earnest. In
all the ten years of their married life
ne had never known his wife to be so
economical Of words unless she had
reached the stage where she was too
angry to talk
Did things go wrong today, little
woman?" he asked in his tenderest
one.
Nothing went wrong today, thank
iyou." freezingly.
Joyce knew now that the partner of
his sorrows was really angry. Freezing
politeness was sure sign of anger
with his wife.
Are you having trouble with the
girl?"
The girl is a jewel Mr.. Joyce"
Then if nothing is wrong, for the
love of Mike. grin and show your
teeth"
joyce was getting nettled.
Il might grin and show my teeth till
doomsday and you would not notice
them"
80" thought Joyce, that's it, is
it,"
Now he had the key to the situation!
Mrs. Joyce had bought new gown,
or some other fixing, and he had not
noticed it. Joyce's observation-disclosures
was only equaled by his lack of obser-
walton. He had been badgered by his
friends so much about his failings
that he tried to keep all knowledge Of
them from his wife.
$50 you thought l didn't notice it,
did you, little girl?" he said, with an
air of raillery well, when you catch
Louie T. Joyce overlooking any bet
like that, just put it down in your diary
that he's asleep"
But you never mentioned it." Mrs.
Joyce, though visibly Modified, was
still little vexed.
"Of course 1 didn't mention it.
Would you have me come in and shout
about it like schoolboy?"
Moo, but you might have said
something about it. You might have
let me know whether you liked it or
not"
All this time Joyce had been look
ing his wife over to see if he could
discover the new thing she had on, but
her attire looked as usual to him.
He came out of his abstraction to
hear his wife say: DO you think it
suits my complexion"
All! Now he had it! 1t was her
dress!
That dress is just too corking for
anything. dear. You know / always
liked you in yellow; it sets off your
brown eyes so we'll, and"
Always is good word" his wife
cut in, seeing that l have worn this
dress for two years. But what has
that got to do with it?'
I'm bad again." thought Joyce, men.
tally kicking himself
We'll, it has really nothing to do
with it, suppose" he said, "but I'd
like to know since when fellow has
been barred from complmenting his
wife if she looks particularly sweet,
just because she isn't wearing a new
gown"
The Indignation in Joyces voice was
as strong as If he meant it.
oh. of course, dear" said his wife.
Il did not mean to offend you, but
was wondering if you'd like 1t with my
light hair"
Joyce grabbed at the hint like the
proverbial drowning man at a straw.
What an idiot he was not to have no.
tlced that ribbon thing and buckle ar
rangement on her hair!
Your hair, my dear, looks lovely, as
! have often remarked whether it is