The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-04-10
kRTEMISIA
BY JANE OSBORN.

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Walter" the young wife began, Il
have something important to say to
you. Being consistent suffragist, OF
course, l believe in the economic in
dependence of women. am going to
start the first day of our life together
by being-being Independent. / am
going to get job and have wages,
and then 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 l don't
know how to support myself l shall
learn. You know that what little
money l had left me was almost used
up in my education. What remained
l spent on the suffrage campaign and
my trousseau.'
What do l care?" demanded Wal
ter. Thank goodness, I'm no pau
per, and I've got job besides. But
what about the little apartment?
Don't you like that any more?
Certainly. We intended to keep
a maid anyway. Well, she can keep
house Just as we'll when l am mot
there as when l am. We can both
give her orders before we start out
to work in the morning"
It was a month after their return to
their apartment and thirty days OF
worry they had been. Al last, after a
{ reign Of four perfectly worthless
maids, they had managed to induce
a fifth to accept the position. Arte
misia had found that it was no easy
' matter for an unframed, inexperi
enced girl to get work in the busy city
. and Walter, for some reason, had CIV
, en- her no recommendations to hi!
friends.
@ But now for three weeks she hat
d hard work To be sure, it offered onl!
d a minimum wage, and as "counte
girl" in one of the large PUBLISHING
c houses she stood very small chance
of advancement. Thanks to tn
a eight-hour law, she worked onl,
A from nine to six, but even Mt that sh
. returned home at night an hour afte
her husband, and through shee
(" WEAKNESS on her part and the in
~ patience Of the cook to have the dir
10 ner things out of the way she Away
dined in the clothes she had worke
in. The pretty house dresses o
', which she had expended the last c
~ her small inheritance hung unuse
in the wardrobe and there was sma
% chance that she would ever use then
Then, one day, things went wron
- from the morning to night. Artemisi
started out in the morning with he
- husband and together they boarde
- the surface car To her surprise, j
- paid only his own car fare.
"You forgot me-" she whispered {
=, the conductor held his hand out
co her.
# ooh, haven't you any cash wi
you?" he asked in surprise.
YES" answered Artemisia slowl
ia though she had barely enough to p'
"a. for her meager luncheon, and as 81
or offered her own hardearned nickel
the conductor she imagined that Il
cd entire company had noticed the in
be dent. AS a matter of fact, the CO
"a. ductor smiled pityingly and under b
of breath said, pretty rough, amt
Lady,"
us When Artemisia returned home tn
,x- night she found Walter waiting lor
ito at the apartment door.
he, Now, don't get excited, little cir
he began, putting his arm around h
nd "but that fine cook of ours has Il
ge with all the silver. There was nobo
ed home when | came, so l natural
looked around Did you leave a
jewelry?"
Eyes, my engagement ring in !
ed jewel box. The rest is in the safe
av- post. l don't like to wear damon
or at work"
es. "Well, there's nothing left in yc
ing Jewel box now, but don't worry, de
ra- have telephoned the police
all Together they prepared little S
,ck per and with all the delightful comp
hat ionship of the two young lovers Il
wn they were they sat down to the Fl
rn meal that they had ever had alone
of gether.
the Il should think you would be eros
Artemisia said at length. Il sho
hat think you would tell me that IL
.rk- been at home where | should be
ear wouldn't have happened"
;uf- "Why should II" asked Walter. y
oat are only living up to your conviction
lie YES, but you were so very, "
by cross to me this morning. | felt
les miserable about it all day and co
rtly hardly do any work. If you had slap
my face in the car | wouldn't h
sew felt any more mortified"
by "But | was only letting you live
air to your convictions, too. The man v
are is economically Independent pays
own car fare The idea that men m
pay women's way is only surviva
the middle ages, isn't it?"
nod. "But, Walter, I'm tired Of my con
tions. Walter, don't laugh at me,
0me I've lost my job and I'm tired of be
anne independent and | want to stay he
lital and be old-fashioned. That Mrs. Ca
fox idea may be all right for some 81
but I'm not educated up to it."
And when the telephone rang to
Walter that the detectives had {
iub' tz1 ~, tl,ire lft a~a Il,- ssx1-itb fbn on