Evening star., 1915-01-31
SKIRMISH.
COMBATANTS:


Smokeless Powder. The Man
ShraInel. ......................The The Woman
War Zone. c.......................1h The Home
Cause .......-.................. .Elzaoetn
rs this my cue to leave the house. vii
lain, forever?'
The mans voice was coolly inquiring
The Woman's answer was heart-break, SCI
to words:
ut is your house. / am the one to 60.
The man looked around the room, as il
to consider possession. 1t was d place
of twilight shadows, except for the pinl
radiance of Il shaded Tampa radiance
which showed that the dusk had caught
him in his business clothes, and that the
woman, pacing nervously across the
floor, from gray shadow to pink light an6
back into gray shadow again, was wear.
ing trailing, chiffony thing with
sparlles or her neck and arms. Before
availing himself of his turn to make the
next remark. the man took Whit at hi:
cigar, and blew gray smoke rings up
ward to join the gray that was dusk
What do 1 want with ten rooms full
of junk-not counting the victrola?'
"You can get your-your Elizabeth
to come here and live with you"
II will spare you the trouble of ar
ranging my affairs. Elizabeth will no
come here"
Then 1 sup-suppose you will go to-
Elizabeth?''
Probably
"Oh, to think you can say that to my
very face. And I was SO happy in this
FOOLS paradise until l saw that let
ter
Envelope" corrected the man.
you needn't remind me. When ] saw
that womans name-in your own hand
writing-it shriveled my life into ashes
Which shows how foolish it is for a
woman to NEEDLE with her husbands
mail"
q didn't, I did not. The despicable
thing had fallen under your desk where
you threw it after you had blotted it
and ! picked it up to p-put it in the
w-wastebasket, and-Oh, my head, my
heart
Il notice you are not paying any spe-
cial attention to my head and heart"
The man made his protest with the
sigh of one who is deeply neglected. The
woman stamped foot, which he knew
without seeing was white satin and high
est French heel
You are just trying to drive me
crazy with your taunts and your-oh
l can't find words for your disloy-
atty
why not try silence for change"
You are not a gentleman when you
talk like that-and L have always
c-considered you al
The woman choked up and paced
back into the shadows and the man
blew another smoke ring.
When l t-think of how I have
w-worshiped the v-very g-sround you
w-walked on-and that / must g-give
you up f-f-forever-
why give me up to that extent?"
Because l am your wife. And l will
not share your love with any Eliza
beths. That's why"
"Oh. 1 don't know. Most anything
can be arranged these days"
Don't insult me more than you can
help. 1t isn't like you. 9ou-you have
always been so p-p-perfectly dear
The man looked up to the chande-
lier. as if to call it's attention to the
compliment that had come his way
The woman came near enough to the
pink shaded lamp to reveal a face that
was young enough for tears to be be-
coming.
Il am not saying it is all your fault
dearest mean, john know l have
work when you come home, because
thought you wanted me to keep OF
being f-foolish and p-pretty, like l was
when you married me-
Rather d clever guess
rs she so very Fascinating. Jackie
l mean John?
Il don't believe you would think so.
Il mean more than ] ann?
The wheedling childishness i'll the
voice made the man straighten uE
from the chair he had been loungins
against The chiffon and sparkles
flashed around to his side of the lamp
and one small finger printed ltseli Oh
a chin that somewhat needed shaving
thing is cleverer than I am, but she
isn't. know who started the war
and why women ought to have votes
and lots of things like that, only
never let on, because you always say
you have no use for overc1ever women
And the reason / didn't want you to
have the south room for your den was
because I thought it would make suci
:, sunny other room, after dWhlle.
But you can have it, If you VIII prom
Use never to write again TO tnal horiio
old EIiZabeth-Johncy.
The man submitted to his caress with
exceedingly good grace, but kept his
eyes on the chandelier, as if for refuge
and strength.
Il am sorry, hon. but l can't prom.
Use a thing like that. 1t is always
hest in the long run to be open ano
above board. The fact is that | nave
a letter in my pocket for EiZapeth
right now. Don't mind letting you
see it, if you insist"
you have a-have a-Oh, John
John-I couldn't toucn it. 1t woulo
drive me mad. 1t would strike me
dead. 1t would-Give it to me quick
The man took the letter from his
nocket There was a frantic pounct
of chiffon and sparkles Then the
frivolous, spoiled, useless and alto
gether lovely young thing, who was
"E,liza beth. New Jersey" n. L.