The Ordway new era., 1912-07-12
CHAPTER v.


Miss Anne Cattle. seated In Mrs.
heard Mr.. Jimmie Wellington's sketch
Of his wife. But she needed hardly
more than . glance to satisfy herself
that she and Mrs. Jimmie were as
hopelessly antipathetic as only two po-
lite women can be.
Mrs. Jimmie was accounted some
thing Of spob In Chicago society. but
perhaps the missionary was a trifle
the snobbisher Of the two when they
met.
Miss Cattle could overlook u hun.
dred vices In Zulu queen more easily
than few In q fellow countrywoman.
She did not like Mrs. Jimmie. and she
was proud of It.
When. the porter said. I'm afraid
you got this lady's seat" Miss Cat.
tie shot one glance at the intruder
and rose stifily. Then ! suppose Ill
have to"
"Oh. please don't 60. there's plenty
Of room." Mrs. Wellington insisted.
pressing her to remain. This nettled
Miss Cattle still more. but she sank
back. while the porter piled up ex-
pensive travelIng.bags and hat boxes
till there was hardly place to sit.
But even at that Mrs. Jimmie felt
called on to apologize:
Il haven't brought much luggage.
How Ill ever live four days with this.
l can't imagine. II will be such a re-
lief to get my trunks at Reno"
Reno" echoed Miss Cattle. DO
you live there?"
"Well. theoretically. yes"
II don't understand you"
"I've got to live there to get It,"
ITO get It? OH" n look OF sudden
and dreadful realization came over the
missionary. Mrs. Wellington inter.
preted 1t with a smile OF gay defiance:
DO you believe In divorces?"
Anne Cattle stuck to her guns. 'l
must say don't. ! think law ought
to be passed stopping them"
so do l." Mrs. Wellington amiably
such a law-after I get mine." Then
she ventured little shaft OF her
own. You don't believe In divorces.
I Judge you've never been married"
Not once!" The spinster drew her
self up. but Mrs. Wellington disarmed
her with an unexpected bouquet:
"Oh. lucky woman! Don't let any
heartless man delude you into taking
the fatal STEP"
Anne Cattle was nothing II not hon
est. She confessed frankly: II must
say that nobody has made any violent
efforts to compel me to. That's why
I'm going to China"
ITO China!" Mrs. Wellington
gasped. hardly believing her ears
MY dear! You don't intend to marry
a laundryman?"
THE idea! I'm going as a mission
ary."
"A missionary? Why leave Chica-
Go:" Mrs Wellington's eye softened
more or less convincingly: "Oh. love-
ly! How l should dote upon being a
missionary. really think that after
get my divorce I might have a try
at It. I had thought Of a convent. but
being a missionary must be much
more exciting" She dismissed the
dream with an abrupt shake OF the
head. Excuse me, but do you happen
to have any matches?"
Matches! l never carry them!"
"They never have matches in the
women's room, and I've used my last
one."
Miss Cattle took another reef in her
tight lips. do you smoke cigarettes ?"
Mrs. Wellington's echoed disgust
with disgust: "Oh, no. indeed. loathe
them. ! have the most dainty little
cigars. Did you ever try one?"
t-t
nation point: Cigars! Mel"
Mrs. Jimmie was 80 we'll used to
being disapproved Of that 1t never
disturbed her. She went on as II the
face opposite were not alive with hor-
ror: Il should think that cigars might
be a great consolation to a lady mis-
sionary In the long lone hours Of
what do missionaries do when they're
not missionarying?"
THAT depends"
There was something almost spirit
ual in Mrs. Jimmie's beatific look: II
can't tell you what consolation my
cigars have given me In my troubles.
Mr.. Wellington objected-but then Mr..
Wellington objected to nearly every
thing | did. That's why l am forced
to this dreadful step"
"Cigars?"
Divorces"
"Divorces!"
well. this will be only my second
my other was such a nuisance.
got that from Jimmie. too. But 1t
didn't take. Then we made up and re-
married. Rather odd. having second
honeymoon with ones first husband.
But remarriage didn't succeed any
better. Jimmie fell off the water
wagon with an awful splash. and he
quite misunderstood my purely pla-
tonic interest in Sammy Whitcomb, a