Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1913-03-08
HIS DIPLOMATIC WIFE
BY GEORGE


matches. Do you know, Hiram, I
think 1t was the wisest thing we eyer
did when W Q concluded to stay In
town This summer and not take the
cottage at the lake as usual?"
You do" calculated Birdsell, paus-
Ing with a flaming match in the air. II
thought you were completely upset
about 1t when l said we'd better not
go. You"
Mercy mel" broke in Mrs. Birdsen,
lifting her eyebrows prettily and smil-
Ing at him protestingly. IF you don't
kno me any better than that after
being married to me ten years, I
must say you are unobservant! Don't
you suppose 1 think you know best?
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 can 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 It the
lake when o 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 were 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. 1 am sure l can stand
them IL / have to. And with all our
friends away 1 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 use?" inquired his wife,
with a little sigh. "There'H be no
one to see them. There won't be any
places to go except the summer gar
dens, and l can just as we'll wear my
old things"
You know 1 never care to go to the
summer gardens"
Then, / suppose, we'll just sit Mt
home on u W little porch and kill
time" agreed MIR. Birdsell, resigned.
ly. Wen 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 l tell you about it?"
You don't like the 'Limpetts, SO
what difference does it maker"
Not the slightest" agreed Mrs.
Birdsell. That woman certainly is
the most irritating creature! When
| 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 80 badly squeezed in stocks
and that she thought it was so very
brave and noble Of US to econ"
We'll, OF all the ~nerve!" calculated
Birdsell, laying down his cigar.
Didn't o explain that 1t was be.
business was so rushing that ]
felt l couldn't get away?"
"Of course" said his wife. And
she just smiled. hope people won't
think we're in financial difficulties
merely because we're staying at home,
l don't care a bit about myself, but ]
hate to have you misjudged. And you
were so enthusiastic about the place
last season that, of course-I hope you
won't break down from overwork and
no change before the summer is over
Thunder" growled Birdsell. You
needn't worry about me! / don't
know why the populace should get uI
on its hind legs and roar because We
choose to do something else than
the thing that we've been doing in
past summers"
Neither do l." agreed Mrs. Bird
veil. You know your own business
ard IL the Limpett's want to spend the
report UP at the lake that we can't at
ford to come we "a just ignore 1t
1t doesn't make any real difference
IL people believe it. does it?'
We'll, l don't know said Birdsell
Il don't like It.. Maybe I could gel
yer a few times"
Now, Hiram" said his wife yigor
ously, 81 Just won't let you ever thinl
OF It! I'm not going to be cool ant
happy over there, and leave you here
Shaving in town! won't hear Of it
I'm not a bit disappointed, really, ant
maybe the hot weather won't afrec'
me so very much
II think" said Birdsell decisively
that I'll write the agent tomorrow
that we'll take the cottage. / thinl
we'd better go. It'll be ~pleasanter.'
well OF course n Won insiat on n
Hiram said his wife. Il wouldn't g
against your wishes. was quit,
cheerful about staying In town. and
never dreamed that we'd really CO.
Say" called Birdsell Ave minuteI
later, latter he had been investigating
a package In the hall. What is this :?
Mrs. Birdsell gave a little cry
mThat2v abe said whom nnrnarad MQh