Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-12-29

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she was rather at loss. There was
senseless ambiguity about the affair
that baffled her. She flushed hotter.
It seemed to be an indignity that even
for a second Robert should have be-
come 80 exceedingly small in her eyes.
When she returned from fixing 1t
up" with the boys she crossed to the
window and looked out into the gar
den. The sun was still shining, but it
had lost its gold to her.
There was a-plenty Of its gold in
the ripples Of her brown hair, how
ever. Robert noticed it. He saw, too,
that her slight figure, dressed in the
simplest of white dimities, ran around
the corner of pretty curves wherever
ones eyes lighted and followed the
lines. There was an offended look
about her back and a half amused dis.
pleasure touching her profile.
I'm sorry spoke like that, Anna"
said he, trying to apologize. "A man
has lot to fight against"-at the end
Of several halting sentences-''of
which even his wife knows nothing"
"Have you to fight" asked she,
turning around and laughing in spite
Of herself. "You don't look like a
fighter, Bobs. You look like man to
whom-well. to whom things come"
Nothing" observed he, with beft-
Ting gravity-'nothing comes without
hustling and exertion and perspira-
ton, either Of brow or spirit"
I'm that case," said she. still regard
ing him reAectively, II ought to know
about this Precipitation and the other
accompaniment. With two children
It's quite time began to face things"
She came nearer and laid her hand
on his shoulder. Things might strike
me differently, you see, If knew
more. Your odd, puzzling little moods
Il could make allowances for them"
He grew confused beneath her can
dor.
my i'll temper" he blurted out,
was Of course, inexcusable. Stilp-
"Oh, NONSENSE! I don't mind the Ill
temper in the least. I've heaps of my
own to match it. It's the freakish-
mess of the thing, the-the weakness
Of such a twisted, untrue mood that
bothers me. How would you feel"
she added quickly, If you got some
remote hint that your mahogany cab
met was q veneered imitation or II
the smallest doubt came to you about
the genuineness Of that 1nness land
scape there? You'd have forty fits on
the instant. Now. that's how I feel
about you and the children-my small
collection. If l should discover one
day that you were sham products Of
q bad period instead Of being originals
Of the best-oh. deary me!'
"But, Anna. you want perfection.
Now, q man.
"Perfection? Not a bit Of It! To live
In the company Of three angels would
be a nightmare. It would demoralize
me to feel myself 50 abject an out
slider. As to temper, you may even
on occasion storm because you've mis-
laid your gloves or your communication
tickets or throw the soup at Brldget's
head If it's not hot and we'll seasoned.
In those cases. you see, should un-
ilerstand your motives and your modes
Of action would not be battling. It's
the-the Elusive. twisted moods, as I
say. that confuse me. make me think
Of bad periods and things"
Here the bell rang, and Bridget ush-
cred in Miss Mary Graham.
-''You've just come in the nick O.
time," said Anna. greeting her guest
warmly with score of engaging pref
illnesses. Robert and l were in the
thick Of a sanguinary encounter"
"Well,'' returned Miss Graham, smil-
ing, you do your fighting artistically.
I see no signs of vulgar strife"
I'VE thought" explained Anna. wed
save our scalps for future use, since
Robert expects a guest this afternoon.
Now tell me about yourself. DEAR"
added she. as her husband laughingly
strolled out upon the porch. 1T was
most awfully nice to hear you had Sc
cured such fine secretarial position
somewhere up the Hudson. isn't it?
Must be nice and cool for this hot
weather"
"It's Just a bit below Ossining.
Those horrid prison walls are the only
disturbing feature about the place, and
the people are all that one could wish.
Mr.. Temple-he's just been made pres
ident Of the Gotham Trust company.
and I'm his first home secretary. I be-