Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1912-08-15

story on his fingers.
Mrs. Temple was still shaking with
sympathetic laughter, never dreaming
what her husband was laughing at
she turned to Mrs. Whitcomb, but
Mrs. Whitcomb was still glazing AT
Mrs. Wellington. who was still writ
ing with flying fingers and underscor
ing every other word.
Some people seem to think they
own the train Mrs Whitcomb ragged.
That creature has been at the writ
ing desk an hour. The worst of It is,
I'm sure she's writing 10 my hus.
band"
Mrs. Temple looked shocked, but an
other peal OF laughter came through
tho partition between the male and fe-
/ male sections OF the car, and she
/ beamed again Then Mrs. Wellington
finished her letter, glanced II over, ad.
| dressed an envelope, sealed and
stamped It with a deliberation that
maddencd Mrs Whitcomb. When at
last she rose, Mrs. Whitcomb was in
the scat almos; before Mrs. yelling
ton was out OF IT,
Mrs. Wellington paused at another
wave Of laughter from the mems
room. She commented petulanty:
What good times men have.
They've formed club in there al
ready. We women can only sit around
and hate each other"
Why, ! don't hate anybody. do
YOU" Mrs. Temple exclaimed, look.
ing up from the novel she had found
on the book shelves. Mrs. yelling
ton dropped into the next chair,
'On a long railroad journey hate
everybody. Don't you hate long Jour.
ncys?"
It's the first ever took" Mrs.
Temple apologized radiantly, and I'm
having the-what my Oldest boy would
call the time of my life. And dear
Walter-such golngs on for him! A
few minutes ago strolled by the door
and saw him playing cards with a
stranger, and smoking and drinking.
too. all at once"
Boys will be boys" said Mrs. VIII.
lington.
But for Dr. Temple Of all people"
Why shouldn't a doctor? It's a
shame the way men have everything
Think of 1t, a special smoking room.
And women have no place to take a
pun except on the sly"
Mrs. Temple stared at her in awe:
The woman in this book smokes!-
perfumed thingsi"
All women smoke nowadays" said
Mrs. Wellington. carelessly. Don't
your"
The politest thing Mrs. Temple
could think Of in answer was: Not
yet"
Really" said Mrs. Wellington.
Don't you like tobacco?"
Il never tried it."
It's time you did. l smoke cigars
myself"
Mrs. Temple almost collapsed at
this double shock: "Ci-cigars?"
les; cigarettes are too strong for
me; will you try one OF my pets?"
Mrs. Temple was about to express
her repugnance at the thought. but
Mrs. Wellington thrust before her a
portfolio In which nestled such dainty
shapes Of such a warm and winsome
brown, that Mrs. Temple paused to
stare, and, like Mother Eve, found the
fruit OF knowledge too interesting
once seen to reject with scorn. She
hung over the cigar case In hesitant
excitement one moment too long. Then
she said in a trembling voice: Il
should like TO try once-just to see
what It's like. But there's no place"
Mrs. Wellington felt that she had
already made a proselyte to her own
beloved vice, and she rushed her vic.
tim TO the precipice: There's the OBJ
servation platform. my dear. Come
on out"
Mrs. Temple was shiyering with dis
may at the dreadful deed: What
would they say in Ypsllanu?"
What do you care? Be a sport.
Your husband smokes. II it's right
for him, why not for your"
Mrs. Temple set her teeth and
crossed the Rubicon with a resolute
u will"
Mrs. Wellington led the timid
neophyte along the wavering floor OF
the car and flung back the door OF the
observation car. She found Ira Lath.
rop holding Anne Gattle's hand and
evidently explaining something of
great importance, for their heads
were very close together. They rose
and with abashed faces and confused
mumblings Of half swallowed explana.
tons, left the platform TO Mrs. Wei.
lington and her new pupil.
Shortly Rfterward Little Jimmia
Wellington grew FESTIVE and set out
for brief constitutional and a breath
OF air He carried siphon to which |
he had become greatly attached, and
made heavy going for the observation |
room, but reached the door in fairly |
good order. He swung It open and |
brought in with It the pale and wayer.
ing ghost Of Mrs. Temple, who had |
been leaning against 1t for much.need. |
ed support. Wellington was stupefed
to observe smoke pouring round Mrs
Temples form. and he resolved 10 |
perform a great lifesaving feat. He
decided that the DOor lyty1a $50