Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1920-06-18
COATS AND FUSES
BY LILLIAN N. RICHARDS.

/ - '-' W "iSSiuAN NeWbpapeT syndicate
"Now. you listen to me, Mr.. Ted
Harlow" demanded his wife. one
morning as they were seated at the
breakfast table. IF you wanted a
new fur coat, you wouldn't sit down
with pencil and pad to see whether
you could afford 1t or not you'd sim.
ply buy 1t, and then figure afterwards.
SO, why can't | do the same?"
but, darling" responded her hus.
band pleadlngly. you know they're
terribly high just now, and they'll
surely take a drop in price little
later. If you'd only walt"
Wait =" exclaimed his wife on the
verge of tears. That's all hear.
wait I'll not waltz" Then she nopped
her napkin down on the table. "For
once in my life I'm going to have what
I want, when ! want it," And she hur-
ried out of the room.
Hazel Harlow was in rage. Her
ungovernable temper had been the
cause of much repentance on her part.
many times. In few minutes she
heard Ted go out of the door whistling,
and that settled it. Before another
hour had passed. she was dressed for
the street. and headed for Bayden's
department store.
After trying on several coats with
out finding one to suit, she became
discouraged and was about to leave,
when the clerk brought out a Hudson
seal, with skunk trimming.
How much is it?" she inquired
hreathlessiy.
Just five hundred" replied the girl.
as If she were saying five cents.
Five hundred !" repeated Hazel
thoughtfully. That was a great deal
more than she had intended paying.
That evening the Harow's were
hardly on speaking terms, you know,
one of those chilly sort of affairs. The
next morning Ted informed his wife
that he would be leaving at noon on a
! business trip. which would necessi-
| tate HIS absence for several days. Al
| though, he'd try and return for her
! birthday. With a relieved look, Hazel
bid him good1by. She would have a
few days in which to wear her new
! coat before he saw it. AS Ted Har-
low closed the door of their apart
| rnent delivery boy opened the lower
hail door, with a box for his wife.
Hazel had.a wonderful time visiting
her friends enveloped In her sealskin
She was like child with new play
thing. But, when the newness wore
off she realized the folly of her hasty
decision, and wondered what she
would do if Ted really couldn't afford
such an expensive coat.
Finally her birthday came and went
with no Ted, not even a present. 1t
was the first year he had neglected
her, and 1t hurt. "Serves me right"
she thought, maybe he knows all, and
will never come back" Hazel began
to realize that Ted's love and affec-
ton were worth more than a dozen
fur coats. "Why did l go against his
wishes" she thought, ''when he plead
ed with me to waltz"
The next day, tear-stained and
weary with box under her arm, she
started in town for the store.
''I've worn it several times" she ex-
| planned to the clerk. "but I'll pay for
any damage If you'll only take 1t back
and credit my account"
! "Why, Mrs. Harlow" said the girl,
with a look of surprise, "the coat you
/ bought was returned"
/ Returned !" gasped Hazel, incredu-
! lousy. There must be some mis-
! take"
AS the clerk came from the office
with the information that her account
| was In balance, and the coat had been
| sold to another customer, Hazel still
/ carrying the box, left the store in
/ daze.
! When she reached home and found
telegram stating that her husband
would return that evening, her brain
was in whlrl. What would she do?
How could she ever explain? If the
coat was not hers, then whom did 1t
belong to? Tired and weary, she
| threw herself on the bed In flood of
tears.
When Ted Harlow came in that eve
ming the soft, red glow of the floor
lamp helped to hide the swollen eyes
and worried expression of his wife.
Hello, little sweetheart" he ex-
claimed, giving her a fond embrace !;
"glad to see me back? I've had a hard
trip"
"Glad - cried Hazel, covering hi,
face with kisses Tied I've missed
you terribly You'd think they'd never
spoken cross word
sIater,xas they sat in front of the
cracking logSjn the fireplace, Hazel
ventureds .=%
I "DarlIngt1've something awful to
tell you. IL bought a fur coat and
they won't take 1t back" Then trem-
bling she outlined her predicament
Hazel dear" said Ted, soothingly,
after she had finished "you really