The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-04-06
ARTENISlA
BY JANE OSBORN.
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you Being consistent suffragist, OF |
course. | believe i'll 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. Il 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
/ 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 i am not
there as when l am. We can both
give her orders before We start out
to work in the morning"
1t was a month after their return to
their apartment and thirty days OF
worry they had been. At last, after
i reign of four perfectly worthless
maids, they had managed to induce
a fifth to accept the position. Arte-
I 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
a minimum wage, and as counter
girl" in one of the large publishing
houses she stood very small chance
of advancement Thanks to the
cight-hour law, she worked only
from nine to six, but even ut 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, 0le day, things went wrong
, from the morning to night. Artemisif
started out in the morning with hel
, husband and together they boarded
the surface car. To her surprise, h
, paid only his own car fare.
"You forgot me- she whispered a
J the conductor held his hand out t.
her.
"Oh. haven't you any cash wit
you?' he asked in surprise.
> YES" answered Artemisia slowly
, though she had barely enough to pa
. for her meager luncheon, and as sh
( offered her own hard-earned nickel t
> the conductor she imagined that tn
entire company had noticed the inc
l dent. AS a matter of fact, the cor
: ductor smiled pityingly and under hi
: breath said, Pretty rough, amt |,
!, LADY,"
When Artemisia returned home tina
( night she found Walter waiting for he
5 at the apartment door.
D NOW, don't get excited, little girl,
l he began, putting his arm around hel
: but that fine cook of ours has LEI
with all the silver. There was nobod
I home when | came, so | natural
T. looked around. Did you leave an
4 jewelry?"
yes, my engagement ring in m
n jewel box. The rest is in the safe d.
o post. | don't like to wear diamond
r at work"
d "Well, there's nothing left in you
e jewel box now, but don't worry, dea
G / have telephoned the police"
o Together they prepared little SUI
y per and with all the delightful compal
p ionship of the two young lovers thu
It they were they sat down to the fir:
!. meal that they had ever had alone t
y gether.
o Il should think you would be cross
k Artemisia said at length. Il shoul
} think you would tell me that If ha
been at home where | should be
n wouldn't have happened"
"Why should -" asked Walter. "YC
' are only living up to your convictions
Yes, but you were so very, yel
;, cross to me this morning. | felt jul
= miserable about it all day and cou
- hardly do any work If you had slappe
/; my face in the car | wouldn't ha'
q felt any more mortified"
= but | was only letting you live l
:, to your convictions, too. The man wi
: , is economically independent pays h
:, own car fare The idea that men mu
pay women's way is only survival
, the middle ages, isn't it?'
!. "But, Walter, Pm tired of my convi
: tions. Walter. don't laugh at me, b.
" I've lost my job and I'm tired of beir
= Independent and ! want to stay hon
= and be old-fashioned. That Mrs. Gait
> idea may b. all right Tor some girl
but I'm not educated up to il"
2 And when the telephone rang to t
= Walter that the detectives had ca
p iured the thief literally with the GOO
on Walter was too absorbed in ell
bracing his new-found old-fashion,
y wife tn hear until the bell had rung