The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1917-10-20
CHAPTER XVII
SHALL PAY, OUT OF THE
MONEY | SHALL EARN"

am bowed to the earth with shame
flung into Dicky's face the money
which he had tossed me so contempt
uously moment before.
Dfcly was SO angry because had
paid a long standing bill Of his that
appeared to have lost the instincts OF
a gentleman. But that was no reason,
| told myself moment after my out
burst, that I also should return to the
primi-unpleasant situation.
I had risen from my seat when /
threw the bills at him, and l faced
him with feeling at my heart | did
not recognize / could have struck
him to the ground in that moment
The next was SO abased in spirit at
the exhibition of temper I had given
that l would have given anything to
get anywhere out Of sight or sound.
stopped mechanically, picked up
the bills, folded them, and laid them
upon the table near US. Then / spoke
and my very voice was new to me,
hoarse and trembling from the effects
of the rage which had SO shaken me.
81 truly beg your pardon, Dicky."
/ realized that I had used the old
childish phrase my mother taught me.
Il am very sorry, very much ashamed
that I did that But do not think
you realized how you Inundated me
when you flung that money in my lap
with such sneering contempt In your
manner
How do I look when I sheer? This
way" and Dicky twisted up his face
grotesquely stared at him in amaze
ment Every trace of his anger was
gone He was adopting his usual
method of disposing of a quarrel, do
ing some silly or fantastic thing,
which cleared the atmosphere, and
which also, l shrewdly suspected, ap-
pealed to him in that It enabled him
to avoid an apology.
He put out his hands and grasped
mine You are super-sensitive Madge
and I'll be hanged If l can get some
of your viewpoints. but that's no rea-
son why we should spoil our evening
over old lorraine and this bill. It's
paid now, and there viii be no more,
I promise you to disturb your iron
sense of justice. You may wear the
flowers and eat the bonbons I bring
you without a qualm.'
He could not or would not grasp
the fact thar anything deeper than the
mere non-payment of the bill lay be
meath my resentment 1t was partly
this, partly something within me that
makes it impossible for me TO kiss
and make up" Immediately after a
quarrel, as many women do, that made
me withdraw my hands.
please sit down, Dicky, and let me
talk to you seriously for few min.
utes." I pleaded. There are some
things l must tell you, some things we
must settle together If we are to have
any peace I detest this pickering.
believe much of it could be avoided II
we could decide finally as to some
things this evening"
Dicky sat down with such a resign
ed and bawildered look upon his face
that I could have laughed If I had moi
been in such deadly earnest. Shoot,
he said lacontcally: then with g
twinkle in his eye. Il beg your pardon
] forgot your training. Please eluci
date" I ignored the pleasantly.
did not know how long Dicky would
listen to me, and l wanted to waste
no words
Dear boy" began, won't you tall
over with me the amount Of money
you can afford to spend upon the
housekeeping. and then hand me thai
amount each week upon certain
day."
We'll, I'll be-" Dicky interrupted
himself with a blow of his fist upor
the table. Have been letting yor
get short of money? Why in thunder
didn't you ask me for more?"
You don't understand" I patiently
explained. "1 have more than snougf
with theser-I indicated the bills
had laid on the table-"to last anothel
week. But cannot bear to come ant
ask you Tor money, Dicky. as If
were a child or servant"
Cant bear to ask for money? VIVA
nonsense is that?" Dicky's voice helc
much Indignation. Aren't you ny
wife, and isn't everything | have JUS
as much yours as 1t is mine?"
THAT is what thought when ] paid
the cleaners BILL l interrupted de