The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-10-02
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= HIS ALMA MATER =
IN BY JANE OSBORNE. IA
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When Clay Stmson received the ap.
peal from the secretary of his class at
college for contributions to support the
aviation corps that was to be sent to
the front by his alma mater he made
out that check for thousand dollars,
but before he signed it he thought of
Peggy. Peggy made all the difference
In the world.
1t wasn't that Peggy was selfish, but
Peggy was the sort of wife that needed
to be financed generously. 1t would
have been as alien to Peggy's nature,
thought Clay, to attempt any sort Of
economy, even in war time, as 1t would
be alien to the butterhy's nature to
start in storing away the honeyed
sweetness that it gathers from the
flowers as the thrifty bee does.
1t was just when he was turning into
the long driveway that led to the low
rooted bungalow nesting among the
trees where Peggy who, he was sure,
ought to have lived In an Italian villa,
at least, deigned to dwell, greeted him
with even more than usual excitement
| at the door. 1t was Peggy's manner
always to be In state of delightful
expectancy and impotence when Clay
returned home every night. Her vivpc-
ity was contagious and Clay would
have been transported from business
or thoughts of the departing stenog-
rapher had it not been for the thought
aF he, y,c,p a1 abacIy FOR nd
dollars. He was rather pensive at dim
ner, stealing snatches of time between
Peggy's clever little sallies to medi-
tate and work out his plan Of action.
In order to dispense with the stenog-
rapher he was thinking, he would have
TO work overtime. 1t would often mean
that he would have to return to his of
fee at night, patiently to type out the
letters that were not typed in the day.
time.
OF course Peggy should not know.
He would have to tell Peggy simply
that business detained him.
Peggy talked glIbly through dinner,
which she seemed TO eat with relish.
And more than once she stopped to
give directions to the waitress.
do you think the new cook Will do?"
she asked, knowing well enough that
Clay never had word to say about the
household management. 'You know, |
had to dismiss Brady. think this one
is rather better"
YES; that caviarre was delicious"
Clay had presence of mind enough TO
say; and then, venturing into an I'm.
accustomed field Of inquiry, he added /:
II suppose wages are advancing even
with cooks T.
Peggy pouted with a playful note of
annoyance.
Yes; really had to agree to forty
dollars this time. | suppose | shall
have to make an increase IL | am TO
keep her"
Had Clay found II possible to throw
off his air of preoccupatlon more easily
he might have remained at home that
first evening. But SO eager was he to
begin the work that would make the
sending of check for thousand dol,
lars possible that he excused himself
after dinner to return to his office. By
eight o'clock he was busy with the
files bringing his correspondence up
to date, so that the burden of his later
work would not be too heavy. II shan't
In the least mind your going" Peggy
treasured him, as he started out. I'm
dreadfully sleepy, and I'm afraid ]
should have been quite stupid IL you
had stayed home"
Three or four nights out of the week
Clay returned to his Office, and as often
Peggy, apparently uncomplainingly,
professed perfect willingness to retire
early and forget her loneliness. One
evening that Clay had intended to de.
vote to his correspondence, the vision
Of Peggy In new evening frock
his mind. 1t was one of those
exquisitely simple gowns that experli
ance had taught Clay TO know were the
most expensive kind. But even this
did not spoil the pleasure II
.ook In beholding his pretty wife SO at.
dressed to meet him.
do you very much like this dress?"
Peggy asked him after they had fin
shed dinner. II can really tell that
'ou do just by the way you look at it. +"
And then, not waiting for Clays en-
husiasic response, Peggy went on:
i never could keep secret, SO / just
ave to tell you that / made it," She
aused q moment and watched, and
of finding reprovlng frown on Clay's
ace she went on: And have cooked
inner every night for two weeks
YER since the last cook went. Oh,
ever meant to tell you that, too, but
on know can't keep a secret, and If
on ever found out you'd hate me for
eceiving you. You see, the girls in
~ class at college were getting up a
Ind for an ambulance. and of course
ley looked to me to help little. But
knew you couldn't endure having
yo-course dinners or seeln me
'essed In shirtwaist IN the evening.
} i decided to go along living just as
e always had, and I'd save the cooks
ages and my dressmaker's bill by do
6 little myself. And that caviarre
2 had the other night wasn't saviarre
all; 1t was just mock caviarre made
Il of sardines. Nelly's been trump
ia has dnne a lot m helm mo with tho