The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-05-12

ing room. Sue and Becky. as they had
been told to, made themselves at
home.
NO longer as in the days Of their
aloneness did Tanner sit on one side
of the library table reading snatches
Of news to his wife n the other. or,
perhaps, sitting for Ions minutes ut
terly content in the silence of COM
plete understanding. In their new
mode of life their reading table was
bounded by four. Becky's studies were
finished with dispatch, and then there
was a resumption of the chatter of
the dinner hour.
After a time-quite in the natural
order Of things. they tried to assure
themselves-sue and Becky began to
have company. OF course the living
room was given up to them. For a
time the Tanners rather enjoyed the
snatches of all the popular songs. But
before long it began to pail. Mrs.
Tanner hecacme painfully conscious
that the gayety in the front room was
getting on Toms nerves. Furthermore.
he missed his easy chair. he missed
his reading lamp. he fdgeted under
the inadequate light from the dome
over the dining table. Finally he made
no attempt to conceal from the eyes
watching him anxiously the frowns
of impotence which fitted across his
face as the noise in the living room
proved an irritating disturber to a
quiet evening over q pipe and the late
magazines.
Then: in the morning. IL the exas-
peration of the night before had van
iShed and he assured his wife. peni-
tently. and he knew he would settle
soon and get used to it," inn
mediately her unvarying reminder
m in a Hurried little way, 'Tom,
please hurry with your cold plunge.
dear; o know Sue takes one and
Becky. and if you want to shave this
morning." His hrows drew togeth-
er in the fierce little scowl Mrs. Tam
ner had begun to dread, and so the
day began unpropitiously.
Gradually lines of worry began to
plough their way into Mrs. Tanners
pretty little face. She realized to the
full that her idolized Tom was utterly
miserable under the new conditions
she had brought into their home life;
that. indeed, they were both paying
the price for her way to the beautifui
fiat in the beautiful neighborhood.
which she began to wish she had never
heard of.
Suddenly she told Tom so. 1t was
on a day in spring, when the air was
soft and sweet. and breathed of in
growing things. Sue and
Becky We're going out to dinner in a
suburb. Tanners face had clouded
at the word suburb. Nevertheless he
had looked at his wife eagerly when
the announcement had been made, and
whispered as they stood at the door
"Have dinner early, little woln-
So Our evening alone may be as
long as possible"
All day she had gone about the fiat
with a song on her lips. 1t was a per-
feet joy to plan A menu for Tom alone.
make little dishes be liked, which
had never made a hit with Sue or
Becky. Then when Tom came in with
had brought from his suburban home.
and smiled at her from the head Of
the table with the old Tom smile, ex-
claiming In his happiness at absolute
freedom from restraint, "Great Scott,
Beth, this being alone is great" adj
ding instantly in his old thoughtful
for her. "But we won't talk
about that. dear: We've got to enjoy
this perfect time given u.s." she went
around to him suddenly.
Standing behind him with her chin
resting on his shoulder she said, softly.
Tom, we only have a six months
lease here. haven't veg"
Tanner looked up at her quickly.
Eyes. Beth. Why"
"Because-because-oh. Tom. dear,
I'd rather go back to the pokey old
than live this way any
longer!'
Quickly Tanner drew her down to
him. you don't mean that. Beth ?"
But I do. I do. Sue and Becky
are dears: but I want you and our own
little home, in the old way. once more,
Tom"
AS he held her close in complete
understanding, her eyes Travelled to
the tulips. And. Tom, my way has
proven so Disappointing. don't you
think we should try yours? The SUI
burbs must look lovely now, dear, at
the budding season!"