The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1917-07-05

impulse, and, just MS Alaire babe him
good night. clumsily sought To force
an explanation.
See here :" he shot nj her. "What's
the matter with you latelyI" He saw
that he had startled her, and that she
made an effort tn collect her wander.
ing thoughts. you're about us warm
and wifcly as n stone idol
Am ] any different tn what I have
always beenT"
"Humph, You haven't beer exactly
sympathetic of late. Here | come home
sick, and you treat me like n OF the
help. Don't you think | have feelings?
Jove! I'm lonesome"
Alaire regarded him speculntively,
then shook her head rs II In answer TO
some thought.
In an obvious and somewhat too mel
low effort to be friendly, Ed continued {:
Don't let's go on like this, Slaire, You
blame me for going away So much. but
when I'm home ] feel like an inter
lopcr. You treat me like II cow-thief."
I'm sorry. I've tried to he every
thing | should. I'm the i%nterloper."
Nonsense! II we only got along
together us we'll as we seem to from the
outside, II wouldn't be bad nj all. But
you're too severe. You seem to think
a man should be perfect. Well, one
Of us are, and I'm no worse than the
majority. Why, l know lots Of fellows
who forget themselves and do things
they shouldn't. but they don't mean
anything by II. They have wives and
homes to 90 to when it's all over. But
have II You're as glad to see me ns
II | had smallpox. Maybe we've made
a mess Of things. but married life isn't
what young girls think It is. A wife
must learn to give and take"
"Ivc given. What have I takenf'
she asked him in "A volcc that quivercd.
Ed made an impatient gesture. 'Oh,
don't be so literal. mean that, since
we're man and wife, It's mp to you to
be n little more-broad.gauge In your
views"
an other words, you want me to liz.
more your conduct. Is that II? I'm
afraid we can't argue that, Ed"
"All right; don't let's try to argue
It," he laughed. with what he consid.
cred an admirable show Of magnnnIm'
ity. 81 hate arguments, anyhow I'D
much rather have n goodnight kiss
But when he stopped over her Alaire
held him Off and turned her head
mo" she said.
You haven't kissed me for"
II don't wish 10 kiss you"
Don't be silly" he insisted. Come
now, / want Il kiss"
Alaire thrust him back strongly. and
h" saw that her face had whit"ned
Oddly enough, her stuhbornncSS an,
gcrcd him u of all reason. and he
began II harsh remOnstrance. But h,
halted when she cried
"Wuit. | must tell you something
Ed. It's all over, and has been for q
long time. We're going to end It,"
END III"
1--WE can't go on living together. Why
should WEI"
80? Divorce? Is that itT'
Alaire nodded.
well, I'll be ID" Ed was dunn
founded. "Isn { this rather suddcn2'
he managed to inquire.
"Oh, 40. You've suggested It NOR,
than once"
II thought you didn't believe In di
vorces-couldn't stomach 'em? What,
ha]ppenedT"
Il have changed my mind"
"Humph. People don't change theii
minds In a minute" he cried angrily
/ rs there some other MANI"
Now Ed Austin had no f~aintost ide,
that his wife would answer In the aiiir
; native, for he had long ago learned I,
= put implicit confidence In her, and he
life had been $ o open that he coult
: not imagine that II held II double IN
: terest. Therefore her reply struck hin
speechless.
"Yes, Ed" she said quietly. "Ther'
: IL another man."
4 II was like her not 10 evade. Sh,
. had never lied to him.
: Eds mouth opened; his reddene,
i eyes protrudcd. "Wcll-" he STAN
mered. "Well :" Then after II momcn
who Is II, the grcascr or the COW
boyf" He laughed loudly, disagree
ably. ut must be- one or the other. 70
you haven't seen any men except then
e Another man! Well, you're cool ubou
q it."
II am glad you know the truth"
Muttering TO himself, Ed made
e short excursion around the room, the
9 paused before his wife with n sheer o
his lips. "Dld II ever occur Ia you tina
! might objectT" he demanded.
> Aiaire eyed him scornfully. "Wha
right have you to obJectf"
Ed could not restrain n malcvolen
l. CLEAN Of curiosity. "Say. who IL Il
Amt ! entitled to know that much
> As Alaire remained silent, he let hi
& eyes row ove her with n kind Of mgr
appreciation. "You're pretty enough {
+ stampede any man." he admitted
"Yes, and you've got money, too. T.