The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-12-02
Thinking of
Something Else
Troubles of an Absentminded :
Man In Love.
BY MAUD HALLowELL.

| John Murray's wife, half laughing,
half angry, don't you ever marry an
absentminded man. A man that is al
ways thinking OF something else like
that big husband of mine, may be won
| derfully good ut his profession. be-
cause that's what he's always think
ing about, but he is surely a domestic
trial at times"
| Mrs. Murray laughed, her Ill nature
having evaporated completely under
| the heat Of her little outburst Her
visitor, Susan Harland. laughed with
her, for DIR. Murray's wonderful feats
| In his fits Of abstraction were famous.
"why, Sue" continued Mrs. Murray,
laughing gayly at the recollection, do
you remember when had that touch
of rheumatic fever? One night when
was burning with thirst woke John
and said TO him, John, IL you don't
get me n drink of water quick I don't
| know that I'll live till morning
He got up. sort Of dazed. walked
over to the mantelpiece and came back
to me holding out an empty vase. |
| wanted drink OF water that much
that l hung on TO my patience until
be was wide awake and knew what l
was talking about. Then he went to
the refrigerator and came back with a
glass trimming full OF good cold wa
ter. But, II you viii believe 1t. Sue,
he just stood there looking at me, and
before / could say a word that man
drank every drop Of that water him
self with me glaring holes through
him. declare, II makes me angry to
this dayw
They were going to dance and
| were waiting for DR.. Murray TO escort
| them.
mo. Sue; don't you ever marry an
abscntmlndcd man." said Mrs. Murray
lmpressively when they drove away at
last, with DR.. John safely opposite
| them.
"As long as be isn't too absentmind-
ed to attend the wedding, Sue," chuck
led DIR. John. you take him. provided
his name is Dick Kendall"
Sue was glad that the darkness hid
her bushes
"Dlck IS going to do something great
In chemistry, do believe" said Or.
John. There's bis compound OF phos
pho
"A wife wants something besides
your old phOsphates and other III smell
ing things" said Mrs. Murray. Dick
Kendall is as bad as you are. He's
Just as likely as not TO come TO the
dance tonight with his old laboratory
coat on"
Dick Kendall did not fulGn Mrs.
Murray's dark prophecy literally, but
he did so in effect. II is true that he
was soberly and blamelessly clad In
his evening clothes. but the tout en-.
semble was somewhat marred by the
sad fact that he had a patent leather
pump on one foot and a bright russell
shoe on the other.
Sue blushed and then she flushed.
and then she grew angry as the filters
and smiles ran around the room when
unconscious Dick hurried forward to
meet her
Luckless Dick was doomed TO fur
Their disgrace. He had barely repaired
the disaster OF the shoes by sending a
messenger posthsste TO his home for
the other pump when something worse
happened.
During n waltz. when Miss Sue was
his partner. somebody brushed against
Dick. There was a sharp cracking OF
broken glass. and the next instant the
couple was wreathed in beautiful VIC
let smoke that gradually filled the
room.
Nobody had leisure or desire 10 OBJ
serve the beauty OF its color though
II was so instantly suffocating that
there was a mad. wild rush FOR doors
and French windows.
The accident filed Sues cup. and Il
brimmed ovcr-only a little, but too
much. In her anger she stamped her
foot and cried: "Dick Kendall. your
Observation-Disclosures apparently extends
only TO me and not 10 your profession,
II is plain that you care more for
chemistry than Tor inc. and Il would
be thousand pties 10 disturb your
devotion"
She stripped the ring from her finger.
and he took Il in hewildered silence.
Before he could reply she had turned
her back and the next moment was
walking M the corridor with Dicks
pet aversion. Charles Maule. whom
everybody called tho model Maui"
in apt description OF his mental equip.
mcnt.
Miss Sues words had been uttered
in the hearing OF many persons. Next
day the news OF the broken engage
ment was all over town.
Dick tried 10 placate the girl. hut
with Characteristic lack Of policy he
did not wait for her anger 10 cool on.
she result was that the breach seemed
0nal 10 him. In his simplicity he be-
lievcd every angry word she said and
did not realize that the girl was eager
10 forgive as soon as she bad punished
him a little
Dick was abscniminded abont little
things. but not about great ones. With
q hparf fufi 70 hrcatfrr no made hfs