The Detroit times., 1916-03-15
BETH: 1Ss G'' R ,Mhs
No. 289-The First Mile Stone
By ETHEL LLOYD PATTERSON

THE one mistake most men make
thsm all responsibility. Which IS
wrong. For nothing develops the
spine Ike little weight on the
Arthur and settled down after
our marriage like two happy chill.
dren. To me the life seemed al
most too good to be true. 1t was
as though some fairy had touched
me with her wand and turned into
gold my every hour l wondered
what I had ever done to deserve
SO much happiness. and reverently
at night l kneeled to pray that ]
might be worthy Of Il, and that j
might hold the love of the man
had married.
More and more as Arthur and |
lived together we found our tastes
were mutual In the morning we
would arise early, tumble into our
riding toys. and take brisk canter
through the country lanes and by
paths for an hour or more. We
would come back 10 our tubs and
hearty breakfast. Then Arthur
would leave me for town, and |
would. take the smaller motor and
drive down into the village TO do
my marketing. usually lunched
alone. and thus far my early after
Moons had been occupied in ADJUST
ing the household mechanism and
arranging and rearranging the fur
niture Occasionally one or more
of the women whose country places
adjoined ours called upon me and
had tea. Then there were calls to
be returned and letters to be writ
ten. The day would slip by before
| I realized II. and 7 would find II
was time to dress for dinner and
Arthur's return.
And for a long --hile these tasks
suited me; filed my days. My
work. all thst my life had been be
fore my MARRIAGE seemed to
have left behind me; shaken of as
a butterfly leaves behind Its chrysa-
lis. For a long while | had no
desire to work. no impulse even to
look at my drawing board. And
then. one day was turning over
some things that had been mine,
throwing some OF them out. giving
some of them away. and l came
across my album. II was filed with
the work upon which ] had been
engaged during the time Just previ-
Gus to my marriage. One drawing
was there unfinished. At bit OF
work not very important Tut which
I had promised TO one OF the small.
or magazines. ! drew It out now
and cared at II ashamed, because i
had permitted myself to forget my
obligations in my new-found happi-
ness.
With flushed face I remembered
that had promised that drawing
and that I had never even let the
editor know why II had not been
sent to him. I went at once to
the telephone; and as 1t transpired
II was not too late for me to make
some sort Of reparation. The man
who answered me told me that II
could get the drawing to him In
the next two days. he would be able
to use II.
sat down at once to the task.
And scarcely had taken the pencil
in my hand when some OF the old
fascination OF the work came back
to me. l drew quickly and with
sureness. There was Joy in seeine
the thing grow beneath my hand
When the maid came to announce
lunch con ! waved her away with .
word or two and told her would
not eat. The afternoon few by
and witnessed me still sitting at my
drawing board. The shadows gath
fered and. lost to any other world
| than the one In which dwelt. did
not realize that the hour for Ar
thurs return came and, for the first
time, found me unaware of It's com.
Ing. II was his step behind me
that aroused me. I started guiltily
in my chair and ] raised face to
him drawn and weary, but still
alight from the flame Of en- .husiasm
which had been. warming me all
day. My husband caught my chin
In his hand. Then his glance went
down to the drawing.
Naughty GIRL" he exclaimed.
what have you been doing. wear
ing yourself out like this? Why. You
arr positively popeyed from work!
And Marie tells me you ate no
luncheon! Am not supporting
you in the style to which you are
accustomed1"