Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-02-02
"VIRTUOUS WIVES"
Owen Johnson's Sparkling Society Novel,
which is making such hit in the movies.
.--- fc,nyrisht 1914 nv ISttle Brown a Co i-----
9, BY Little. Brown & CO.

coat. "Most iirtations are harmless
enough" She became serious
You'll see. Men are not so des-
perately taken with US as we
imagine. When you know you can
get them-you're satisfied. It's hui
man-isn't Tito want to know
your power?"
eyes, suppose So" said Amy
pensively.
"I'm not going to be an old scold
and tell you all the horrors of mar
riage and how to manage your hus-
band" said Irma smiling. Only,
lots Of things may puzzle you, and
l don't want you to misunderstood
me-"
At this, Amy could not repress a
smile.
4 see it'll be quite an amusing
party tonight"
Irma, seeing that she did not have
to do with fool, said, with great
frankness:
ooh, yes; I like to play, too. Ex-
ploring is such fun-when you are
sure of yourself"
"And you are?" said Amy, enjoy
ing this confession, which brought
them to quality.
ITS aquestion of principle" said
Irma 'resolutely. 1T would be fool
ish to say that all the women we
know are innocent. They're not.
With me, it's different. l have my
children and my husband and l in
tend to be virtuous wife. Why?
Because ! hate vulgarity. perhaps.
That would always stop me, if moth
ing else. This is rather frank, but
feel we're going to be close
friends, and don't want you to
misunderstood me-do you sect"
Il see" said Amy, with twinkle
in her blue eyes.
"Rudy, who is the best husband in
the world" said Trina contentedly,
cant understand that the vile who
keeps her admirers public IS the
last one to worry over" She nod
ded, smiling to herself over some
stored-up confidence. IF l were
husband l should only be suspicious
when no man was attentive to my
wife. Be careful to make your hus-
band understand that, my dear"
she added, unable to resist the temp
tation of an older married woman
to point the danger.
ooh, Andrews quite the other
way" said Amy, with a touch of
pride. Really he is the kindest be-
ing in the world. He knows I'm
dreadfully young, and he wants me
to, enjoy life just as though-well,
not exactly as though hadn't mar
ried, but-you know what mean.
He wants me to play just as before,
and he isn't jealous in the least if
other men are attentive. Besides, /
shall be careful to do nothing he
doesn't like"
Irma, who underneath the light
ness Of her manner, did not lack per-
spicacity, was thinking, Il wonder
if that pretty child knows the force
she is playing with" It was a little
habit of hers, when a man strongly
attracted her, to imagine the bene-
fcent results which would have
come to him if he had been so for
tunate as to have won her as q
wife. Aloud she said:
HE is very wise-because, well,
you are frightfully young and at
tractive, and it might have been
very hard for you"
Il am not half good enough for
him." said Amy in burst of conf
dence. "At the bottom, I'm terribly
frivolous, I'm afraid"
"And a great Airt," said Mrs.
Dellabarre, smiling directly into her
'y 81"
Eyes, my dean you are, and the
more dangerous because it's instinc-
tive. Look out. The dangerous
women are not the professional CO.
quotes. Every man who meets
them is warned, and forewarncd is
forearmed. No, no; if I were a man,
] should be MORALLY afraid of lit
tie person, with the eyes of a Ma
donna and quiet ways, who can still
blush when she's pleased
as she warning me to keep off her
preserves?" thought Amy to herself
and, as she did not lack astuteness
or a sense of humor, she said, taxi
ing the older woman's hand affec-
tionately, "I'm afraid I don't know
much about myself, but if you're 60
ing to let me be friends, will you
make an agreement. If l ever tres
pass unconsciously, you'll . warn
me?"
This was said with smile break
ing about the little red lips that gave
a more direct significance to her
words.
you are quite adorableP said
Irma, embracing her and covering
her confusion with a laugh "We'll
call it treaty, then. And to prove
my generosity, I'll surrender one Of
my crocodiles. Oh, I'd have to do
it, anyway
Amy, who comprehended perfect
ly that she was thus to acquire Mr..
Tody Dawson, played the innocent.
"Crocodilesf" she said, raising her
eyebrows.
That's my expression, my dear.
Crocodiles are admirers who want to
look very dangerous but can't move
quickly enough to catch you-and
who like to shed crocodile tears, OF
course. Tody and Jap are young
crocodiles-quite harmless. Don't
worry about them. I've trained them
thoroughly. They know quite well
! if they're docile and faithful and
don't try to use their teeth, we'll
reward them by finding a good
match for them"
"But are they so harmless?" said
Amy thoughtfully.
i Absolutely" said Irma, with con-
viction. She turned to her with
more friendliness. MY dear, let me