Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1913-03-28
HIS DIPLOMATIC WIFE
BY GEORGE

A0A SAO N4O
matches. Do you know, Hiram, Il
think it was the wisest thing we ever
did when we concluded to stay in
town this summer and not take the
cottage at the lake AZ usualf"
you dol" calculated Birdsell, paus
ing with a flaming match in the air. II
thought you were completely upset
about 1t when 1 said we'd better not
Co. You"
Mercy mel" broke in Mrs. Birdeeh,
lifting her eyebrows prettily and smil-
ing at him protestingly. eff you don't
know me any better than that after
being married 10 me ten years, I
must say you are ~unobservant! Don't
you suppose / think you know best1
What fun would 1t be for me to have
the cottage, knowing 1t was against
your will and your best judgment?
Hiram, I'm ashamed of you! Lots OF
people stay in town, and I've no doubt
we a stand the heat as we'll as the
rest, OF them. 1t is just a matter of
making up your mind to be uncom-
Portable, and then forgetting it,"
For the matter Of that" said Bird
SELL, Il remember some days at the
lake when you could have fried eggs
on the front porch and you would have
been scalded II you had plunged into
the lake to swim!"
"Oh, but the nights we're SO delight
fully COOL" said the wife. People
here were tossing sleepless and gasp
Ing, and there we had to sleep under
blankets. But l don't suppose there
will be many such intolerable nights
In Chicago. / am sure l can stand
them II l have to. And with all our
friends away l won't have to have
any new clothes to speak of, and
that. will, Of course, save you a lot of
money"
Il haven't asked you to economize,"
Birdsell reminded her. Go ahead
and get any clothes you want, as
usual"
What's the user inquired his wife,
with a little sigh. ''There'n be no
n to see them. There won't be any
places to go except the summer gar
dens, and I can just as we'll wear my
old things"
You know I ave care to go to the
summer gardens"
Then, l suppose, we'll just sit at
home on our own little porch and kill
time" agreed Mr.. Birdsell, resigned
ly. We'll be quite a nice old married
and settled down couple, won't we?
That will be most delightful. The
Limpetts have taken their cottage
did tell you about it,"
You don't like the Limpetts, 80
what difference does 1t maker"
mot the slightest" agreed Mrs.
Birdsell. THAT woman certainly is
the most irritating creature! When
l told her that we weren't going as
usual she put on such an elaborate ex-
preston of pity and said that then, Of
course, 1t must be true, about your
getting 30 badly squeezed in stocks
and that she thought it was 30 very
brave and noble of us to con-"
We'll, Of all the nerve!" calculated
Birdsell, laying down his cigar.
Didn't o explain that, 1t was be-
cause business was 81 rushing that !
felt 1 couldn't get away?"
"Of course" said his wife. And
she just smiled. l hope people won't
think we're In financial difficulties
merely because we're staying at home.
/ don't care a bit about myself, but /
hate to have you ~misjudged.. And you
were 80 enthusiastic about the place
last season that, of course-I hope you
won't break down from oyerwork- and
no change before'the summer is over"
Thunder" growled 'Birdsell. You
needn't worry about me! don't
know why the populaoe should get up
on its hind legs and roa because we
choose to do something! else than
the thing that we've been doing in
past summers"
Neither do l." agreed Mrs. Bird
sell. you know your own business,
and lie the Limpett's want to spend the
report up at the lake that we can't af-
ford to come we a just ignore it.
1t doesn't make any real difference
II people believe it. does it,"
well. I don't know said Birdsell.
II don't. like It. Maybe | could get
over a few times"
Now, Hiram" said his wife vigor-
ously, 81 Just won't let you aver think
Of It'll I'm not going to be cool and
happy over there, and leave you here
shaving in town! l won't hear Of It'll
I'm not a bit disappointed, really, and
maybe the hot weather won't affect
me so very much"
II think" said Birdsell decisively,
that I'll write the agent tomorrow
that we'll take the cottage. 1 think
we'd better go. It'll be pleasanter."
We'll, Of course, IL you insist on Il,
Hiram" said his wife. II wouldn't 20
against your wishes. / was quite
cheerful about staying In town, and I
never dreamed that we'd really CO."
Say" called Birdsell FIVE minutes
later, after he had been investigating
a package in the hall. what is this7"
Mrs. BirdHell gave a little cry.