The Washington herald., 1920-10-28
The Marriage Mill
PEACE is ROUTED AGAIN.
By Mildred X. Barbour
tCopyrisht. 1920. By rbs whs<ler
tyndicsts. Incl

osborne's startled glance amused
Alison.
She enjoyed the sensation. which
her careless statement regarding
unhappy wives was creating. Fur
thermore, she was prepared TO back
II up. Truth to tell, she was relish
ing this ''peace-conference" dinner
OF theirs far more than she had an
ticipated.
Nothing is so awkward as a plain
discussion OF differences, recrimins-
tlons' promises and forgiveness.
even between two people who are
not supposed to have outlived the
hrst hush Of the honeymoon. Max
Ing up had been a fascinating pro-
cess at first when they had lived
with the Osborne family and had
engaged in small clashes Of smaller
moment; but OF late, the ousrrels
had been too frequent to be piqusut.
So the turn the interview was
taking was quite to Alison's liking,
and Larry himself seemed hatter-
ingly interested. Indeed SO en-
crossed were they in each other.
that the waiter left them discreetly
alone after serving the coffee. and
solitary diners at other tables look
ed toward them with smiling. sym
pathetic or envious glances accord
ing TO the state OF their own hearts.
You've made q wide statement"
Larry reminded Alison. 1t would
be called downright heresy in
Maplewood. Do you actully mean
that the calm poised matrons OF
our exemplary little village are
really seething volcanoes beneath
the surface? On. come, Alison
you're only theorizing,"
She shrugged, poisinE a lump OF
sugar over her demitasse
'Perhaps-5Ut its logical. Do
you know, Larry, that it's a wo-
mans inslienablc instinct TO want
to attract men, II IL isn't her own
sweetheart or husband. it's some
body else's sweetheart or husband
But once she's married and her hus-
band settles down like a sack Of
meal. and there's absolutely no ausr
wearing pretty frocks or thinking
up cute things TO say. or CoQuettinE
with him. because he hasn't ewes
for her. or amy other woman, and
she doesn't have to hold him
against posChtnE females. shes
bored 10 death with life. So she
does one OF three things. Either
she develops into a trump with
mind like pincushion. or she
takes up reforms and charities and
new religions; or she goes out 10
vamp other men"
Larry chuckled
Good work, What book did YOU
read in?'
Alison pouted
There You're proving nv cor-
tentiOn right now, II We weren't
married 10 each other. YOU would
have said: How clever you arc" A.
IL is. you laugh At me. just as YOU
would laugh il I tried any sllurirc
little tricks on you. You see. Larry.
a woman just can't firt- with her
own husband. and il he's absolutely
faithful to her, there is no need OF
her exercising her attractions 10
hold him VOLTA" she added. with
a gesture OF her slim hands.
Larry smiled amused1y.
You adThit then that am ab-
solutely faithful to YOU
Il don't believe I care whether
you arc or not she answered with
piQue-
His eyes narrowed suddenly.
You're quite sure Of thai %"
a
why
Merely by way Of reinsurance ."
h." answered airiIy. Want some
miniG or bonhons@"
She shook her head.
I'm getting 4 bit bored with this
place. Can't We 20 sOmewhcrc
Eaycr."
lie raised questioning brows
1t WAS your suggestion that we
come here"
For Heavens sake. Larry. do Er'
away from this I-toId-yoU- atti-
tudC that YOU always take toward
me" size cried.
Good Lord, Alison. can't on,
ever"
He broke of suddenly. and they
stared into each others eyes.
As a peace conference the dinner
had been a failure.
To Be Continued Tomorrow.