Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1913-01-03
HIS DIPLOMATIC WIFE
By GEORGE kRlEssL.

are on the mantel. Here are the
matches. Do you know, Hiram. |
mink 1t was the wisest thing we ever
oid when we concluded to stay in
town this summer and not take the
cottage at the lake as usual?"
/ You do" calculated Birdsell, paus
ing with flaming match in the air. 81
thought you were completely upset
about 1t when said we'd better NOT
90. You"
mercy mel" broke In Mrs. Birdsell
iiftlng her eyebrows prettily and smil.
ing at him protestingly. IF you don't
know me any better than that after
Delng married to me ten years, /
must say you are unobservant! Don't
you suppose l think you know best?
Wnat 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 youl 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 i remember some days at the
lake when you could have fried eggs
on the front porch and you would have
been scalded If 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 | don't suppose there
will. be many such intolerable nights
In Chicago. | am sure | can stand
them If | have to. And with all our
friends away | 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 economic"
Birdsell reminded her. Go ahead
and get any clothes you want, as
usual"
What's the use?" inquired his wife,
with a little sigh. "Therell be no
one to see them There won't be any
places to 60 except the summer gar.
dens, and can Just as we'll wear my
old things"
You know never care to go to the
summer gardens"
Then, suppose, we'll just sit at
home on our own little porch and kill
time," agreed Mr.. Birdsell, resigned
ly. We'll be quite 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 Lmpetts, so
what difference does 1t maker"
Not the slightest" agreed Mrs.
Birdsell THAT woman certainly is
the most Irritating creaturel 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, it must be true about your
getting so 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 you explain that it was be-
cause business was so rushing that |
felt 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.
don't care 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 mel l don't
know why the populace should get up
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
sell. you know your own business,
and If the Limpett's want to spend the
report up at the lake that we can't az
ford to come We can Just ignore It.
1t doesn't make any real difference
If people believe it, does it?'
We'll, / don't know" said Birdsell.
81 don't like it. Maybe l could get
over few times"
Now, Hiram" said his wife vigor-
ously, 81 just won't let you ever think
Of it! I'm not going to be cool and
happy over there, and leave you here
shaving in town! won't hear of it!
I'm not bit disappointed, really, and
maybe the hot weather won't affect
me so very much"
Il think" said Birdsell decisively,
that I'll write the agent tomorrow
that we'll take the cottage. think
we'd better go. It'll be pIeasanter."
We'll, of course, if you insist on it,
Hiram" said his wife. Il wouldn't 20
against your wishes. l was. quite
cheerful about staying in town, and
never dreamed that we'd really CO."
Say" called Birdsell five minutes
later, after he had MISUNDERSTANDING
a package in the hall. What is this?"
Mrs. Birdsell gave a little cry.
HThat 2" cho. cold u-fop oor,o-ol cot