Gilpin observer., 1917-04-05

uNe-pOuuu DOX. Az great perSOuul III
convenience he came home early Wed
nesday and took her to the Country
club across the bay for four O'Clock
tea. Even went SO far as to get tickets
for the grand opera Saturday night
although Wagner bored him to tears
And nothing had the least effect
Not that Maude received his overtures
-rudely. She accepted both his gifts
of endearment and entertainment IN
her best society manner. But the
very efrusiveness of her thanks held
him at arms length-gave him the
sensation of having been so recently
introduced to her that he dared not
take any liberties of intimacy.
So the gulf between them widened
and every little bridge he tried to run
across fell with hopeless crash.
His keenest disappointment came
the morning of the fatal Thursday it.
self. To his delighted surprise, as he
sat down to breakfast, he found ut his
place one Of the knitted silk neckties
1t was neither conventional case OF
Christmas nor birthday, could white
dove bring man more unmistakable
olive-leaf token Of peace than such a
love gift made by his wife's own fair
hands?
But when Maude joined him few
minutes later, In spite Of his frank
pleasure over the tie, in spite Of his
hearty thanks for his surprise" her
manner was more distant than ever.
and never had he sat through more
| wretched meal.
On his way downtown, Dick Brent
got on the car. Friends from college
days, Osbourne had always thought
Dick no end of fine fellow. Yet his
wife was suing him for divorce on the
ground of "incompatibility Of temper
That was the real trouble between
Maude and him. They could no longer
hit it off. 1t was the beginning Of the
end. And, as their marriage had been
without love on either side. founded
strictly on business basis, there was
nothing to hold them together. Grim.
| ly he faced the inevitable, future
without Maude, and grimly the in
evitable stared back.
"A fellow gets so durn'd accustomed
to having his wife about! !" he thought,
miserably.
The day had begun badly, and II
went on worse.
After all, the little dinner at the
club that had started the whole trouble
fell through. Desmond was leaving or
an earlier train than first intended
and Osbourne had to be satisfied with
his promise to stop over day on his
way up.
There's one thing want to do be-
fore train time, though" said Desmond
as 'Osbourne was about to take leave
! of him In the court of the Palace
1--WE Just turned down an invitation
for tonight to cOming-out party OF
the daughter Of an old chum of mine
and must make my peace by sending
the little girl suitable souvenir of
the occasion. Could you pilot me to
jewelry shop where could find some
gimcrack for herr"
OF course, Osbourne piloted. From
| one-part policy and ninety-nine parts
pure friendliness he went In to help
| him select his trinket. And there In
the case before his very eyes, In all
its exquisite, chaste beauty, was just
the sort of pearl pendant he had run
| the town over to get for Maude at
| Christmas.
Instantly Jack Osbourne had his
checkbook out. and when he left the
shop with Desmond little white vel
vet box lay warm in his pocket.
"It will mean nothing to her now,
though" he thought despondently. on
his way home. II suppose was n fool
to buy It,"
! In the same hopeless mood he took
out his latch key and opened the door
Jack, is that your" called an eager
voice from the top OF the stairs. "You
came home, after all?"
"Yes, I came home,' answered Os'
bourne, looking up in surprise as she
hurried down to meet him. And" he
added, forcing smile. as on the i'm
pulse of the moment he drew out the
little white velvet case. II brought yor
this"
Mnude took 1t. opened 1t and with q
cry of JOY threw both arms about his
neck.
Jack, you fraud, you rogue, yor
darling, you remembered all the time! !
Remembered what?"
"That It's our wedding anniversary
you good-for-nothing tease MAY G
R,ngwalt in Los Angeles Times.