Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-11-11

MY MARRIED LIFE
How Madge Tried to BE Good Little
Sport"
By ADELE GARRISON


which a moment before had refused with
such disapproval I was afraid no would
make some comment upon my change OF
attitude which would upset me. ! was so
agltated with the conflicting impulses which
had swayed me In the short interval be-
tween my refusal OF the cigarette and my
decision to try smoking one 20 please
Dicky. that feared his possible facetious-
ness as nervous horse might the stroke
OF n whip
But with infinite tact Dicky refrained
from any comment whatever upon my sud
den change OF front lie drew out the case
again. opened IL. and held Il out to me.
selected one OF the little white rolls GIN
gerly I suppose my face must have re-
Elected some OF the distaste for the experi-
ment l felt for Dlcky laughed shortly.
ne won't bite you" he said.s Here, this
end In your mouth" As he saw me looking
helplessly nj the thing he took II and deftly
inserted II between my lips. "Now," strik-
ing match. 'as I light it draw in your
breath. Then pun the smoke out. Don't
swallow II whatever you do"
For many years ] have trained myself
to observe closely any directions printed
or oral concerning any new thing l am
attempting and then TO follow them ex-
actly. Tho training stood me In good stead
In this experiment which ! so disliked.
followed Dicky's directions to the letter.
and won the tribute OF an admiring ex-
clamation from him.
by George, Madge. you're a wonder.
can tell by the way you go at the thing
that you have never had one In your hand
before. and almost any other novice would
have choked You'll make n dead-game
little sport when you get rid Of some OF
those antiquated notions of yours"
All the Puritan In me rose up in revolt.
That /, of all people. should be praised for
my deXterity in manipulating a cigarette
But was committed to the thing now no
drawing back. told myself with mental
grimace.
To my surprise, l found no trouble in
smoking the cigarette no sickenng taste
to fight against, no mental and moral trem-
ors such AZ l had fancied would accom-
pany a departure Of mine from the rigid
path had always marked out for myself
| might as well have been pulling at one OF
the after-dlnner coffee spoons for any SEN
sation, pleasurable or otherwise, which the
smoking gave me.
Don't smoke IL all"
Reason and logic said loud in my ear:
What an absolutely asnine thing for any
woman man to do--this pulling at a
little white roll under the name Of sociabi-
| ty, pleasure or anything else 90 Another
voice. which belonged to the emotional self
! was Just beginning TO realize | possessed.
whispered: We'll, IL It be such n silly.
harmless thing to do, why not smoke one
occasionally to please Dicky?'
I looked up from my reverie 10 find
| lDlCkN watching me mlSCnleNOuSlN.
You never stopped pulling all the while
| you were deciding the momentous questions
| you had on your mind" he said gayly. 81
would advise you to stop now, however.
would not want you to feel ill., as you
might do IL you finished II az n first expert
| ence. And ! do want you to smoke one
| again with me. You can't imagine how
comfy It Is or how bully you looked doing
il. Thank you for pleasing me this way.
my darling girl"
He bent and kissed me- and for a mo-
| ment I felt "A glow OF pleasure in having
gratifed his wish. Then into my mouth
crept an acrid taste the indescribabe taste
of smoke IL did not nauseate me. but, In
| its way, It one of the most disagreeable
things I had ever experienced
| rose and started toward the bathroom.
| Dicky sprang TO his feet.
Are you feeling i'll. sweetheart? Did
| that blasted thing upset you? / ought TO
| have stopped you before"
81 am not i'll at ALL" returned. but the
| taste Of smoke is unbearable. I'm going to
wash my mouth out"
mot the taste of the morning after, but
| the minute afterg eh, Madge?"
81 think / would just as soon have one
| as the other" / shot back at him as 1 went
| into the bathroom.
l rinsed my mouth carefully with n solu-
| tiop ] used for sore throat. / thought
| whimsically of the small schoolboys OF my
| early teaching days whose mouths ] had
| sometimes washed out with soap for using
| bad language and, yes, / remembered one
| luckless wight who had received the same
| punishment for cigarette smoking / smiled
| ironically. Talk of chickens coming home
| to roost
DICKY GAYLY QUOTES OMAR
When I rejoined Diclky he evidently was
thinking deeply. something I very seldom
! saw him do. | did not speak TO him and
| sank into my chair as silently as | could.
| But hs heard the rustic Of my dress and
| lifted his head.
| Feeling better, sweetheart? Bad taste
all gomez"
'Yes. thank you" returned. 1--WE ster-
| ilzed my mouth, and feel quite clean
| again"
| He made a little gesture OF annoyance.
81 suppose II you feel that way about it
you'll hardly try IT again"
His face looked so downcast that l
| hastened 10 reassure him.
'Ill do It for you. Dicky," said. "And
| 1t surely is a proof of my love for you, for
| do think It is one of the sillest things to
| do that one could imagine possible"
"Of course IL is" Diclky assented heartily.
| / looked at him in amazement. "You don't
imagine anybody with a grain Of sense
| could defend the practice But you'll find
| out after while. IL you ever, get those
| Puritan corners of yours rounded off, that
some Of the silliest most indefenslble things
| are HlBnly COMFY anu enJOyaDle once you
| get used TO them"
But, Dicky," I protested you know
| those things are harmful IL carried TO ex-
| cess, and how about the example you and
| | might set 10 other weaker people who
| would not be able TO do things In modera-
tiOn as we mlght?"
| Dicky sprang TO his feet and stretched
| himself, Then he solemnly poured me an
| other cup of coffee and held il out 20 me.
| chanting solemnly;
| All my beloved. hll the cup that clears
| Today OF past regrets and future fears
| Tomorrow Why. tomorrow / may be
| Myself with yesterdays sewn thousand years
| An, make the most OF what we yet NAV spend
Before We. too, into the dust descend
| interrupted him ruthlessly "If you're
| going 10 quote Omar" said reslgnedly, II
give up. l have learned from bitter exper-
ience that there is no arguing with a dis
ciple OF omar"
That's because he so perfectly exempli-
fes the modern watchword, What's the use
OF anythingT Dicky returned, gTnninR.
But l won't inhict any more Of his old
philosophy on you. 1 want TO have a serious
| financial discussion with you"
W.. Naa-