The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1917-06-05
The Value Of
AMutual Foe
By OSCAR cox

hdNu1B OCCdSAOu W see GuuJer aIL6r
Office hours on matter Of business,
went to his room. 1t was 8 o'clock, a
time when young people are supposed
to be enjoying themselves In their
evening amusements and married peo-
pie are sitting around the hearthstone
or the big lamp on the center table
reading, DOING or listening to the chat
ter of the children going to bed.
But Gunter-never before In my life
have I lighted upon a more desolate
situation for a man In good health,
prosperous and without any skeleton
in his closet He was sitting In an
easy chair, looking at the wall. When
I entered something of change came
over his face. He seemed pleased that
any one should break the stiffness.
Great heavens, Gunterp l exclaim-
ed. 'What are you sitting here alone
forT'
Because have no one to sit with
me-"
'Then why not go outY
1--WE been going out for years, and
I'm tired Of it."
/ stayed with Gunter all the even
ing. The upshot Of our talk other than
business was this: I agreed to pilot
him into something better than room
with no one but himself in It. My
cousin, Margaret Tucker, twenty eight
years old-Gunter was forty-was just
as needful of something better than a
single room as was Gunter. ! told
Gunter that he couldn't afford any
longer to wait to fall In love. II he did
he would likely pass the rest of his
life In loneliness. If he married he
couldn't be any worse OF than he was,
and he might be a great deal better
off. ! used the same argument with
Margaret. I vouched for her to Gun
ter as being an excellent person and
for Gunter to her to the same effect.
/ introduced them. Gunter made an
expected proposal 1t was accepted,
and they were married.
was shocked at what had done.
Suppose they didn't get on together?
How would feel at having tied them
up In knot they couldn't loosen with
out lot Of trouble? One day I saw
Gunter coming toward me on the
street He looked glum. There was no
side street between me and him for me
to turn down, so was obliged to face
him. nerved myself for the meeting
and, assuming look Of heartiness, ran
up to him and, grabbing him by the
hand, shook it warmly and said:
"How are you, old man? Happy as
clam, ehr"
There was no fervor in his aff1rma-
tive response.
Come" went ONT tell me how you
and Mag are getting on
ooh, we'd get on well enough, but
there are certain things about women
that rub a man the wrong way"
"Such asf'
swell, Mag gives way to me In GER
tain things 1 don't care anything
about, but If anything of Importance
comes up between us she must have
her own way"
"WellT
IT wouldn't have you breathe it; 1
say it In the strictest confdence-I'm
thinking of a separation"
Good graciousp
l saw he was being ruffied and tried
to soothe him, but 1t was Of no avail
He declared that his wife had an ideal
of husband in her mind and she was
trying to make him over to conform to
that ideal I left him, feeling that I
had not succeeded in comforting him
and blaming my folly at having led him
into matrimony.
Desiring to see Mag alone and ex-
pecting that her husband would not go
home at that time Of day, 1 called on
her
well, Mag" said, 'how goes mat
rimonyT
"Oh, matrimony's well enoughl It's
the man one marries that's the trou-
ble."
whats the matterY
my husband is unreasonable"
about whatT
well, he gives way to me in things
that don't care anything about, but
- oAJ NAAA6 VI Importance COLuCS w
he's perfect tyrant."
In thinking that Gunter wouldn't go
home at that time of day l had made
mistake. While I was talking with
Mag he came in. was irritated at
the way my plans for those had
wished to benefit had turned out and
was In no mood to meet the two to-
gether.
eff you two people," I said, insist
on quarreling instead of enjoying the
happiness that has come to you 1 can't
help it. did the best I knew how for
both of you, but
"Our affairs are none Of your BUSH
ness,' said Mag fiercely.
Fright you are" said her husband.
what right have you to come here
and meddleT
II meddle?"
Seeing that II / remained where
was minute longer there would be
an explosion, 1 crammed my hat down
on my head and rushed out of the
room, slamming the door behind me.
went to my Office in a fever. l
couldn't work. 1 couldn't sit still. /
walked the floor. Presently there came
ring at the telephone bell.
'Who is it?" I asked.
Mag. Come over to dinner"
what fort" I said. II suppose you
two people want to enjoy yourselves
hauling me over the Goals"
II wish to thank you for something"
"All right. I'll come But thank me
now"
"We needed some one to turn against
instead Of each other. We're having a
delightful makeup"