Omaha daily bee., 1915-10-20
Why We Quarre1ed
No. 5-The Mans Side-The Man Who Liked an
Occasional Drink Tells His Story.

enc drink day to the noon hour when L
was out at luncheon. BY the time L
reached home I'm the evening there was
no odor on my breath.
do not consider that this was wicked
deceit. Had 1 objected TO Susan's taking
ice cream soda, had scolded her when
ever she did take IL, would surely have
expected her TO keep silent with regard
TO her frequent visits to the soda foun-
tain.
A year passed before the final catas-
trophe occurred. My wife had gone up
town 20 spent the day with her sister, AZ
noon Il began TO storm. and at o'clock
Susan telephoned to my office that II the
rain continued I must not be worried if
she did not return until morning.
''If II holds up enough for me TO come
without getting very wet. I will adhere !
TO my original plan and be back at din /
ner time" she said. but II II storms !
heavily. 1 am afraid that sister will In
sit on my staying where am"
II understand" / said. "and while r.
shall miss you, OF course. I do not want,
you TO risk catching cold"
The rain was falling faster and more
persistently at o'clock. This convinced
me that my wife would not return to-,
night So when friend invited me tol
dine with him at his club. accepted e
telephoned to the maid at my house that
] would not be In to dinner, and that
her mistress would stay over night with
her sister.
/ had no umbrella and was so wet By
the time my friend and I reached the
club that I Immediately took glass oe
whisky.
| MY friend ordered more drinks with
the dinner. / suppose that rs was tired,
and my stomach was very empty. was
more susceptible than usual to the effects
OF the stimulant. For the first time in
many years 1 felt that my brain was
eiouded and befogged. was secretly
glad that my host went as far as my
home with me. was still more glad. as
/ let myself in the house assisted by my
companion in inserting the latohkey into
the hole intended for it--that Susan was
absent.
Imagine my horror when she met me az
the door OF our bedroom.
"oh, my dear" she began. I'm so
GLAD
Then at sight OF me. she stopped short,
her face turning deathly white. at
tempted to laugh and kiss her. but she
struck at me, beside herself with anger
and disgust.
You're drunk" she exclaimed shrilly.
/ tried to explain. but II was useless
knew that my tongue was thick and
my words were not as convincing as
wished to make them.
The next morning we had IL out"
Susan told me that she had helped me
into bed last night-that she did this as
a duty. because she was my wife. She
also remarked, shudderingly. that was
loathsomely sick. Then she added that
she would never trust me again--never.
You have been drinking right along
ever since we were married." she ac-
eused. II know, because a man my sister
knows mentioned to her that he takes
what he calls his daily nip with you
every noon"
/ could not deny this and did not try
TO. but there's no harm in it, added.
mo harml" she repeated. her eyes
wide and angry. There IL harm enough
In II for me to determine that l Will not
live with you any longer. No" as
tried to plead with her. until you prom
ise me. swearing It on the Bible. that
you will never touch another drop OF
liquor. I will not stay under your roof"
She thinks she Is right, yet am sure
that II she really loved me she could
never have reached this decision.