The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1914-07-25

that my husband felt as IL he had
lost an own father"
Six months later my elder son mar
ried the girl Of his choice. He had
accepted a position in Colorado. and,
after the wedding, the young couple
went west to their new homo.
The house was sadly quiet during
the long winter after my sons depar-
ture. His brother was now through
college and doing night work on a
newspaper. He had but one evening
off a week, and insisted on devoting
hat to me, although l begged him to
make calls or seek young society. But
he had always been a mothers boy"
and was, he said, happier with me.
nings at his club, coming in late. He
had bought himself a handsome sad
die horse, and after Office hours would
take long rides with his friends.
Sometimes he would dine with these
friends before returning home. al
ways ordered dinner for the usual
hour, on the chance of his coming in,
but half of the time / sat down to
the table alone. The loneliness and
strain began to tell on me. l was
thin and nervous and so far from
well that my son insisted must have
some recreation. His ~"evening OF"
was Saturday, and, one week, as a
surprise to me, he got theater tickets
for that evening and appeared at the
door of my room about five o'clock
in the afternoon to tell me to dress
the play afterward. He kissed me as
l exclaimed with pleasure.
1T is SO long since l have had any
little fun like this!" l said.
We'll, you shall have 1t any time
l can give it to you, mother mine. l
wish I could be with you all the time"
Then l remembered my husband
But suppose your father home,
to dinner?" l said hesitatingly.
81 can't help it If he does, mother.
have kept count, and out of seven
evenings he has been at home to din
ner just three times, and you have,
for the other four nights, dined alone,
and spent the entire evening by your
self. This kind of thing has got to
stop. If he does not consider your
convenience, you need not consider
his"
l laid my hand on his lips. Don't
talk like that, dear!" / begged. Your
father has always done as he pleased,
and l have encouraged him in it. He
is master in his house and has a right
to go and come as he chooses. l do
not want to be selfish"
And l want you to be just this
once. l do not believe that father
will come home, anyway. And if he
does, he should be glad that you are
out having a good time"
Il will leave a little note Of ex
PLANTATION for him." l said
We had a lovely time, Donald and L
1t made me feel almost young again
to sit opposite the good,looking boy
at dinner, to hear the music of the
orchestra, and to have to make nc
effort to please anybody. My boy al
ways understood me, and if l talked
he was pleased; if l was silent, he
did nc mind. The play was peter
Pan" and l was as much charmed by
it as were the children in the au.
dience. We chatted happily of the
events of the evening all the way
home. AS we reached the front dool
| saw a light in the library windows
and knew that my husband was wait
ing up for me. A glance at his face
showed me that he was angry.
tried to ignore his manner and to tell
him cheerfully what a pleasant time
we had had.
"Who paid for this nonsense? ?" he
asked sharply.
1T was Donald's treat" I said, be
fore my son could reply. And l tried
to smile.
"A fool and his money are soor
parted" remarked my husband. "It's
a pity, sir, that instead of throwing
away your cash o don't try to lift
some of the load from the shoulders
of the father to whom you have beer
an expense all these years"
l tried to check my sons reply, but
he vas no longer a child, but a man
and answered holly:
II was not aware, father, that you
were burdened by my support. l have
watched this menage for many years
and, so far, I cannot see hat Dave
and I have been an expense to any
n except mother"
And who do you suppose supports
herr" roared my husband ~furiously.
II will if she will let mel" was the
unexpected rejoinder.
But why recall all the painful
scene that followed? Until my hus
band and my son faced each other in
anger that night I had never known
actual terror, l feared that Alfred
would strike Donald, and, knowing
how ungovernable my husbands rage
was, / trembled for the result If he
did. The climax was reached when
the fathar ordered tho eon fo U1aave