The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1911-08-05

Joyce Gwung jauntily into the dining
room, took from bis xifes UPS the
usual peck and, seating himself at the
table, was soon doing Justice to the
dainty meal she had prepared tor him;
4 He kept. up a stream Of conversation
and was, busy with d detailed descrip.
/ ton ofhow he hadSse6ured an order
for hls5house IN spitstpf the best ef.
forts ORA rival concern to land it,
/ when 1t suddenly dawned upon him
that he was not getting the attention
that hls story meftted. Then II crept
ihto his mind that al. his remarks had
been answered IN MUNICIPALITIES.
Are you sick, dearis he asked,his
wife.
NO The answer was brief enough,
worried about Johnnie again?"
mo-
Joyce began to think in earnest. In
ali the ten years Of their married life
| he had never known his wife to be 50
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
you," freezingly.
Joyce knew now that the partner Of
his sorrows was really angry. Freezing
poIiteness was a sure sign Of anger
with his wife.
Are YOU having trouble with the
girl" , ,gss
THE girl is a jewel, Nj. Joyce"
"Then, IL nothing is wrong, for the
love Of Mike, grin and show your
teeth"
Joyce was getting netled.
81 might grin and show'my teeth till
doomsday and you would not notice
them"
So" thought Joyce, that's it, is
til"
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 fallings
that he tried to keep all knowledge Of
+1.:em from his wife,,
$50 you thought didn't notice 1t,
did you, little girIf he said, with an
air Of ralllery. well, when you catch
Louie T. Joyce overlooking any bet
like that, Just put It downln your diary
that he's asleep,
But you never mentioned It." Mrs.
Joyce, though vtsibly notified. was
still a little vexed.
"Of course l. didn't mention it.
Would you have me come in and shout
about 1t like a sohoolboy?''
Moo, bnt yod might have said
something abouti1t! Yoasmight have
let me know whether YOU liked 1t or
not"
All this time Joyce had been look.
ing his wife over to see II 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 says DO sou think 1t
suits my compIexion?"
Ahl Now he had Il! It was her
dress! So
THAT dress is Just too corking for
anything, dear. You know 1 always
liked you In yellow; It sets of your
brown eyes so well, and"
always is a good word" his wife
cut in, seeing that | 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.
"Well. It has really nothing to do
with It, suppose" he said, "but I'd
like to know since when a fellow has
been barred from compllmenting his
wife II she looks particularly sweet,
Just because she isn't wearing new
gown"
The Indignation in Joyce's.voice was
as strong as II he meant It.
"oh, Of course, dear" said his wife.
81 did not mean to offend you. but I
was wondering II you'd likeit with my
light hair"
Joyce grabbed at the hint like the
proverbial drowning man at straw,
What an IDIOT he was not to have no.
tIced that ribbon. thing and buckle ar.
rangement on, her hair!.
your hair, my dear. looks lovely, as
l have often remarked. whether 1t is
adorned or worn plain, but think you
ought to have another Gee for the-er
other side"
Joyce patted himself on the back for
that clever speech.
Louie Joyce!" His wife was sur.
prlsed. He could see that. What in
the world could do with another one,
and how In the name Of common
sense could ] adorn my hair with it?"
Plainly Joyce was out OF his depth.
"of course, you dear little goose"
he said, "Idon't mean for YOU to wear
It on your head, but | want you to
have another None-or anything else
you want So I'm going to write you
out a check and you can go downtown
tomorrow and spend the money"