Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1917-04-27


he had put a pet theory into practice
and il mad worked.
\ year ago he had taken a wife, in
a sensible. buSinesslike way. with as
careful a consideration as though max
ing an investment in stocks.
Maude Hollister had been his stenog-
rapher for eighteen months before he
had declared himself, and day by day
he had judiciouSly studied her. There
We're fluctuations in her attractivencSs.
OF course, bur he was quite satisfied:
that In character and charm she would
never fall below par. So he had his
little talk with her-a very plain little
talk without any silly, sentimental
frills or pink-ribbon furbelUws OF ro-
nance.
He was tired of club and boarding
house life. he told her. and was now
IN a financial position to Set up his
own lareS and penateS. A home, Of
course, meant wife. and he felt that
She of all women he knew was best
fitted to administer and grace it. Not
that he was looking merely for a
houSekeeper-Or even a hostess when
he wished to entertain. She must not
think that for a minute. In a wife
he sought a friend. companion.
life partner. But as for being in love,
and all that kind of foolishness, 1t
wasn't in his makeup.
And Maude HOLSTER had understood
and agreed perfectly.
That was the glorious part of Maude.
She WAS SO sane and sensible. 4 wom-
an never eXacting. but always com
Portable 20 live with-sO different from
the pet-dog type that must be Con-
stantly pattcd and fOndled.
So they had married and lived hap
PLY eyer after-until now.
Yes. there was now. 4 now when
Jack OSbnurne's walk was no longer
Mt iuhilant quickstep, hut the slow
pace Of hrooding thought. A now
when his shine of happiness no longer
dazzlpd the brhnldcr's eyes. For once
again that thUnderb"lt that has shot
out of clear sky 50 often one would
think it had become bluntcd hit the
earth another slap in the face.
Fate dccrrcd that certain Thurs
day in midwintcr should Ice OSbourue'S
Ides Of March.
willie l link Of it. my dear" h"
I:d casually ANNOUNCED Ia his wife the
Monday -.cu'- before as ;hcy sat
.o-othrr IN IRON, of tn, cheerful blaze
If the living room fire. IN probably |
lot be home for dinner Thursday !
light. I've told you about the deal |
With the Desmond Lumber company |
We are trying to get over. 1 learned |
today that Desmond, the president, !
will be in San Francisco Thursday for
that /. p. G. luncheon given at the
Palace, and I'm planning TO have him
and Armsby and Ned Thornton dine
with me at the club, so We can go over
the whole situation in a leisurely pow
vow"
But wouldn't Friday night do as
well, Jackf" Maude eagerly asked.
mo, Desmond leaves that same
night for Los Angeles. Besides, why
not Thursdayi"
"If you wish 1t, there Is no why not
Of course" she replied, and. clicking !
on the droplight, she dismissed the sub
ject by picking up book.
At the moment, 0sbourne had only !
q vague sense Of feeling uncomfurt- |
able, but as Maude's words kept COM
Ing back to him between the lines of |
the magazine article he made pre- |
tense Of reading, he was more and |
more conscious of their sting Of sar-
casm.
'Maude," he finally blurted out, you
must have had a reason for not want
ing me TO stay downtown Thursday.
Had you some plan of your own for
that EVENING"
81 had intended having a couple Of
tables of bridge and an informal little
supper" she said in q decidedly cold
storage tone, but my little party Is
not of the least importance"
by George, it isn't!" declared Os-
bourne. Not compared with the I'm
portance Of my getting hold Of Des-
mond. And, when We can play bridge
any blooming night under the stars,
can't see why you are making such q
fuss about it."
81 am not making any fuss; l told
you my plans were not of the least I'm
portance."
1t was not what she said. but the
way she said 1t. that made Osbourne
thoroughly lose his temper, and in the
whole year of their married life never
had they come so near a quarrel.