Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1914-08-21
WHY ILEFT MY WIFE

NS&&HeAI lH6T0 was no u66u LOT GlLu6T
of US to marry If we did not
want to. Doris could have had any
one of several eligibles whom she
kept dangling after her-never quite
refusing a man until he insisted upon
her taking him or leaving him; while
was very well satisfied with my life
as bachelor physician with enough
money to keep me comfortable until
| made success of my practice. And,
as to him that hath is usually given,
30, as ! was not dependent for bread
and butter upon the practise of medi-
cine, was soon earning enough from
my profession to put jam on my bread
and to buy the "gilt-edged" quality Of
butter. To drop the metaphor, had
handsomely furnished office, and
lived with my mother. l spent many
evenings at my club, and had goodly
number of friends. Altogether, my
life was a comfortable one In every
way-until l fell In love. Then
thought l could never be happy until
Doris married me. Perhaps ! would
not have been. Who knows?
do not mean to be frivolous; but
In contemplating the follies in ones
life one must laugh-or curse.
All married people have their lit
tie squabbles, their little differences
of opinion, l suppose, and / regarded
the arguments and disputes that my
wife and had as part and parcel Of
every welded life. For the first year
or two we were very well satisfied
with each other, and with our new
surroundings.
As Q physician ! had, Of course. .
right and a duty to keep professional
business to myself, but as ! did not
mention this fact to Doris until an is-
sue was raised, she did not know how
much or how little told her OF my
private affairs. When we had been
married about eighteen months, how
ever, / had occasion to express my
views upon the subject. A patient
sent me letter which came when
was out This patient CHANGED also
to be a friend of my wife, and when
Doris saw her handwriting on the en-
velope she jumped to the conclusion
that the writer had made mistake
and that the letter was meant for her.
So she opened 1t. In doing this she
did not tear the envelope, as the flap
did not adhere tightly, and came un-
fastened easily. without marring the
paper. When Doris had read the let
ter. which was a request that call,
professionally, the following evening,
she simply touched tha envelope-hap
with a drop of mucilage, and closed 1t,
putting the letter with other mail
on my office table. Naturally did
not mention the matter of her friend
indisposition to Doris. In fact, knew
that the patient was averse to having
anyone know of It, So when. at din
ner the next evening, Doris remarked,
81 suppose you are going over to the
Clarksons' tonight" / started slight
ly, then recovered myself
"Ah! Mrs. Clarkson told you she
had sent for me, did she?' com
mented.
MY wife smiled and said nothing
Later when ] referred to the matter
in talking To Mrs. GARRISON, saying
that. of course, had not felt al
liberty to mention her Illness to my
wife until learned that she had
heard of 1t from the patient herself
l was informed that l was mistaken
and that nobody but the patient ant
her husband knew that she was mo-
perfectly well.
Suspecting that my wife had openet
my mail. reproached her with having
done so. She reminded me that, no
knowing / was the Clarksons physi
clan, 1t was quite natural that shi
should have made the mistake think
ing that the letter addressed In he
friends handwriting was meant 70
her, and that the DIR" on the en-
veIope had been written In error.
:. why didn't you tell ine what yol
had done?" demanded sharply
She tossed her head. We'll, If yol
must know, because l was afraid yol
would scold-as you are doing now
You see, / was right In my fears.
A week later CHANGED to see lynn
at my Wife's plate one morning a lei
ter addressed to her in the handwrii
ing OF q man whom | knew, and VIII
was an occasional caller at our home
! supposed that when Doris cam
down to breakfast she would explai
the letter to me. Instead, she opene
it, glanced over It, refolded it, r,
turned it to its envelope, and opene
and read the rest of her correspor
dence. AS | was leaving the hous,
she remarked carelessly:
Shall you be az home to luncheon
| replied that | expected to b
''Why?' asked
Katie win take care of you,' sh
informed me, for shall not be in
"Ah!" fasaid, II did not know tn;
you had anything on hand for tn
morning"
Il am lunching downtown with
friend" she replied briefly.
The next day one of my patien
mentioned. carelessly and Innocent
that she had seen my pretty wi
lunching with Mr.. Moore yesterday
did not betray my surprise. but whe
reached home asked Doris WI
she had gone to luncheon with a ms
without asking nay permission. 81
looked at me with triumphant ha
smile.
And do you ask my permissiC
before you make appointments wi
women?" she queried sarcastically.
! strove to speak calmly. "Do Il
to be sensible. Dorisl You know tn
professional engagements are very d
ferent from social affairs"