, 1913-02-13

cudfT.
when 1 am married." I said fiercely.
Jerking him around to Edith and push.
Ing him into a chair beside her. IF l
ever read b paper at breakfast when
my wife is bursting for conversation,
may have some good and faithful
friend who will bring me back to q
sense of my duty" I drew q chair to
Edith's other side. Nov. let's talk" I
said.
Fred had taken her hand and was
patting 1t gently. the while his eye
sought the headlines on the wad of
morning paper.
You burned that blue rug" she said
to me disconsolately, with a threat Of
fresh tears. at took me ages to ind
the right shade of blue"
81 will buy you that shirvan you
wanted" I FASTENED to assure her.
eyes, to take away when you get
married" There is a hint Of the
shrew in all good women.
II will buy the Shirvan and not get
married"
Here. l regret to say. Edith sudden
" laughed.
"Your' she chortled. and pointed one
| slim finger at me mockingly. You,
| who are SO mad about one girl that
you love all women for her sake!
| You, who go white instead of red when
she comes into the room! You. who
have let your practice &c to the dogs
to be near her and then never speak to
her when she's around, but sit with
your mouth open like a puppy begging
for candy"
Honestly, Edith, do I do tlatT" I
gasped. She leaned over AMI kissed
Fred.
women like men to be awful fools
about them" she said. That's why
I'm SO crazy about Freddie" He
writhed.
IF I tell you something nice, Jack,
will you make It a room size rugY'
Room size it is"
"Then, Margery's engagement ring
was stolen last night, and when I COM
miserated her she said, Dear me, the
lamps out and the coffee is coldr"
Remarkable speech under the cir
cumstances," said Fred.
Edith rang the bell and seemed to be
thinking. Perhaps we'd better make
1t four small rugs instead of one large
one"
mot a rug until you have told me
what Margery said" firmly.
"0h. that! Why, she said 1t really
didn't matter about the ring. She had
never cared much about 1t anyway"
But that's only a matter Of TASTE"
l protested. somewhat disappointed.
But Edith got up and patted me on
the top Of my head.
"Sillyv' she said. IF the right man
came along and gave her a rubber
teething ring she'd be crazy about it
for his sake"
Edith o me upstairs to measure
for the shirvan. Edith being a person
who believes in obtaining a thing while
the desire for it is in its first bloom.
Across the hall Fred was talking to
Margery through the transom.
Mustard leaves are mighty helpful"
he was saying. II always take 'em on
shipboard. And cheer up. Lands in
sight"
l would have given much for Fred's
ease of when. a few minutes
later, Edith. having decided on four
Shirvans and a hall runner. she took
me to the door Of Margery's room. She
was very still and pale.
II hope you are better" l said.
She said she was a little better. 1,
who have a local reputation Of Q sort
before a jury, I could not think Of an
other word to say. I stood there for
a minute %uneasily, with Edith poking
me with her finger to go inside the
door and speak and act like an intelli-
gent human being. But I only mutter-
ed something about a busy day before
me and fed. It was singular, but as !
stood in the doorway I had a vivid
mental picture of Edith's description
of me, sitting up puppy-like to beg for
a kind word and weighing with delight
when l got 1t. II l skunk into my Of
fee that morning like a dog scourged
to his kennel Edith was responsible.