The Snowflake herald., 1920-08-06
HENPECKED
ny GERALDINE CAMPBELL

W A'%V' py Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate)
i tell you, Frank, it's the only
lie. No henpecked husband Cor
yours trnlyr
ms companion smiled indulgently,
ana thought of little square white
oo1 rep"sing in his inside pocket.
Oh' | s7ppose it all depends on the
way you look at It," replied he. "Just
now have mighty different point
OF view from yours"
Iom Price. hardened bachelor,
gave him a quick, sharp glance.
Say, what's all this?" he demanded,
I've heard lot about you and that
darned Avis Dean, but didn't be,
ileye you'd so with a girl like her.
nope none of those rumors / heard
We're true?" rather anxiously.
Frank grinned mischievously.
Oh,~ just wait few days. Some
thlng may happen" thinking again of
the little box. "And let me tell you,
Tom, Avis may be little of a vamp,
and she may like to order a fellow
around some, but for all that she's a
nice girl"
See here, Frank Carr, we've known
each other since we were kids, haven't
we, and always been the best of
frlends| CA nod from Frank.) "Well,
l want you to take my advice. You
can't deny Avis Dean is v&inp. You
can't deny she has a rather shady
reputation. You can't deny that she
(aS you say) and all the rest of her
family like to order q fellow around
Il little too much. And, finally, see
what a life Dick Carter leads after
marrying Avis sister, who was just
like Avis is now. Why, the poor fell
low can't spend a cent but wife must
know where it is gone-he can't leave
the house but she knows where he is
going. Talk about henpecked hus-
bands ! Take my advice. Frank, as you
always have, and stay away, from Miss
Dean.
'Well I'll think about it," answered
Frank with a twinkle which showed
he hadn't the least idea that his
friend was in earnest.
When Frank reached Avis house. he
went up the stone steps three at a
time and rang the bell furiOusly.
A maid came to the door almost
Immediately. Yes, Miss Avis was at
home and expecting him.
In Is minutes Avis entered the room
and something in her eyes as she joy
fully greeted him put all Toms eau
tiopc ont Of bic mind
4 year later Mr.. and Mrs. Carr
were settled in a modern bungalow at
one of the two beaches. The Sewing
circle to which Mrs. Carr belonged
was to meet at her house that after
noon. All the ladies' were to bring
their babies, and, as Mrs. Carr said,
they would have a real home after
noon. At o'clock however, the men,
berS of the circle unanimously decided
that they liked the movies better than
a hot house and fretful babies so long
suffering Mr.. Carr was brought in and
asked in honeyed tones by his wife
if he wouldn't take care of the babies
while they went to the nearest the
ater.
"Of course you will, my DEAR" said
Mrs. Carr decidedly after a moments
pause, you're used to things like
that, aren't you?" laughingly.
He gave a short, sardonic laugh as
he answered, "Yes, I'm used to things
like that
SO the ladies went off to enjoy the
latest seven-reel thriller, leaving their
some twenty babies to the care of Mr.
Carr. AS they left the poor man look
ed hopeessly at the children. Then
he went to the piano, showed all the
bric-a-brac from the top into the
midst of the wondering babies and
sat down to enjoy a magazine.
In 10 minutes, he was brought back
to earth by the sound of 70 voices
yelling Justify. He brought more orlc-
a-brac. he gave them his watch and
all the the small clocks in the house
(having once heard that a watch
amuses a baby when nothing else
WILD, he took from the walls the pic
tl1res. he danced the squalling chill
dren by turns on his knee.
BY the time the ladies of the Circle
returned, Mr.. Carr had given their
children everything in the house but
the heaviest of the furniture-and the
babies were still crying. The outraged
ladies quieted their children, put on
their coats and hats and went to their
respective homes, vowing that they
would make Mrs. Carr resign from the
Circle.
"Oh, Frank, do wake up! What is
the matter with you?"
Frank Carr slowly opened his eyes
saw Avis looking even more lovely
than ever, bending over him-and
realized that he was not henpecked |
hushand-it was all dream.
"Oh-er-er, beg your pardon,
Avis, er-I didn't mean to fall asleep
I"
She laughed lightly.