Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-03-11

TuEE6rREpUEIICA1
asl1ng - 06e6e3sas ~ IsageA q Ne
table. ana IN gsttias acquainted with
me- NE had beeuSAk . boetle q so0s
soet q medicine AoWn1eaaT0 with 1af.
- sAo took . elarse Olasslsl, WAAlo
- talkea. The sea2 Va eallsd ~
mona: Shall ever forget ~
Il Was Mr.. Harrison who afut 10.
decd Tskahiro. Jimmys Jap haA
bssa The only thing u the menAss
that Bella declared che had hated 70
leave. But he Wss do1ng the straaGest
things: His little black syss shifted
nsrvously. and hs looked queer.
WHATS wroag with hint" Mr..
Harbisoa asked me finally. when Ao
saw that noticed. "Is 10 MI"
Then Aunt sslina's voice from the
other end Of the table:
Bella" she called. In . high shrill
toae. do you let James eat cucum.
bers7'
Il think he must b." I said hurried
~ aside to Mr.. Harrison. See how
his hands shake!" But Aunt seli1s
would not DO ignored.
"Cucumbers and strawberries." she
repeated impressively. II was saying.
Bella, that cucumbers have always
given James the most fearful indiges-
ton. And yet zee you serve them at
your table. Do you remember what
wrote you to give him when he has
his dreadful spells3"
was quite speeches.; every one
was looking, and NO one could help.
II was clear Jim was racking his
brain. and We sat staring desperately
at each other across the candles.
Everything had ever Known faded
from me: eight pairs Of eyes bored
into me. Mr.. Harbison's politely
amused.
Really. don't believe" Aunt g.
lima smiled in superior way.
Nov, don't you recall IT." she in
sisted. Il said: Baking soda in water
taken internally for cucumbers! ba-
king soda In water externally. rubbed
on, when he gets that dreadful, itch
ing strawberry rash"
believe the dinner went On. Some
body asked Aunt Selma how much
overcharse she had paid In foreign
hotels. ana after that she was AZ
harmless a. Q dove.
Then halfway through the dinner
try, and when he did not appear
again, Jim got up and went out to in
vestigats. He was gone quite little
while, and when he came back he
looked worried.
Sick" he replied to our inquiring
glances. "Ons Of the maids will come
in. They have sent for . doctor"
Aunt Selma was for going out at
once and "Axing him up" Is she put
It. but Dallas gently interfered
Il wouldn't. Miss Caruthers." he
said. in the defsrential manner he
had adopted toward her. you don't
know what It may be. He's been look
ing spotty Ill evening"
TT might b scarlet fever" Max
broke in cheerfully. RI say. scarlet
fever On Q Nooeolian-what color
would hs be. Jimmy3 What do ysl-
low and rcd maks3 0rsenr
Orange" Jim said shortly. Il wish
you people would remember that We
are trying to eat"
Tho fact was, however. that no one
was really eating. except Mr.. Harbi-
son, who had given up trying to un-
derstand VI. eonsidering. no doubt.
our subdued excitement % our nor
NAL condition. Ages aftesward I
learned that he thought my faco al
most tragic that night. and that he
supposed. from tho way glared
across the table. that had quarrelod
with my husband!
II am afraid you are not WELL" he
said at last, noticing my food un-
touched on my plate. We should
not have come, any Of W"
Il am perfectly well." replied f.
verishly. II am never i'll. IL ate Q
late luncheon
He glanced at mo keenly. "Don't
let them stay and play bridge TO-
night" he urged. Miss Caruthers can
be IN excuse, can she not? And you
are really tagged. You look IT,"
Il think It 10 only III humor." I
said. looking directly at him. II am
angry at myself. have done some
thing silly. and hate to b SHY"
Max would have said "Impessible.s
or something else trite. The Harbi-
son man looked at me With interested.
serious eyes.
els it too late to undo it7'' hs asked.
And then and there determined That
he should nsver knew the truth. He
s0uo 30 psck 70 SCUM Ames1ca ana
build bridges and mako love to the
Spanish girls Tor ars they oDaaish
down thereD and think of me always
% . married woman, married to .
Ailettante artist, inclined to be stout
tho artist, not land with an Aunt
Selma Caruthsrs who made buttons
and believed in the Cause. But never.
never should he think of me ~ silly
little fool who pretended that she was
the other mans vito and had . lump
In her throat because when . really
nice man came along. . man who
knew something more than polo and
motors. she had to carry on the decep-
ton to keep his respect, and b ~
date and matronly. and sec him
change from pArfectly ouAn admire.