The Washington herald., 1916-05-15

1t was a relief when the dinner
was over and Helen and Mrs. Barton
returned to the library, while the
men fingered over their cigars.
William is so provoking!" draw
ing the chiffon scarf about her bare
shoulders. He always says some
thing to upset me. Does Mr.. Curtis
get on your nerves like that?"
81 think we all have disputes at
times" Helen conceded.
"At times? It's always like this. He
loves to irritate me. He says things
deliberately-things that he knows
will drive me wildl"
Perhaps if you didn't show it
quite so much"
How can l help showing it?
Wasn't that a hateful, uncalled-for
thing he said about the roast?"
"Oh, he just wanted to seem COM
plimentary about the dinner" muir
INJURED Helen appeasingly.
"No, it wasn't that. Whenever we
dine out he delights in 'depreciating
my housekeeping. Does Mr.. Curtis
say those things? Is he always max.
ing insinuations about the way you
run the houseH"
Il suppose all men are irritating
in different ways"
"Well, William can be irritating in
more ways than any one l ever
knew"
as Mrs. Barton extoiiing my vir-
tues? !" asked Mr.. Barton, as Warren
and he now joined them. That's her
favorite theme nowadays"
But his wife, ignoring this pleas
antry, adjusted the flowers in her
corsage with elaborate care.
TRY one of these" Warren got
out fresh box of cigars.
William, you're not going to
smoke any more? You know you
shouldn't have more than one cigar
after dinner. That's what makes you
so nervous and irritable. Yet you
persist"
Perhaps it isn't altogether the
cigars. my DEAR" swapping open his
electric lighter. "There're other things
that get on mans nerves"
There, you see?" turning despair
lhSlJ " IlClCH. lIlOSC dIC SONIC OF
the nice, pleasing remarks he makes
to me-"
Mrs. Curtis, do you prescribe for
your husband the number of cigars
he may smoker"
Not much she doesn't" laughed
Warren.
Then you think a wife shouldn't
L. ..,4-N.I 4
health?" challenged Mrs. Barton.
Here's a member of our family
you haven't seem" exclaimed Helen
gaily, heralding Pussy Purr-Mew's
entrance as a welcome interruption.
"Oh, a shaded silver" enthused
Mrs. Barton, as Pussy Purr- New
having impartially surveyed the
group, stretched her graceful lengtf
on a Persian rug, inviting admira
I ton.
! "Yes, that's some cat," admitted
! Mr.. Barton. 1--WE had a dog las
/ fall, but Marion wouldn't stand fol
| it."
That vicious little beast! I shoulc
hope not! 1t snapped at Bobbie every
time he came"
mo wonder, the way that bra
yanked it around"
William, it's hardly courteous tc
call my sisters child brat. only
wish your brothers children were
! half as we'll behaved"
We'll, they don't sail boats in tht
bathtub and let it run over and spoi
all the ceilings. That cunning little
prank cost me just $50"
/ at wasn't any worse than you
angel nephew emptying box of tai
cum in the piano"
Here the maid brought in the cof
fee and Helen rose to clear a spact
on the library table for the tray.
And how do you take yours, Mr.
Barton?" having served his wife.
Now you know, William, if yot
drink coffee you'll be awake al
night"
"Sold it last spring-lucky to ge
out even. Dropped ten points sine
then. I'm still carrying some North
western preferred, but I'm thinking
of letting that go"
The men safely launched on tn,
engrossing subject of stocks, Heller
entertained Mrs. Barton by tellin,
her of little waist and lingerie shoI
that was selling out.
Every woman is interested in lin
gerie, and when Helen produced he
dainty purchases, Mrs. Barton, il
exclaiming over their cheapness, for