Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1917-09-27

M.h.l E.rh.rt u-n., Stiff
"Well, / didn't
propose to sit behind that post, when
we'd bought seats on the center aisle"
Eyes, that is annoying" propitiated
Helen.
Annoying? I couldn't see a thing
| And William would have sat there.
He'll take anything rather than make
fuss If there's any objecting-I al
ways have to do it."
'Well, you seem to enjoy it, my
lear. You've a natural aptitude that
way"
''Therei That's a sample of the
pleasant things he says to me-
Dear, perhaps Mr.. Barton will have
some more lamb" broke in Helen, tact
fully.
'Why didn't you holler?" Warren
took up the carving knife. you've got
to sing out for what you want here.
How's this? Too rare?"
mo, just right" Then to his wife:
THAT'S the way to cook lamb. We
always have it done to DEATH"
81 think Hilda's an exceptionally
good COOK combatively. you never
said you wanted lamb rare
want all meat rare-except pork.
But never get anything at home the
way L want it,
Mrs. Barton, is that window too
much on your interrupted Helen.
"Oh, no, I like it. You'd better ask
William; he's the fragile flower OF our
| family"
fragile fowerl That's good"
grinned Warren. I'm afraid come
under that class myself, but Helen's
never happy unless she has a ten
knot breeze blowing on the back of her
neck
'sThen she can sympathize with me.
William is simply impossiblel He
wants to sleep with all the windows
| down."
THAT'S the way you tell it. AS a
matter of fact, when the thermometers
below zero-they're all up. Twice last
winter woke to find snow an inch
| deep on the bed"
'Well. you know what the doctor
said. When we build, we're going to
| have a big sleeping porch
''Finel If you sleep out there
| maybe I'll have some peace"
"Oh, if that's what you mean-you
| don't have to wait until we build a
| sleeping porch"
There was an uncomfortable silence
| viciously shredded a piece of celery,
while her husband drained his wine
| glass.
Helen had heard that the Bartons
were always quarreling. but it seemed
Incredible that they should air their
hosti1ities so openly.
All through the evening they had
kept up running fire of sarcastic rep
artee. They agreed on nothing. On
every subject they had a clashing diff
! ference of opinion. Whatever turn the
conversation took, they managed to
give each other some caustfc thrust.
1t was a relief when the dinner was
over and Helen and Mrs. Barton re-
turned to the library, while the men
fingered over their cigars.
civilian is so provokingI" drawing
the chiffon scarf about her bare shout
ders. "He always says something to
upset me. Does Mr.. Curtis get on your
nerves like thatF'
'T think we all have disputes at
times" Helen conceded
AT times? It's always like this. He
loves to irritate me. He says things
deliberately-things that he knows
will drive me wildi''
so much"
"How can I help showing it? Wasn't
that a hateful, uncalled-for thing he
said about the roast?'
''Oh, he just wanted to seem compli-
mentary about the dinner" murmured
Helen appeasingly.
mo, it wasn't that Whenever we
dine out he delights in deprecating my
housekeeping. Does Mr.. Curtis say
those things? Is he always making in
situations about the way you run the
house?"
81 suppose all men are irritating-in
different ways"
swell, William can be Irritating In
more ways than anyone 1 ever knew"
is Mrs Barton extolling my vir-
tues?" asked Mr.. Barton, as Warren
and he now Joined them. That's her
favorite theme nowadays"
But his wife, ignoring this pleas
antry, adjusted the flowers in her cor
sage with elaborate care.
Try one of these" Warren got out
fresh box of cigars.
~William, you're not going to smoke
any more? You know You shouldn't
have more than one cigar after dinner