Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1920-08-12
THESE HUSBANDS
BY GEORGIA HARRIS.

Mrs. Bobs surveyed the unlighted
house with suspicious eyes and tight
ened lips and, upon finding the back
door locked, drew forth her latchkey
with as much vengeance as an angry
warrior drawing his sword from its
scabbard.
mine o'clock and no Bobs," she
muttered angrily, as she switched on
the kitchen light. ~This is very
strange" She stopped suddenly and
threw up her hands in dismay.
What a sight greeted her! Dishes
dishes-dishes- to her Dresden
china filed the sink. Mrs. Bobs
breathed a wrathful sigh as she sud-
denly thought of Bobs' last letter to
her.
"Getting to- be a regular house
keeper" he had written, "stay at
home every night never go
out hope you are having a
good time :"
"Good time, indeed!" shifted Mrs.
Bobs, fairly bristling with indigna-
ton, as she strutted into the dining
room. Here another sight confronted
her and she looked about the room in
CONSERVATION. Newspapers were
strewn everywhere.
So perturbed was her state Of mind
that Mrs. Bobs forgot her reason for
coming home After a moment of re-
Election, however, she decided that
things looked very serious, for the all
important fact stood out clearly: She
had returned home unexpectedly and
Bobs was not to be found. Consider
ing that his letters stated very en-
phatically that all his evenings were
spent at home things looked very
suspicious.
In spite of this she tried to take an
optimistic view of the situation, as she
sat gingerly on the edge of a dusty
chair. After all, she unused, she had
been foolish to spoil her hard-earned
vacation just because that horrid Mrs.
Hastings had insinuated such mean
things. Women could be so catty
when talking about other women's
husbands. Perhaps at this very min
ute Bobs was enjoying quiet evening
with mother. She darted for the tele-
phone with a confident smile.
When mothers surprised voice told
her that Bobs had not been over that
evening, and in the same breath want
%ha
pected return to the city, Mrs. Bobs
found a ready excuse in sweetest or
voices, but she hung up the receiver
with vehemence, as suspicion began
to take root again.
Distrust came to stay as Mrs. Bobs
with anger cleaning in her eyes
turned off the lights and sat in the
shadow Of the curtained window to
await the vagabond's return.
AS the hall clock dolefully chimed
the hour of one, in imagination she
arrived at the conclusion of the Oil
vorce trial.
When at 1 80 there was still no
sign Of the truant husband, Mrs. Bobs
finally dragged herself up the stairs
and opened the bedroom door with a
heavy heart. Mechanically she turned
on the light and looked about the
room with a choking sigh, which was
followed by an outburst Of unre-
strained weeping. However, when her
eyes rested upon the bed astonish-
ment overcame her grief and she
stared fascinated. Fully dressed, ex-
cept for collar and tie, with shoes on
white coverlet, lay Mr.. Bobs peace
fully sleeping.
With a bound she was over to the
bed, kissing the tiny bald spot on his
head again and again.
"What's the row? What's the row?'
he mumbled drowsily, blinking his
eyes in sleepy amazement.
"Oh," she answered lightly, giving
him a little hug, IT just got worried
about you, so decided to come home,
and have been watching for you for
hours. Then got worried and thought
that something terrible had happened
an er-er-accident, you know" she
finished lamely and a guilty blush suf-
fused her face.
'Just like my own GIRL" Bobs an
swered, patting her affectionately on
the cheek, his face beaming with
pleasure.
Mrs. Bobs hung her head in shame
for a moment, then suddenly ex-
claimed:
'But, honey, you have all your
clothes on!'
"Well," Bobs replied, now thorough
ly awake, 81 was going to do little
Homework, and thought I'd lie down
for a stretch before starting. Guess I
must have fallen asleep"
SNOW" she said, very solicitously,
81 am going to make you a bit Of
lunch this very minute You just lie
down and I'll bring it up to you"
Bobs gazed after her retreating fig
ure. Suddenly he sat upright and
fumbled in his pockets with a per-
picked expression upon his face, as if
trying to remember something, until