The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-09-29

MlS. Sul llS, uO you pT6SCrlDG IOT
your husband the number of cigars he
may smoke"
mot much she doesn't!" laughed
Warren.
.'Then you think wife shouldn't be
interested in her husbands health?"
challenged Mrs. Barton.
Heres member of our family you
haven't SEEN" exclaimed Helen gayly,
heralding Pussy Purr-Mew's entrance
as a welcome interruption.
"Oh, a shaded silver!" enthused Mrs.
Barton, as Pussy Purr-Mew having i'm,
partially surveyed the group, stretch,
ed her graceful length ON a Persian
rug, inviting admiration.
Eyes, that's some cat" admitted Mr..
Barton. "We had dog last fall, but
Marion wouldn't stand for it."
"That vicious little beast! I should
hope not 1t snapped at Bobbie every
time he came"
''No wonder, the way that brat yank-
ed 1t around"
William, it's hardly courteous to
call my sisters child a brat. 1 only
wish your brothers. children were half
as well behaved"
well, they don't sail boats in the
bathtub and let 1t run over and spoil
all the ceilings. That cunning little
prank cost me just $56."
1T wasn't any worse than your angel
nephew emptying a box of talcum in
the piano."
Here the maid brought in the coffee
and Helen rose to clear a space on the
library table for the tray.
"And how do you take yours, Mr..
BartonT having served his wife.
"Now you know, William, if you
drink coffee you'll be awake all night"
Zone lump, Mrs. Curtis, and no
cream" disregardingly.
Barton, how did you ever come out
with that L. 6 A. stock?" asked War
rem abruptly. HAD quite a block of
that, didn't you?"
eSold it last spring-lucky to get
] out even. Drnpped ten points, since
then. I'm carrying some Northwest
ern preferred, but I'm thinking of let.
ting that 60"
The men safely launched on the en-
crossing subject Of stocks, Helen en-
tertained Mrs. Barton by telling her OF
a little waist and lingerie shop that
was selling out.
| Every woman is interested in lin
gerie, and when Helen produced her
dainty purchase, Mrs. Barton, in ex
claiming over their cheapness, forgot
to direct snappish remarks at her hus-
band.
1t was almost eleven when the phone
rang and their car was announced.
II hope you can dine with us very
soon," invited Mrs. Barton, as they
were leaving. sT'm afraid my cook is
contemplating matrimony," with a
laugh, land I'd like to have you before
she leaves"
"Yes you'd better take your chances
with the one we've got now" advised
Mr.. Barton. Heaven knows how the
next one1l be!'
They were still dissenting over the
possible inefficiencies of the new cook
when they entered the elevator.
"Congenial coupler" shrugged War
rem as he closed the door.
sob, how could they? What awful
Iy bad taste! Even If they quarrel
at home, you'd think they'd try to be
courteous to each other in company"
eyes we'll throw our beer bottles
when we're alone. I'd just as soon
not have an audience"
''Do you think it's mostly her fault?"
Helen unused, with feminine analysis,
as she followed him into the bedroom.
| "Well, he's pretty much of fool y
peeling off his coat. IF she were my
| wife, I'd have knocked out a few of
| her front teeth long ago"
"But dear, he's partly to blame
refiectively.
"Of course he is! You've got to
handle that woman without gloves. If
he'd laid down the law good and hard,
instead Of eternally pickering, they'd
both be darned sight happier"
.T wonder if they'll be like that
when we dine there"
"We'll not dine there" emphatically,
his chin upheld as he unbuttoned his
collar. zone dose of that's enough
for me-"
s'Dear, I'd like to CO., admitted Hell
en-. 'In way it's relief to see that
other people get along even worse
than"
"Eh? What's that?" as she paused
confused. "See here, when it comes
to a showdown, Mrs. Barton hasn't
got such devil of lot on you. You'd
have been a close second If I hadn't al
ways held you with good stiff rein!