Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-09-05
SMILES AND TEARS
BY ELIZABETH 3. DAY.
1913. Mcclure Newspaper Syn
dicate.)


Copyright, 1918. Mcclure Newspaper Syn
dicate.)
Philip Randall was very proud Of his
wife, Alice. They had been married q
year and three days and were supreme
" happy. Alice was dainty and very
much alive and interested In things
both inside and outside her home.
Philip liked to have his wife "in
things" and encouraged her many ac-
t~ivities, including sewing circles and a
social tea now and then.
Alice did not let the home suffer,
however, and 1t was always as neat as
wax and very tastefully arranged.
Things were running very smoothly
for the Randalls, in fact, until
One day Philip came home at noon
and found the house vacant. He was
hungry and cross. why couldn't Alice
have lunch ready on timer" he'd like
to know. "What was a wife for, any
way, If not to have meals ready on
time and make things pleasant for her
husbandT'
viciously he chewed his cigar and
was just about ready to leave the house
and get his lunch elsewhere when he
heard the chug Of Alice's roadster, his
first wedding anniversary gift to her,
three short days before. "Surely he
had done his best to make her happy"
Alice breezed into the house, looking
very pretty and youthful In q silk sport
suit.
"Hello, ~honey-love |" she greeted him
as she kissed him soundly, quite ignor-
ing his disgruntled manner
Philip mumbled something peevishly
about a "tired business man having to
wait for his meals" Immediately he
was sorry that he had said 1t, but de-
termined not to show 1t.
Alice flushed, but playfully assured
the blessed crouch" that lunch would
be ready In a fifty.
"In a fifty" calculated Philip. II
have to be at the Office in 45 minutes
unless you want me to lose my Job"
His heart smote him as he saw the
happy light die out of his wife's eyes
but somehow this noon he could not
help saying things which he had never
allowed himself to say in the past.
While Alice busied herself in the
kitchen he sat in his big easy chair In
the living room and smoked. He was
sitting where he could see Alice NOV
ing about preparing the belated meal.
Moodlly he watched her, then sudden
ly sat erect.
"Could 1t be possible, his ALICE o.
ways 80 bright and CHEEKY, cryings"
But yes, he saw her wipe her eyes aRd
distinctly heard a faint sniff.
Philips peeve left him In a flash and
a great remorse took possession of him.
"oh, why didn't I keep my mouth
shut7 Never spoke a cross word to the
poor little girl of course she doesn't
know how to take It," And now he WAS
in a fine mess and he supposed lunch
that noon would be about the drearl-
est meal he had ever eaten.
Furtively he glanced into the kitchen
again, and sure enough, Alice was not
only wiping her eyes. but sitting down
actually making a business Of crying.
Philip fidgeted, whistled a bit, and
tried to hum a tune, but his tongue
was hot and dry and chung miserably
to the roof Of his mouth.
Brute" he accused himself, "crank,"
echoed his conscience. To have hurt
the dearest wife a man aver had was
indeed ~unbearable.
Clumsily he made his way into the
kitchen, stumbling over a couple of
chairs In his hasta.
Alice took no notice of him, but
continued to dig a pathetic little wad
Of moist linen into first one eye and
then the other. Then she smiled wanIy
through her tears, and Philip, unable
to resist any longer, gathered her into
his arms and begged to be forgiven
Don't cry, dear, I didn't mean 1t,
sweetheart, I'm sorry and"
He got no further.
Was Alice laughing at himI What
had come over his dependable little
wife who never had Mysteries or any Of
the other purely feminine Affections.
ooh, Phil" and she fairly shrisked
with merriment. "Oh you blessed old
peach. did you think ! was crying be-
cause you were a bit impatient~
swell weren't your" demanded the
astonished husband.
I'll vas peeling onions" gasped
Alice between psals of laughter.
Philip Joined her quite ~relievedly
and shamefacedly.
"You know, dear" he said 3 few
minutes later, "steak and onions never
tasted SO good before, especially the
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