Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1914-08-07
CUP|D'S WEAK HOLD

Billie fell in love with a chin. At a
cotillion one night he saw wisp OF
girl in lotus blue with cloud OF
fluffy brown hair, sensible blue eyes
and a-chin. And such a chin
Rosalind was very recently from
boarding school, and she,
too, was blissfully ignorant Of tho
ways Of common sense. She, also. had
developed a speciality. Her dream Of
manly distinction was pair Of broad
shoulders that many time tore
hole through the opponents line-that
is, when the man that nobody noticed
had opened the way for him-well, she
was ready to die" that's all.
Billie was the younger son Of fam
lily strong on ancient lineage, but OF
evanescent income. But that was
mere detail Of Billie's courtship. Billie
cared not a whit for income. and Rosa
lind did not know the meaning Of the
word. Billie knew he had always man
aged to bs extremely comfortable at
college.
When Billie asked Rosalind to marry
him. she looked at his shoulders and
murmured Yes" And Billie looked at
Rosalind's chin and whispered: ION.
you angel" And Billie's papa and Ros-
alinds mamma looked at their pam
pered darlings and smiled proudly.
I'VE have hoped for this. 1t Is ideal
And society said, What a perfect
match"
And 1t was not long until they were
ensconced in a dream Of nest In the
country. 1t was one Of those nests IN
the country that can be reached by the
city car line, If one has infinite pa
thence and remarkable endurance. But
they both loved the country so; that
is, so far as they knew. Their ac'
craftsmanship with the ruralites was
confined to week-ends and summer
jaunts.
Rosalind was thoroughly up In the
hesitation waltz and French and the
lines of a shoulder, but her knowledge
of kitchen mechanics was shockingly
meager. There was no servant.
There came time when Blllle
scowled bitterly at his plate. 1t was
the day after the firm had told him
they had no further use for an en-
ploye whose chief attainment was be-
ing fit for nothing.
Il thought you were going to have
these eggs soft boiled, Rosalind. and
they are awfully hard
Il did my BEST" retorted Rosalind
Il have been boiling the old things
for the last half hour What do you
expect when we have no maid?'
And Billie swore, swore just as ne
used to swear on the football field
when tho other fellow broke through
the line and hurled him back for q
loss, and planted his angry hobnailed
shoes right down In the midst Of
those godlike shoulder muscles.
Rosalind sat down opposite Billie
She did not weep. There was a stony
look In her eye. The lovely chr
rested on her hands, but there was nc
dimple visible-at least, Billie coult
not see it.
Il must have some money, Blllle
You need not think you can put mt
out in this deserty place to live OF
herbs and dress myself with vines
I'm sick of doing my own work like
common woman. Why, | haven't hat
new hatpin even since we were
married. I'm tired of being cut OF
from my friends. I'm tired Of looking
at nothing but your shoulders
Il told you the other day that yo'
couldn't have money when there ism
any money" snapped Billie. "Yol
knew l didn't have any money when
married you, and now hat I've los
my JOB by devoting myself to you, yo'
ought to be woman enough to max
the best OF It,"
With these pretty remarks. Billie
adorer of chins, flounced out of tn
room and breakfasted in town. At tn
club he met some "old college chocc
lates" and a spree" was suggested TO
the night
"Rosalind is cross" argued Billie t.
himself, and I'm not going home IT
an awful long way out there, anyway
She can get one Of the neighbors t
come in for the night or stay by hel
self. She needs lesson. I'm throug
with coddling her"
And Rosalind! Rosalind, adorer o
shoulders, did not stop to put thing
In order She was too angry for that
She took the first car for mothers
There she uufolded her pltiful story
And she received sympathy. In fact
the sympathy was SO generously az
piled that, within a week, Rosalin
was on her way to sanatorium.
Meantime, Billie's parents and Rosa
linds parents held conference in al
endeavor to insure the future com
mercial and domestic life Of thei
hopafuls. But the conference ende
badly, as such family affairs often dc
Billie was sent out West to grow u
with the country. Rosalind was rushe
to Paris, Naples, Madrid. that sh
might finish her education. Not lon
afterward a decree Of divorce wa
granted. Incompatibility Of tempe
was the reason assigned for the snaI
ping Of bonds. or chins, shoulders
impedimenta? Not word.
Billie's papa said, We'll, Of course
Rosalind knew nothing Of housekeeI
ing"
Rosalind's mamma said, You knoN
Billie was absolutely untitled to ear
living"
Billie's mamma said, But Rosalin
couldn't even boil an egg"
Rosalind's papa said. But Bill
couldn't even buy Latpin.'
Society added smartly, Who's tn
correspondent ?"-Darra More, In tn
ph,Iadelnhia North American,