The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-02-08
n AWQM1[ANNSSS RgUg$SSlIgNESS|

THE NOVELTY OF iDLENEss

THE NOVELTY OF IDLENESS
Nov you just keep on letting me
think for you, dear" said Walter Sted-
man. as his wife snuggled against his
shoulder contentedly. I'm no tyrant.
as you well know. But there are
times when man can think for
woman better than che can for her
lcll!t;;" . - 49,. :. 49,.
''can think better for man some
tInes--like when he is being imposed
on by another woman, or wearing him.
self to a shadow with overwork, or
foinu out into storms without his
rubbers. or eating and drinking and
smoking too much, or--Or---"
There! Never mind racking your
brain, you poor little. self-righteous
she,person," grinned Walter lovingly.
'For that matter. when anybody is
overworked and overstrung and over.
tired, whether man or woman, some
body else can do the thinking for
that person better than he can him.
self. Now, for example, I've made
up my mind that you are to go
straight W. to Hill Farms Inn for two
fat weeks Of absolute rest and quiet"
"Oh, Waffle! Not that swell, ex-
pensive place! I'd feel as guilty as
an idle millionaire. / never could"
There, it's all settled" said Sted-
man, paying no attention to his wife's
convulsive objections. "I'll go up with
you tomorrow evening and stay over
Sunday. Then you are to forget me
and your Office and all your work and
and all your friends and all your
housekeeping and everything in the
whole world but relaxation and rest
It's the boss's orders, added Walter
firmly. And thus it was settled, the
masculine mind. for this time at least
overbearing all objections and all
qualms of conscience the feminine
heart conjured up.
On the following Monday morning,
therefore. Janet Stedman found her.
self waving goodby to her husband
from the porch of lavishly comfort
liable and beautiful country hotel on
Nhe shore of lake in the heart Of
the hills.
At first Janet had weird sense Of
being somebody else. To have moth
ing to do, to be waited upon, to be
served with food that she had not
marketed for, to rise as late as she
felt like. to battle and dress In abso.
lutte leisure, to walk. to read all the
fascinating magazines and pleasant
books she found on every side, to
sink at night into bed apparently
made Of down and roses, covered with
a robe of silk and clouds-oh the joy
of II all!
For the first few nights her very
thoughts made sleep impossible. Janet
thought of Walter alone in their little
home, with only the daily ministra-
tions of brown Katie to keep him COM
Portable. Walter, working hard by
day and tinkering on his plays and
stories till past midnight. Walter,
the good comrade, the understanding
friend, the welded lover. How idiotic
OF her. Janet, to go and have a nerv-
Gus breakdown like any stupid mental
spendthrift. Why had she not been
able to keep her balance. to give out
her energies wisely, to conserve her
forces? Were women poor things af-
ter all? The weaker vessels, the
Trailer souls? Was she really going
to fail in her undertaking of combin-
ing love and work? This thought Sc.
her brain spinning. Close on it's
wings came the determination to
succeed.
Then rest" whispered her reason.
Get back your poise and take fresh
hold of life. This time you stumbled
a little. But that happens to all. Pick
yourself up and start again. You'll
succeed next time"
= And so her reason lulled her and
Vsoon she began to drink in the luxury
about her with thirsty eageress. Her
fellow guests were almost without
exception of the class to whom money
has never been problem. Amuse-