Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1911-02-23
DOMESTIC
DIPLOMACY

usual peck and, seating himself at the
table, was soon doing justice to the
dainty meal she had prepared for him.
He kept up a stream of conversation
and was busy with a detailed descrip-
tion of how he had secured an order
for his house in spite of the best ef-
forts of rival concern to land it,
when It suddenly dawned upon him
that he was not getting the attention
that his story merited. Then 1t crept
into his mind that all his remarks had
been answered in monosylables.
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
he 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
| you," freezingly.
Joyce knew now that the partner of
his sorrows was really angry. Freezing
politeness was a sure sign of anger
with his wife.
"Are you having trouble with the
girl?"
''The girl is jewel Mr.. Joyce"
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 a new gown,
or some other fixing, and he had not
noticed it. Joyce's absentmindedness
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 | didn't notice 1t,
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 1t down in your diary
that he's asleep"
"But you never mentioned it." Mrs.
Joyce, though visibly Modified, was
still little veXed
7
Would you have me come in and shout
about 1t like schoolboy?"
MOO but you might have said
something about it. You might have
let me know whether you liked 1t 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 1t. 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 well, and"
always is a good word" his wife
cut in, seeing that I have worn this
dress for two years But what has
that got to do with it?"
"In bad again." thought Joyce, men,
tally kicking himself,
well, 1t has really nothing to do
with IL, | suppose" he said, but I'd
like to know since when a fellow has
been barred from complimenting his
wife II she looks particularly sweet.
Just because she isn't wearing a new
gown"
The Indignation in Joyce's voice was
as strong as If he meant IT,
"Oh. of course, dear" said his wife.
81 did not mean TO offend YOU. but
was wondering If you'd like II 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
! have often remarked, whether II Is
adorned or worn plain. but think you
ought TO have another one for the-er
other side"
Joyce patted himself on the back for
that clever speech.
Louie Joycei" His wife WINS sur.
prised lie 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 II don't mean for YOU 10 wear
II on your head. but | want you 10
have another one-or anything else
you want So I'm going 10 write you
out check and YOU can go downtown
tomorrow and spend the money"
But. dear" Mrs. Joyce began.
mot another word about n! | am l
running this show II want my .
wife to spend a little money guess
she can DO t."
Tshau bfa tgffa nat hos ....ss ........ i. Il