The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-03-28
ARTEMIs|A
BY JANE OSBORN.

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 l am
going to get 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. Il am sure l
shall never be a parasite. If l don't
know how to support myself l shall
learn. You know that what little
money 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
maid anyway. Well, she can keep
house Just as we'll when l am not
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
hot rtr NJ, Of
worry they had been. At last, after a
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, inexperi-
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, it offered only
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
WEAKNESS on her part and the i'm
patience Of the cook to have the din
ner things out of the way she always
dined In the clothes she had worked
In. 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 heI
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 tc
her.
ooh, haven't you any cash with
your 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 t6
entire company had noticed the Incl
dent. AS q matter of fact, the con
ductor smiled pityingly and under his
breath said, Pretty rough, amt it
LADY,"
When Artemisia returned home thai
| ;nLt Oh t;,,sr ro ha,
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 | came, so | naturally
looked around. Did you leave any
jewelry?"
Eyes, my engagement ring in my
jewel box. The rest is in the safe de
posit | 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 all the delightful compan
ionship of the two young lovers that
they we're they sat down to the first
meal that they had ever had alone to
gether.
Il should think you would be cross.
Artemisia said at length. Il should
think you would tell me that If | had
been at home where | should be II
wouldn't have happened
why should IL" 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 | could
hardly do any work. II you had slapped
my face in the car | wouldn't have
felt any more mortified"
But | was only letting you live up
to your convictions, too. The man who
is economically independent pays his
own car fare The idea that men must
pay women's way is only survival OF
the middle ages, isn't it,"
But, Walter, I'm tired Of my convic-
lions. Walter, don't laugh at me, but
I've lost my job and I'm tired of being
independent and | want to stay home
and be old-fashioned. That Mrs. Gait 8
idea may be all right for some girls,
but I'm not educated up to it."
And when the telephone rang to tell
Walter that the detectives had cap
tured the thief literally with the goods
on" Walter was too absorbed in en-
bracing his new-found old-fashioned