The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-03-28
By TEMPLE BAITEH.
fC,opyright, lsl1. by Associated
Literary press)

49, NADpfTikHt, 4FAAs W 9S~~,N'~~
Literary Press.l
II don't want a wooden tray" Pat
tersons said. II want to be sure when
/ xct my teaeGp down that m mol
going to leave a mark. It's all very
weii for you careful housewives VINO
have time TO polish your mahogany
Eut I have TO leave such things 40
NV man, so IN take a metal Me-
please II you can find Il for me"
Careful housewives Mrs. Car
rfngtas renrnachea him. Can any
one be Il careful housewife who lives
in an apartment of two rooms.
.swall, you keep everything shining
and perfect" Patterson told her.
FITS an index or the WAY you would
manage a big house"
4 s'Rut i don't want to manage big
house. Mrs. Darlington protested
plaintively. For sc many years ]
lived In a barn Of a place" She
shuddered.
..fatter~on spoke quickly Btti
love wasn't there. IL wouldn't have
seemed barn-iike II your husband had
been congenial"
'-Piease''-Mrs, Darlington held up
her hands In little gesture of en-
treaty" please we won't talk about
IT.
He hated the attitude 81 her widow
;, which made her forget the
faults Of her husband and remember
only his virtues. Everybody knew
that Darlington had been a brute,
that Mrs. Darlington had suffered.
and that death had brought her re-
lease.
Sit is So coy here" she said hur-
riedly. land picked oat just the
things loved best from my big
house. The old mahogany was my
mothers The hooks were part of
my fathers library. and the pictures
a selected myself"
Darlington noticed that there
wasn't one article OF her husbands
choosing.
Where did you get your tray" he
asked abruptly.
This ?" Mrs. Darlington moved the
fragile teacups so that the oval OF
polished mahogany could be seen at
hs best II had a rim OF metal and
an inlaid star in the middle. My
husband gave it to me. We bought IL
Mt an auction in those first days"
Her voice faltered. Il have kept 1t
because it marked the high tide OF
romance. | remember the dim store
with It's array of antiques, and the
anctioneer's droning voice. Arthur
wanted me 10 have this tray, He
really paid fabulous sum for IT, far
In excess OF it's value"
He had money" Patterson said
bitterly. Yet here | am limiting you
10 a paltry fifteen dollars" He hest
tated, then plunged I'm boldly! But
after all. why should we have such a
multiplicity OF trays when, II you
could only see ii nay way, we might
xttx rfs sss.s Nt
our lives,
Don't" she begged. II am glad
70 have your friendship. and il
pleases me that you should ask me to
help you furnish your little apart
anent---but l cannot share tt want
TO be free"
Darlington stood up. II know" he
raid Your husband made you feel
that marriage was bondage. but ii
would be different with me"
oh" she smiled up at him bright
III, slet us just be friends, and I'll
help you pick out your old mahogany
you mustn't expect anything more OF
me-
When Darlington went back that
night TO his bachelor home he was
depressed with the futility Of his
efforts 10 make IL comfortable. On
his return from the Philippines he
had been full OF enthusiasm over his
plans for comfortable living. He had
talked of the superiority of masculine
housekeeping. and had congratulated
himself upon the possession of IA
japanese servant who could he more
10 him than wife or housekeeper.
Then he had found that Rita Car
rington was free. and Immediately
the sense Of the glory of his bachelor
estate had depai ed. All his life ne
had loved Rita. bur"she had chosen
harrington. and the rejected suitor
had gone away 10 fine forgetfulness
Z In far country.
He had discovered that he could
hold Rita's friendship best by means
Ut practical things. She would not
talk OF romance. but she would talk
OF rugs and antiques and mahogany;
hence he had missioned her "a