Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1917-05-04
Domestic
MIR. Bounce
BY ELINOR MARSH


was driven up to his home after a
long trip at o'clock in the afternoon,
kissed his wife and found her waiting |
to talk over what happened during his
absence.
my DEAR" he said to his wife, ''any
one who gets me out of this house for
single night while l am at home
this time will have to put a chain on
me and drag me out with a pair of
oxen,'
I'm glad to hear that, dearie," re-
piled Mrs. Bounce. you know can't
leave the children nights, and it's pref
ty dull sitting here all alone. And !
don't doubt that you are getting to love
your home more and more every day"
After dinner Mr.. Bounce lighted a
cigar and sat in the big easy chair,
pulling Mrs. Bounce down on to his
lap. But pretty soon he said that his
leg was going to sleep, and Mrs. Bounce
transferred her 100 pounds to another
seat.
Let me see," said her husband mus
ingly, "how much did you weigh when
we were engaged?"
NINETY pounds"
"Humph! You've nearly doubled"
Mr. Bounce drew a long breath of
comfort and went on expatiating on
his delight at getting home. He had
a mind to take a position as bookkeep-
er-anything that would enable him to
remain at home always with his dear
wife.
By half past he had finished his
cigar, and by 8 he was walking the
floor again. Then there was a ring at
the telephone.
Mrs. Bounce sighed.
| Her husband shut himself up In the
room where the instrument was kept,
and when he came out he looked dis
| gruntled.
"Who was it, dear?" asked his wife.
"Oh, Charnley wants me to go to
the Office. He says he has to go away
early in the morning and is anxious to
know how much I've done on my trip"
Il suppose that since Mn Charnley Is
head of the firm you'll have to CO."
"Yes, suppose must. tried to
beg off, but saw he wouldn't like 1t
if didn't go, so told him l would"
So Mr.. Bounce took up his hat and
cane and, kissing his wife tenderly,
said he would come back as soon as
be could get away from Charnley,
lighted another cigar and set forth evil
IDENTIFY with profound reluctance.
Half an hour later he was sitting at
the house of his friend Wilkins, with
Wilkins and several other friends
around a table, with cards In their
hands and stacks of ivory chips before
them. In each mans mouth was a
cigar, and on a stand beside the host
was decanter and glasses.
Just in from trip, BOunceT asked
one of the party.
yes"
DO you like travelingT
We'll, no, l can't say do. But
there's one advantage In tit keeps a
fellow on the move. See that raise
and go ten better" And Mr. Bounce
showed up his chips.
For my part" put in the host.
there's nothing like home. never
care to go out in the evening"
mo more would l." remarked an
other of the party, If could have a
poker party at home every night"
Homes the place for me-" said
Bounce, but, you see, when a fellow
has been out on the road for three
months ON a stretch, on getting back
where he can enjoy the company Of
his chums he feels like seeing 'em once
more"
That's natural" remarked Wilkins.
How about his family?" asked a
bachelor. II should think he'd want
to see them too"
That this remark was not looked on
with favor was apparent from the ST.
lence that greeted 1t.
About 8 o'clock there was a ring at
the telephone in the lower hail. which
was answered by Mrs. wilkins.
Mrs. WilkinsF'
Eyes"
I'm Mrs. Bounce"
"Oh, how do you do. Mrs Bounce?
| see you've got your husband back.
Isn't it nice to have him with you
again.
Yes, 1t Is. Poker party at your
house tonight"
"Yes."
II thought so. Goodbye
"Goodbyw
At 2 in the morning Mr.. Bounce let
himself in at his happy home and, TAX
ing Off his boots, went upstairs softly.
He was going on tiptoe to his own
room when his wife called to him:
'JOhnny's got the measles"
"WhatT
Hes been ailing all day, and while
! you were out with Mr.. Charnley he
broke out with a rash. l called the
doctor, and he said it was measles"
. "YOu don't mean it?'
WAS Mr.. Charnley satisfied with
what you did on your trip?"
! "He "was delighted. He was sc
, pleased that he made me a present Of
, $780," And the loving husband went
> into his wifes room and laid his win
. nlngs Of the evening on the table
When he was going out his wife called
, 10 him:
"Johnp