Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1912-08-08

s2rvation platform, my dear. Come
IL out"
Mrs Temple was shivering with dis
may at the dreadful deed: What
would they say in Ypsilanti?"
What do you care? Be a sport.
Your husband smokes. If it's right
for him, why not for you?"
Mrs. Temple set her teeth and
crossed the Rubicon with a resolute
~ will"
Mrs. Wellington led the tinid
aeophyte along the wavering floor of
the car and flung back the door of the
observation car. She found Ira Lath-
rop holding Anne Gattles 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. We'll
lington and her new pupil
Shortly afterward Little Jimmie
Wellington grew FESTIVE and set out
for brief constitutional and a breath
of ali He carried a 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 waver-
ing ghost of Mrs Temple, who had
been leaning against 1t for much-need-
ed support. Wellington was stupefied
TO observe smoke pouring round Mrs.
Temples form, and he resolved to
perform a great life-saving feat. He
decided that the poor little woman
was on fire and he poised the siphon
like fire eXtinguisher, with the noble
intention of putting her out.
He pressed the handle, and a stream
Of viChy shot from the nozzle.
Fortunately, his aim was so very
wObbly that none of the extinguisher
touched Mrs. Temple.
Wellington was about to play the
siphon at her again when he saw her
take from her lips a toy cigar and
emit stream of cough-shaken smoke
The poor little experimentalist was
too wretched to notice even so large
a menace as Wellington, She threw
the cigar away and gasped:
81 think I've had enough"
From the platform came a voice
very well known to Little Jimmie. It
said: You'll like the second one bet
ter"
Mrs. Temple shuddered at the
thought, but Wellington drew himself
up majestically and called out:
Like second one better, Ell? l
lsuppozhe it's the same way with
husbandsh."
Then he stalked back to the smok-
ing room, feeling that he had annihi-
lated his wife, but knowing from ex-
perience that she always had come
back. He knew it would be good, but
he was afraid to hear it. He rolled
into the smoking room, and sprawling
across Doctor Temples shoulders,
dragged him from the midst Of a
highly improper story with alarming
news.
Doc, your wife looks kind O. seedy.
Better go to her at once"
! DR.. Temple leaped to his feet and
ran to his wife's aid. He found her
dismal, ashen sight.
sally! What on earth ails you?"
"Been smok-oking," she hiccoughed.
The world seemed to be crashing
round DR.. Temples head. He could
only gurgle, Sally"
Mrs. Temple drew herself up with
weak defiance: well, l saw you play
ing cards and drinking"
In the presence Of such innocent
deviltry he could only smile: Aren't
we having an exciting vacation? But
to think of you smoking!-and a
cigar!"
( She tossed her head in pride. "And
it didn't make me sick-much." She
clutched a chair. He tried to support
her. He could not help bordering:
What would they say in Yp-hip-si-
lanti?"
who cares?" she laughed. Il
wish the old train wouldn't rock So"
alive smoked too much, too"
said DR.. Temple with perfect truth,
but Mrs. Temple, remembering that
long glass she had seen, narrowed her
eyes at him: Are you sure 1t was
the smoker"
Sally" he cried, in AFFECT horror
at her implied suspicion.
Then she turned a pale green. "Oh,
I feel such a qualhn.'
an your conscience, Sally"
mo, not in my conscience. think
ri 60 hack to my berth and lie down"
Let me help you, Mother"
And Darby and Joan hurried along
the corridor, crowding it as they were
crowding their vacation with belated
experience.
CHAPTER XIX.