Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-09-30
BY Virginia Terhune Van de Water

In the first place, Paul smokes, ana
no smoker IL thoroughly tidy. Then he
is not as careful about his personal clean
Iiness as l think gentleman should be.
To be sure. l have not had much ex-
perience with men. as my father died
when l was a mere child, and ! had no
brothers. So it was hard for me TO be-
come accustomed to the odor Of cigars
and cigarettes. But for the sake of my
husband. tried to do this.
I am naturally very neat, and it makes
me acutely uncomfortable to see things
in disorder.
Soon after our marriage we moved 10
the suburbs and bought a new cottage.
All our furniture was pretty and dainty.
Paul seemed as proud of our belongings
as was SO It was distinct disappoint-
ment to me to note how little pains he
took to keep things immaculate.
First of all, he bought a dog. Now |
am fond of animals. and the thought Of
having a dog on guard when / was at
home alone was comfortable. But sup
posed that the creature would be kept
. out OF doors.
when viii you get his kennel?' ]
tasked on the day of Rovers arrival.
HE won't need kennel" my hus-
band informed me. He will spend most
of his time on the veranda."
But in muddy weather, think how
dirty he will get the place." l ventured
I'm stormy weather he can come into
the house." my husband remarked. HE
is too valuable a dog 20 be left out at
night in all weathers."
looked at the thoroughbred English
setter, and reflected that he was Ger
tainly an ornament to any household
So / offered no further protest at the
time,
1t was autumn. and with the first cold.
rainy evening Rover scratched for ad-
mittance on our new front door. Paul
smiled as he saw the marks OF the dogs
mills on the polished wood.
Come In, you rascal" he called, open
ing the door. You're as wet as a
drowned rat"
He spoke the truth. The dog had been
running through the woods not far FROM
our cottage. He now made straight for
the open fire, in front of which he pro-
ceeded to shake himself vigorously. the
drops from his shaggy hair flying in all
directions.
"Oh, Paulg' l exclaimed This lie too
muehl Just look at my pretty furniture"
But Paul only laughed
That Is his way
That Is also the way that he took my
comments on his smoking and many other
untidy habits. When he was a boy his
mother must have let him do just as he
pleased. He was her only son. Perhaps
that accounts for his carelessness.
II seems a small thing to quarrel about,
doesn't it? Yet, after a while, l found
conditions almost unbearable. Our living
room was finished in white enamel paint.
Our rugs and hangings were in an exquis-
lite shade OF duh blue. II was an ideal
room. At least. that Is the way II was
when we were first married.
Later, when my husbands dog was
not lying on my one white fur rug In
front of the fire, my husbands muddy
boots were drying there. He liked TO
tramp in all weathers, and when he came
in. he would throw his damp mackin-
tosh one on chair. his wet hat on an
other. and, stretching himself out on the
couch, with his head on the delicate
colored cushions, proceed to light his
cigar. and smoke, dropping the ashes
about pronliscuously Then, when din
ner was announced he would go into the
dining room and sit down at the table
in his rough clothes, his hair unbrushed.
his hands unwashed.
ginning of our second winter IN the coun-
try, ] had a long talk with Paul. ! told
him how unhappy his ways made me and
begged him to be more careful. lie seemed
impressed by my talk. which l made as
gentle and oonciliatory as l could, and
promised to try TO comply with my
wishes.
With my own money had the rugs
cleaned. the sofa cushions recovered, the
floors "dene over" and the whole house
put in perfect order
Then l went away for a few days to
visit friend in the city | returned on
Sunday afternoon instead of waiting I'M
til Monday afternoon. as had planned.
Ali the way home l was thinking how
different our little home would be now
that Paul was going to be more careful.
IL was a bitter cold day. and. as took
the village stage from the railroad sta.
ton, pictured my husbands happy
surprise at my arrival l also fancie.i
how coy and inviting the cottage would
look.
But when ] entered softly, stopped
snort in dismay. NV husbands muddy
; footprints and the dogs equally muddy
tracks We're everywhere. Paul wore no
collar and he had evidently not been
-AAs 0OpuENhE0 ne uhQ nal
Two bottles " beer brought into the liv.
ing room that morning. and the emp
ties" and glass stiiI stood there The
place smelt OF stale beer. cigar butts and
vet dogs hide.
Ny husband laughed at my exclamation
OF disappointment He always laughs
At such thinEa Then he Kissed me Tn,
bristles on his chin Scraped my faee. his
soiled linen and spotted clothas offended
my taste 20 the breaking point ana I
pushed him from me with both hands
Don't touch mel" I commanded
What Il The mattsrr' he saked
la few strong words I told him.
And now" 1 said. the tune has CONS
When you are either 10 alter your habitA
Eet nd OF your dog OF set rid OF me-"
know many women VIII condemn ne
for my husband was fond OF me, was a
Eood Provider. and a respeotahIe roembeI
Of society,
But to one brought 70 as I Was IN
CLEANLINESS in person and nabits is ha rdel
u lear than some actual sins would h..