Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1913-09-04
HIS DIPLOMATIC WIFE
by GEORGE kRlEssL.

are on the mantei. Here are the
matches. Do YOU know, Hiram, |
think it was the wisest thing we aver
did when we concluded TO stay In
town this summer and not take the
cottage at the lake as usual?"
You dol" calculated Birdsell, paus-
ing with q flaming match In the air. II
thought you were completely upset
about it when | said we'd better not
60 You"
Mercy mel" broke la Mrs. Birdsell.
lifting her eyebrows PRETTY and smil-
ing at him professionally. IF you don't
know me any better than that after
being married to mo ten years,
must say. you are unobservantl Don't
YOU suppose l think you know bestg
What fun would 1t be for me to have
the cottage. knowing it was against
your will and your best ;udgmentg
Hiram, I'm ashamed of you! Lots OF
people stay In town, and I've no doubt
we can stand the heat as well as the
rest of them. 1t is just matter Of
making up your mind to be uncom-
Portable, and then forgetting It'll
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 10 swim!
"Oh, but the nights were 80 delight
fully cool" said the wife. People
here we're 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 II 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 economize.'
Birdsell reminded her Go ahead
and get any clothes you want, as
usual"
What's the user inquired his wife.
with q little sigh "There'lI be no
one to see them There won't be any
places to go except the summer gar
dens. and / can just az we'll wear my
old things
You know never care to so 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 wen be quite nice old married
and settled down couple, won't we?
That will be most delightful. Tho
Limpetts have taken their cottage
did l tell you about it7"
you don't like the Limpetts, SO
what difference does 1t maker
Not the slightest" agreed Mrs.
BirdseII. "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 1t was so very
brave and noble of us to econ"
We'll. of all the nerve!" calculated
BirdselI, 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 me! don't
know why the populace should get up
on It's 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 II the Limpett's want to spend the
report up at the lake that we can't af-
ford to come we can just ignore 1t.
1t doesn't make any real difference
II people believe 1t, does it?"
well, don't know said Birdsell
Il don't like it. Maybe could get
over few times
Now. Hiram said his wife vigor-
ously, Il just won't let you ever think
OF it, I'm not going to be cool and
happy over there, and leave you here
slaving in town! | won't hear OF it!
I'm not bit disappointed, really, and
maybe the hot weather won't affect
me 80 very much
Il think" said Birdsell decisively.
that I'll write the agent tomorrow
that we'll take the cottage. I think
we'd better go. It'll be pleasanter."
We'll, of course, If you insist on it,
Hiram" said his wife. Il wouldn't go
against your wishes. was quite
cheerful about staying In town, and
never dreamed that we'd really 60"
Say" called Birdsell five minutes
later, after he had been Investigating
package in the hall What is this?"
Mrs. Birdsell gave little cry.