Omaha daily bee., 1919-02-03
VIRTUOUS WIVES ST. ';:; s:: {:
; tCopyright, 1918, BY Little, Brown 8 Col

: Copyright, 1918, by Little, Brown 3 Co..
Ted-that's my husband-and / I'M
derstand each other perfectly. He
wouldn't like it at all if no men paid
me attention" ..
"Oh, that's what Andrew says to
me-"
Really, dear1 Now, that is sem
sible. But you mustn't understand.
There's nothing really wrong in
flirting the way | do. I like a good
time. Lord, we've got so little time
to enjoy ourselves in this world"
said Mrs. Lightbody, with a huge
sigh. But, my dear. I'm most care
full. And | make men understand
that. If they want to fall in love
with me, ali right but they must
respect me because l am"
a virtuous wife" suggested Amy
softly.
"Er-yes. Yes; that's it," said
Mrs. Lightbody, so taken back that
for several moments she stared
blankly ahead, without word to
"And' Mrs. Dellabarre" said Amy
pensively, with a significant look at
lrma, who was bending over Tody
Dawson. rs she a virtuous wife,
too?"
Mrs. Lightbody responded by
raising her eyebrows.
"Irma-oh, Irma's a mystery. Of
course, don't mean to insinuate
anything-but Irma's strange, very
strpnge-really, don't ask mel"
At the end of a moment, Amy
burst out laughing.
What are you laughing at, my
dear?" said Kitty anxiously.
Thinking what splendid chap
eron I'm going to be.
MY dear, l suppose you thought
| was frightfully sniffy last night"
said Mrs. Lightbody, who had
suspicion that her companion was
laughing at her for some reason or
other and ascribed it to a desire to
even up the score. II. was; but l
didn't know who you were, did /?
You have to be so careful with
strangers"
"Oh, naturally" said Amy, who
was too amused to cherish resent
ment, for, by this time, she had
come to perceive Kitty Light
body's place as foil to Trina and
Gladys Challoner-a heavy center
piece, diverting and useful for the
purposes of contrast.
But you mustn't mind me-it's
just my way" continued Mrs. Light
body, whose bad manners were in
stinctive. Really, l admire you,
my dear, and I'm sure I'm going to
like you enormously"
Thank you"
"And I hope you'll like me-" add
ed Mrs. Lightbody, who gave her
confidence generously. Every one
makes the goat of me, but l don't
mind. I'm for a good time in this
little burg-a short life but merry
onel Don't think I haven't had my
trials-I havep she continued,
screaming in Amy's ear against the
whip of the wind. 81 would be in a
sanatorium now, if | wanted to take
things seriously. But what's the
use-and, then, your husband isn't
worse than any one else's, is he?
What's the use of quarreling? Let
him go his way and you go yours.
I'm going to enjoy myself, | am9
They were passing out of the
open country into the suburbs OF
New York, through the shanty
civilization of mingled hordes, who
watched the swift passage of the
world from communal fats, with
tired. memory-haunted eyes, hoping
for the day when they, too, would
move on. Incompleted factories;
frame shelters to let; parceled lots
shaggy with unkempt grass elbow
to elbow with pretentious brick
stores; garish trimmings; noise and
confusion;, transitory thrift-stag-
nant acceptance of life crowded
about them in these multitudes who
had camped the day before and
would crowd dustily on with the
morrow.
They did not comprehend poverty
or have the illuminating vision
which sees beyond mediocrity the
climbing generations. Poverty and
mediocrity offended their delicate
nostrils like the odor of some dis
figuring disease. On Amy it had
depressing effect-like the conjured
terrors of sermon. Poverty ex-
listed as warning-the harvest of
evil. 1t brought her closer to An
drew, to what she had dreamed Of
making of their marriage. While
Kitty was rushing on torrentially,
she was peering out at the soiled
children, the old women set in the
gaping windows, the bleakness and
the shiftlessness that rolled on like
a Gypsy caravan.
She made sudden resolutions. Her
husband should nevet be TO her like
Kitty Lightbody's or Gladys Chal-
loner's. What she did, she would
do openly, with his full knowledge.
A little season of youthful extrava-
eance, to feel the fever of gaiety and
to grow tired of it. Afterward-in
a few years-to grow into woman
hood and responsibility. 1t was right
that she should have this hour-her