The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-10-11
A Parting
Dinner
By ALAN HlNSDALE


leave you"
"Thats not a bad idea," said the
husband. "a bit Of freedom from this
new life that neither Of us has vet
become used to will give us breath
ing spell, and If we come together
again we will appreciate each other
all the more for it."
"That IF is well put In"
"And II we don't come together
again Just think of the fun we'll
haver'
"Fun?"
"Yes. I can remain out at poker
party till o'clock in the morning II
I like. smoke and drink to my hearts
content, spend no end Of time sitting
on a stool before a glove counter with
a pretty girl on the other side smooth
ing down my fingers with her soft
hand
"If these things are so delightful to
! you why did you marryT
81 haven't come to your own enjoy
ments consequent on tho break yet.
| You can sit all day beside your moth
| err, holding her hand and listening TO
her advice to you how to manage
husband. Won't that be just too nice |
| for anythingf"
'4f you loved me one-tenth as well
as mamma does there would be no
need of a separation"
"Oh. l could never compete with
mothers love! That is not to be ex-
pected. l suppose that's what gives
her right to tell you just what course
to fake respecting your husband. NOW
that you're going to leave me, her al
vice with respect to me Will be no
longer necessary, and l wonder what
YOU and she will talk about when you
nestle down for morning chin-chin.
She was inclined to think that, the
one interesting topic being removed
the chin-chin would be rather dull, but
she did not say 80,
"Theres one thing propose to DO,
/ continued the provoking husband. las
soon as You are gone I'm going 10
take down these curtains l have en-
, dured them simply for your sake.
3 They shut out the light"
T Indeed, you will do no such thing!'
Q "Why so? 1t will not matter to you
!. | whether there are curtains here or
], not. l shall make a smoking room OF
( this. and you have always declared
q that when smoke gets into curtains
b it's hard to get 1t out"
"A smoking room Of this coy apart
n ment Why, arranged everything
q here myself!'
9 80 you did, and a delightful room
/, you made of It. remember when
+, first saw 1t thought how many De
IL lightful seances we would have here
,r little thought that a few shor,
10 months would end 1t ALL"
g. "Whose fault is it?'
N mime"
"Why don't you do betterT
ID II can't. I'm naturally wicked. L
b. were not you wouldn't need tt
re leave me-"
IN "Of course don't want to leav'
is you, but you can't expect me to endur
such treatment forever"
as Certainly not. deserve It all. Blu
re- it's sad to think Of my having to dis
he mantle this pretty room for lot
,u fellows who will throw cigar and pip
he ashes all over the carpet and
a. "They will do no such thing! l
you're going to have those hOrrid me
III here I-T-wont"-
nv won't go?"
So Eyes, Pm going have come
II that decision after long and caref,
tn elaboration"
N. "And consultation with your mother.
en- This was home thrust.
We IF there is any one who know
no what is best for the child she ha
nm cared for and loved from babyhood
ter is surely her mother"
81 agree with you. Therefore til
in daughter should never leave her mot
nv err"
he 'The daughter is not expected
ge marry IA
yer Brute! But we are wasting tim
ars When do you go?"
ri. "Are you In haste to be rid of mef'
mi. "Not at all. | merely wish to NAL
nj arrangements for your departur
me Will you permit me to see you to yo'
the mothers houseT
|
ma every WELL I will take you whe
I'M ever you wish to CO.
fiji you'll have to dine elsewhere
ne day. l have made no preparations 4
an dinner here"
Suppose we have last dinner
she SINNERS, with bottle OF that Wi
you like so wellT
,iz. She hesitated. and he suggested tn
she telephone her mother that 8
would not arrive till after dinner I'll
eer last reference to her mother, thou
Der highly respectful, called frown
the wife's brow. Nevertheless s
!" went to the phone and sent the mi
sage Then she dressed for the dim
and came downstairs looking We
eek lugubrious.
and Have you sent your baggageT
,old asked mildly.
"Nor' she snapped.