The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1915-02-13
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tCepyright. 1914, by Newspaper
Enterprise Association)

Enterprise Associatton)
heard Dick come I'm and walk
about In that ultra careful way he
has when he has been drinking
too much.
At last he evidently saw that |
was not in bed. for he called:
"Margie; where are you. Margie?"
! came out of the bathroom and
Dick looked at me trying to smile.
said: Good night. or. rather,
good morning. Dick" and passed
through into Aunt Mary's room.
Here, wait a minute, Margie.
| want to kiss you good night"
II have no inclination to kiss a
drunken man, Dick. 1t seems
that ] have nothing to say about
your staying out and getting
drunk while you keep a beautiful
home over my head, but | at least
have the right to refuse my kisses
to man with liquor-laden
breath that sickens me-"
But ! want to talk to YOU"
mo, thank you, Dick; | have
had to listen once tonight to a
drunken man making explanation
and excuses"
who was he?" Dick asked as
though he would punish any other
drunken man than himself who
undertook to address me.
He called himself Mack; said
he was a friend of yours. Even
he, however, seemed to think you
had not been treating me right,
and in a maudling way tried to
excuse you"
do you mean to tell me that
Dan Mack was drunk enough to
take me in earnest when | told
him that he had better go over
and tell my wife what a good fell
low | was when he was telling
that fact to the boys so often that
got tired of hearing of IL. |
told him you probably did not feel
that way about me.
''He was here and told me what
a good fellow you were
Said Dick, with laugh: Good
ness, Margie, haven't you got any
sense of humor? This Is the rich
est Joke of the season. Poor old
Dan is the most diffident man In
the world. III he hadn't been full
he would never have dared even
to come to see YOU I've tried and
tried to get him over here and he
always was afraid you would not
like him. 1 haven't any parlor
manners, Dick, he says"
He told me you said to him /:
My wife just dotes on drunk
ards.
Dick simply roared with laugh
ter. well, don't your he asked
when he could speak. You know,
Margie, you dote on me-"
'No, | don't. l hate you and
all your tribe, and l have reason
to do So"
what do you mean? I've only
been having a little fun. God
knows it's been solemn enough in
this family lately"
We'll, II that's the case what
about me? I've been pretty SOL
emn, too. Where does my fun
come in? If it is necessary to get
drunk to have a good time let q
get drunk together"
Nov, Margie, you know you
are not we'll, You are all tired
out and sick"
IL there is one thing that exas-
perates me it is to be told l am
Ill when my pride is hurt and my
heart aches.
IL never was better in nay life,
physically, but / am heart-broken
and weary of it all. For whom
did you intend those flowers that
l received yesterday"
"Margie, ! won't lie to you,"
said Dick after a minutes silence.
Yesterday morning Eleanor Fair
low called me up and told me she
had been very Ill again and /
stepped in and ordered the
flowers. You can see how little 1t
meant to me, for l probably for
got to leave her name and the
man sent them to my home"
"Why did you tell me, over the
phone you had sent them to me?"
II couldn't explain over the
phone, could /? Come now, Mar
gle, be sensible. You can't be
| jealous over me sending an old
friend like Eleanor some flowers
when she Is sick. You would not
say word IL | sent some to
Eliene."
"No, nor you would not have
lied to me about them. ! wonder
il you understand, Dick. that
when a woman's trust In a man
goes it means not only something
has gone out or her life, but the
man himself has lost something
of inestimable vaIue?"