The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1912-05-03
The


Yes, said one of the three women
who sat on the summer hotel porch, 81
can hardly wait now to see Mr.. Bas-
com. He's coming tonight to take me
home. | hardly know how I've ever
managed to remain away from James
all this time. Really, James and l are
a rfdiculously devoted couple"
A little self-conscious laugh rippled
over the full face and gently shook her
plump shoulders. I'm awfully depend
ent upon Mr. Bascom," she went on.
Indeed, he quite makes a baby of
me. It's really beautiful, isn't it. how
great, strong man loves to pet the lit
tie woman who belongs to him?"
She glanced at Miss Winters, the
only unmarried woman in the group,
who, being thus appealed to. said
Yes. | suppose it is beautiful" Her
tone was not one Of conviction.
Dear me, Mrs. Bascom, you should
MT complain of your brief separation
from Mr. Bascom.' remarked the wom-
an with a little girl in her lap You've
been here only two weeks, and I've
been away from home nearly all sum-
mer. | never would have done it If
Mr.. Collins hadn't just insisted that
baby and needed the country air. But,
thank goodness, he's coming tonight
too.
Edwards the most unselfish man
that ever lived, | do believe. | know
he's been absolutely desolate this sum-
mer. | really think the loneliness of
our apartment has affected his health.
He expected to take a vacation and
come up in August, but he simply
couldn't get away. He's a remarkable
business man. No one in the Office
can take his place"
She Rugged her little girl and turn
ed to Miss Winters with smile.
'1sn't 1t wonderful how some men will
work for their wives and children?"
1T certainly is" responded Miss
Winters mechanically.
II often say to Edward that | cant
under stand why some rich girl didn't
marry him for his good looks. He's
the handsomest man, Miss Winters!
Some times | wonder how he ever hap
pened to pick out poor little me-
MY husband is extremely fine look
, ing, too" said Mrs. Bascon, and he
has brilliant mind. Indeed, his in
: telligence overshadows mine, and, tC
tell you the truth, he's bit master
full in his way now and then. But
: we women need some one to lean on
: We realize that our husbands know
better than we do about many impor
D them. Don't you think so, Miss Win
ters?"
= Il do" agreed Mrs. Collins, before
Miss Winters had come to frame ar
D answer. Il say to Edward that he
must decide everything for baby and
ne. He's the captain of our little
family craft. Dear me, Miss Winters
e 1t must be hard for you sometimes
|. net to have man to assume respon
: sibilities. But, of course, girls-un
married women-are quite Independent
: nowadays" she added, with patroniz
n ing kindness.
0 "Oh, | manage to rub along" return
ed Miss Winters, but she rose from
! her seat and strolled away. Although
she knew herself to be a busy ant
e happy woman, she could not help feel
a ing solitary in the presence of such en-
e thusiastic wives.
n A brisk tramp around the lax
: brought back her usual good spirits
and it was only with mild envy tina
u she saw, as she neared the hotel a
x dusk, one OF her companions of al
! hour or two earlier hurrying down tn
Il driveway to meet the village buss. Sh
!. paused in the shadow of tree in OF
d der not to intrude upon what she fel
o would be a tender reunion betweel
l. husband and wife.
J. She was startled to see a fat, bald
r. headed man alight from the bus an
d give Mrs. Collins a most casual kiss.
), We'll, got here a last" he sal
"a jovially. Il thought I'd run up an
y see if you'd like to stay during tn
,e autumn. You can just as well as no
,e I'm getting along tiptop."
Was this the devoted husband VIII
was pining away in the city for tn
wife of his bosom? Miss Winter
asked herself this question with II
; ward laughter.
Then she saw Mrs. Bascom stridin
10 down the path with red headed ma
A. following her as meekly as pet laml
ne Could that be the intellectual giaI
ne on whose wisdom his wife depende
99ee for her guidance? Miss Winters san
90 upon the grass and rolled about In
n paroxysm of mirth
d. And | was almost sorry for m
y state of single blessedness," she sal
id to herself as she rose and went Il
nj nj ward the hotel in JOY and thankfulnes
of
-
Equivocal.