The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1911-03-21

By o'clock he was in despair II
concluded that If he didn't get a mes
sage from Theo before 10 he would g
home and upstairs to room by him
self without paying any attention t
his wife. Meanwhile his actions ha,
made 1t apparent to every waiter Il
the club that he was eager for tele
phone message. At 9:55 he went int
the coat room for his hat and coat
and when he emerged a waiter raj
into him, shouting:
you're wanted at the telephone
sir?'
Martindale ran to the booth, knock
ing down another waiter who wa.
hunting him to tell him he was wanted
there, brushing by three more VIII,
were making dives for him from diff
ferent directions to give him the sam.
news. Inside the booth he took up thu
receiver and heard in a faint, husky
woman's voice:
as that you. dear?'
Eyes"
II thought you must be at the club
l just called you up to say-I'm talk
ing from the phone next the bed-thai
the doctor has been here to see me
and said had high fever. That was
about O'clock. Since there was nc
one here to take care of me but tbs
cook he teIephoned for trained
nurse | knew you must be having &
nice time at your club with all you
old friends. and l didn't like to spoil
your fun. But nurse says that I'd bet
ter try to get some sleep now, and
preferred to tell you about It before
doing so. Don't hurry home; have 8
good time"
II told He was about to give hel
the usual 81 told you So" but checked
himself. saying instead that he would
be at home as soon as he could gel
there.
"You were very unreasonable this
morning." the voice continued. 'ebut
have forgiven you, and you needn't
trouble yourself about that at all. But
don't make noise when you come in
| don't believe shall get any sleep
butt
There was a click, followed by a
ring. and a different woman's voice
said:
"Mr. MartindaIe?"
Eyes"
"I'm speaking to you from the lower
hall telephone. Your wife is very i'll,
threatened with pneumonia: tempera
ture 104 degrees
"I'n be there In five minutes. Why
the devil didn't YOU
He dropped the receiver and bolted
for the street door.
Mrs. Martindale fortunately escaped
long Illness. but she was for several
days in condition not warranting her
husband bringing up any other subject
than toast. tea, temperature and time
to take medicine. During the danger
period he was In an agony of fear lest
he should lose the woman who would
surely dominate him through life, for
this first episode bearing on the bal
ance of power in his family had open
ed his eyes. 1t was too late to go back
and choose some other woman who
would permit him to assume his posi-
ton as head of the family, and he
wouldn't have done so if he could. He
quietly made up his mind, as many
another man has done before him, that
in the case of woman certain laws
that regulate the universe are suspend
ed. His wife had disobeyed an order
he had given her for her own good,
thereby showing perversity for
which he as well as she had suffered.
And for having brought upon them
both this suffering, including a fifty
dollar doctors bill, she had-forgiven
himI
Sam Martindale has Joined the In
Vulnerable throng of married men who
joke with one another about their
position as head of the family and
take their orders from their wives
dutifully as become obedient hus-
bands. their wives the while, or many
Of them, not doubling In the least that
they are themselves willing slaves.
But one year brought him revenge.
A small lump of flesh came who could
neither walk nor talk He hadn't even
a 1.-THE of the sense Mrs. Martindale
possessed. but he assumed command Of
the whole household.