The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1914-08-01

Well, dear" l said gently, your
old husband is not so poor that he
can't pay for a really pretty dress for
you. especially when you have come
to him Of your own accord and 'fessed
up your extravaganza"
The above episode was still fresh
In my mind when, a few evenings
later, as l was starting out to at
tend q dinner Of my medical club, l
knocked at the door of my wife's room
to bid her good-by. Before she could
reply l turned the knob and entered.
She stood, fully dressed. before her
long mirror. surveying herself approx
ingly. She wore a costume which I
had never seen before, a gorgeous at-
fair, cut low in the neck, and with
flmy lace yelling the upper part of her
shapely arms.
MY new reception-gown, the one I
told you Of" she said in reply to my
%inquiring look.
"oh. are you going out this
EVENING"" l asked, in surprise.
mo. I've invited a friend to din
ner," she replied hastily, as she hur-
ried from the room to give her maid
some forgotten directions. She was
gone before l could ask for further
particulars. and she fingered so long
In the kitchen or dining room that I
could not wait until her return with
out being late for my engagement. AS
l stepped from the elevator of our
apartment house l came face to face
with Richard Clarkson, the husband of
the patient whom l have already men
toned. A vague wonder crossed my
mind as l nodded to him as to whom
he was going to visit in our building.
He wore, / also noted, his evening
clothes. Then the matter passed from
my mind.
Nor did l think of 1t again until 1
stepped into my wife's room when l
came home at twelve o'clock that
night. She lay In bed, propped among
her pillows; the electric bulb above
her threw a strong light upon the
French novel she was reading and up
on her unnaturally flushed face. She
had been eating marrons glaces from
a huge box of these sweetmeats that
stood on the table by her bed. Glanc-
ing at them, I remembered that they
cost a dollar and a half a pound, and
noted that the box before me must
hold easily Jour pounds.
who has been spreading chest
nuts at your feet in lieu of roses?" l
asked teasingly. thinking, first Of all,
Of one or two women friends who had
~ nhTVnInDan ~ ,Nyn nad xrAro
fond of humoring my wife's love for
sweets.
"Oh, a friend Of mine" she said
lightly, and straightway began asking
me about what kind of an evening
l had had, who vas at the dinner, etc.
1t was not until I rose from the easy
chair into which / had thrown myself
that 1t occurred to me to inquire.
by the way, who dined with you to-
night?"
For a moment she hesitated, then
mads an effort and said FRANKLY,
Mr.. GARRISON"
"Clarkson!" 1 gasped.
"Pray, why not?' asked my wife de-
family.
But how does he happen to dine
with you, and how do you happen to
let him, a married man. dine alone
with you?"
Her face hardened. "And how" she
asked, initiating my manner, do you
happen to dine with Mrs. Clarkson,
and how does she, a married woman,
happen to let you dine alone with
herr" Q
Don't be a fool!" / exclaimed. Il
should think that even you, with your
shallow comprehension, would see,
when l have explained it to you dozens
Of times, that there Is a difference be-
tween a physician accepting an invita-
ton to remain to dinner at a house
at which he is calling and his wife de-
liberately asking a married man to
dine with her when she knows her
husband Is going to be out until nearly
midnight! Did he bring you these bon
bons?" / asked suspiciously, as my
eyes rested for a moment ON the box
beside her.
yes"
I stood looking down at her. The
white light over her bed showed me
that, although when angry or fright.
ened Doris usually became pale, the
vivid rose In her cheks had not faded.
Before she could suspect my intention
/ turned quickly to her dressing table,
poured some violet toilet water upon
my handkerchief, and, as quickly, bent
over my wife and wiped her cheek
with it. The handkerchief was
stained with pink. I showed it to her
and sneered:
Painting, Ell? / suppose that the
complexion you wear for your hus
band is not quite strong and vivid
enough for one of your men friends
How long since you adopted the max
ing-up' b~usiness?"
She sat up in bed, her eyes flashing
you are rude and unjust!" she ex
claimed. How long is it since YOU
qualified as a censor of morals?"
My anger left me as suddenly as II
had ONE l sat on the side of the
bed and tried to make the excited
woman listen to reason. Child"
said, are you miserable. really, or are
you only angry when you say these
things? / want you to be happy. ant
l do not want to be hard upon you
saw that she was listening. and