Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1916-04-05
hRTEMi,sssA
BY JANE OSBORN.

nave something lInpOIIuHl W say "
you. Being consistent suffragist, OF
course, l believe in the economic In
dependence of women. l am going to
start the first day OF our life together
by being-being independent. | am
going to get a job and have wages,
and then l shall never have to ask
you for money.
Sounds as if you had cribbed that
out of one of Mrs. Cats best
speeches." said Walter, trying to be
facetious in spite of the surprise that
his little wife had just sprung.
Artemisia's cheeks were red and her
brown eyes flashed fire. 81 am sure |
shall never be parasite. If I don't
know how to support myself shall
learn. You know that what little
money had left me was almost used
up in my education. What remained
1 spent on the suffrage campaign and
my trousseau."
what do 1 care?" demanded Wal
ter. Thank goodness, I'm no pau
per, and I've got q job besides. But
what about the little apartmentT
Don't you like that any more?'
Certainly. We intended to keep
q maid anyway. Well, she can keep
house Just as we'll when I am not
there as when am. We can both
give her orders before we start out
to work In the morning"
It was q month after their return to
their apartment and thirty days OF
worry they had been. At last, after q
reign OF four perfectly worthless
maids, they had managed to induce
q fifth to accept the position. Arte-
misia had found that it was no easy
matter for an unframed. ineIperi-
enced girl to get work in the busy city
and Walter, for some reason, had CIV
en- her no recommendations to his
friends.
But now for three weeks she had
hard work To be sure, 1t offered only
a minimum wage. and as counter
girl" in one of the large publishing
houses she stood very small chance
of advancement. Thanks to the
eight.hour law, she worked only
from nine to six, but even at that she
returned home at night an hour after
her husband. and through sheer
weariness on her part and the I'M
patience of the cook to have the din
ner things out of the way she always
diaed In the clothes she had worked
tn. The pretty house dresses on
which she had expended the last OF
her small inheritance hung unused
in the wardrobe and there was small
chance that she would ever use them.
Then, one day, things went wrong
from the morning to night. Artemisia
started out in the morning with her
husband and together they boarded
the surface car. To her surprise, he
paid only his own car fare.
"You forgot me-" she whispered as
the conductor held his hand out to
her.
"Oh, haven't you any cash with
you?" he asked in surprise.
YES" answered Artemisia slowly,
though she had barely enough to pay
for her meager luncheon, and as she
offered her own hard-earned nickel to
the conductor she imagined that the
entire company had noticed the Incl
dent. AS matter Of fact, the con-
ductor smiled pityingly and under his
breath said, pretty rough. amt 1t,
lady?"
When Artemisia returned home that
night she found Walter waiting for her
at the apartment door.
"Now, don't get excited, little girl."
he began, putting his arm around her,
"but that fine cook Of ours has left
with all the silver. There was nobody
home when I came, 80 naturally
looked around. Did you leave any
jewelry?"
"Yes, my engagement ring in my
Jewel box. The rest is in the safe de-
posit. I don't like to wear diamonds
at work"
"Well, there's nothing left in your
jewel box now, but don't worry, dear,
/ have telephoned the police
Together they prepared little sup
per and with ell the delightful compan-
ionship of the two young lovers that
they were they sat down to the first
meal that they had ever had alone to-
gether.
II should think you would be Cross"
Artemisia said at length. Il should
think you would tell me that If l had
been at home where l should be It
wouldn't have happened"
why should II" asked Walter. "You
are only living up to your convictions" :"
Yes, but you were so very, very
cross to me this morning. felt just
miserable about it all day and l could
hardly do any work. If you had slapped
my face in the car l wouldn't have