Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1914-07-24
ORDERS GOT MIXED

guess you TO rl8nt, neT nuspaHu
admitted. We'll, why don't you go In
town today and order some? Business
Is pretty good this season, and ! guess
We can afford 1t all right"
Il would" she unused, only I've such
q busy week ahead, with the dress
maker coming and all, and the club
luncheon here on Saturday, and 1t
takes SO much time, and the train serv.
ice Is so bad, excepting in the early
morning and the evening. Can't you
order It. dear-sllp off on the way to
luncheon, you know, or something?
Belfield's store Is SO near you. and
we're old customers of theirs.
Very we'll; I'll do my BEST" he
capitulated without enthusiasm, add.
ing firmly. but it's to be understood
that If l choose the paper 1t stays. We
don't want any huffy workmen and
extra trips this time"
"Oh, of counsel" she cooed, delight
ed that she had won her point so read.
lily. Il promise to accept whatever you
send out And thank you so much,
dear,
A few moments later he left the
house. III I'm not back tonight he
said in parting, you'll know that I've
had to run over TO New York. AS l
told you, Dodd will wire me about how
the deal goes. and If I'm needed | may
have to stay overnight to get the docu.
ments into shape. I'll try to phone you
definitely late this afternoon. You
won't be afraid with Nora here. But
about that Wallpaper"
Just slip In the order II you have
tme." she called after him. Evidently
he did SO, for two paperhangers, com
pletely equipped. arrived early that
afternoon. Mrs. Skidmore had the
dining room ready, in anticipation OF
their coming, but just as she was about
to inspect roll of the paper Nora an
nounced q caller, and she spent long
hour with garrulous old Mrs. Hapgood,
whose numerous Ills furnished ample
material for conversation. A brisk slap
ping of paste brushes across the hall
soon proclaimed that the men were at
work; but she quelled a slight uneasi-
ness with the thought that Peters
quiet taste, plus the esthetic Ideals
which she had drilled into him, would
not let him go far wrong. Another
caller followed fast, and then per-
sistent book agent, SO that 1t was a
long time before she was free TO In
spect the room. Three walls were
completed when she stepped 1n-and
stood aghast! All over her dainty
little dining room sprawled gigantic
patterned landscape" paper, its enor'
nous trees and staring flowers OF blue
and green vivid against an uncanny
buff sky! She had seen one like 1t IN
q window once, and had shuddered in
passing. And to think that Peter MAD
BETRAYED his trust in this way! She
felt wild desire to stop the men, but
recalled her promise to take Whatever
Peter might send.
There was no trace Of excitement In
her manner when her husband came
home from New York late that eve
ming. He had dined on the train, so
they did not go to the chamber OF
horrors that night. She purposeiy
avoided speaking Of the dining room,
and he forgot it until, as they passed
the door on their way upstairs, ne
asked, casually, whether the men had
come. and how she liked the paper.
Yes, they came" she answered.
briefly; adding, with that baftllng'
frosty edge to her tone, the paper
isn't exactly what should have
chosen, but OF course If you like it!
Evidently, thought Peter, his choice
had not pleased her; but he was very
tired and sleepy, and felt grateful to
her because she was clearly dropping
the subject for the night. Breakfast
was little late the next morning, and
he hurried into the dining room some
what in advance of his wife. The new
paper was ready for him, and struck
him fairly between the eyes. He al
most staggered with the suddenness OF
the blow.
Mabel" he gasped, turning to his
wife with horrorstricken face, that
paper! How-when-why DID you
choose such "a" =.
peter skidmore!" she interrupted
.noor and amazement struggling for
mastery, "are you crazy? Don't you
remember choosing and sendlng II
yourself?'
~ didn't" he asserted, Indignantly;
"1 never saw it before! Wait, though
7 did see it at Belfleld's, with a big,
ford ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS lady gush'
ing over it! They've mixed the orders
somehow, Mabel-it must be that!
WHY, mine was a beauty; Just the KIND
YOU like-ivory, with a hint OF green
Rut oh, Mabel, to think you'd believe
me capable of unloading nightmare
like that on my innocent wife! l see'
though, that circumstantial evidence
was against me. But you must nave
thought was drunk, Nab"
mot quite that" she was beginning
IN smile family; Il didn't know just
what tn think" They sat down, and
she glanced at the mail which Nora
had lust brought in. Here's a note
from Belfleld, now, explaining the
whole thing, and apologizing In MS
best style!" she exclaimed, passing the
letter to him. 1T was mix-up OF or
ders, Just as you said, by green sales
man, and he promises to set 1t all right
in a day or two. might have known
vou wouldn't choose it--and, oh, Pe
ter, I'm sorry l was cross!
"But you weren't! he reminded her
much impressed; and, considering
what YOU thought I'd done-why, my