Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-05-22
THE GREEN SMOCK
Copyright. 1870. Western Newspaper Union.)
BY WHITE.

Copyright. 1870. Western Newspaper Union)
John Gall stared from the vivid
green silk spread out between them.
back to his young wife's pretty face.
you don't mean," he exclaimed.
"that you really intend to wear that
thing, Nell, and to the Gainsworthys-
OF all places"
"why not7' Eleanor retorted, the
red vexation flushed her cheeks, her
dark eyes snapped at him.
"You are getting very critical Of my
taste 1t seems, John Gall.
But her husband merely touched the
silk with a tentative finger provoking
~ humming "St. Patrick's Day in the
Morning"
Eleanor's indignation returned.
Every one is wearing smoeks this
season." she said, "and this green,
embroidered In pearls, looks lovely
with my white skirt. Who are your
Galnsworthys that they should set a
standard for mel"
"Mr. Gainsworthy." her husband re-
piled, "is my employer. The n man
from whom / expect advancement. You
know the undisputed position his wife
holds In society, and you must also
know of her conservative tastes. I
cannot allow my wife to make a false
impression upon her first appearance
in my employers home by rigging her.
self out like a chorus girl"
"John," cried Eleanor sharply and
now thoroughly angered, II shall
either wear that green smock to the
Gainsworthy's dinner or / shall stay
at home"
"Then IL you take my advice" John
responded heatedly. you will stay at
home"
Nell dropped on the bed when he
left the room and rocked to and fro
hugging her knees. Men were funny
creatures, she unused. Here was her
big John disappearing o. of the
very characteristics he had formerly
admired.
THAT saleswoman did hypnotic
me into buying IT," she admitted to
herself, "or perhaps the lights were
too becohiingly shaded there. | must
not give In to John though, and il 1
stay at home from the Gainsworthy's
1t might seem a personal slight. | will
20 out and make a CALL" decided Flea
nor promptly; and suited the action to
the impulse.
She dreaded the ordeal Of meeting
John when he returned from business.
This was their first quarrel and there
seemed no immediate hope Of recon-
Citation as Nell was determined in not
yielding her point.
She would not 60 to he Gainswor-
thy's. John must be made to realize
that he could not make sneering re-
marks concerning his wife's judgment.
John should have his punishment
and when he had 1t, then Nell would
yield thereafter to his wishes. 1t was
very hard, however, when John
stalked away without good-by. Nell
thought at first that she would go to
bed and cry her eyes out.
Then she considered that 1t might
be more profitable to await his re-
turn cheerfully with the newest maya
zine for company.
And John entering the impressive
home of his great employer was met
by a shock. For n confused moment
he thought that Eleanor's Irish green
smock had haunted his vision, and 1t
was with difficulty that he could clasp
the fingers of his hostess and wish her
a courteous good evening" For the
woman who advanced to greet him,
the woman whose good opinion was
courted, whose judgment In social Gus
toms was beyond reproach, was IN
.mistakably wearing this night a smock
identical with Eleanor's own. A brazen
green smock embroidered In white
beads. Mrs. Gainsworthy's skirt, he
noticed, was of soft clinging white.
and with her crown of cleaning white
hair she had never looked more
charming.
$50 sorry that your wife was unable
to come" she murmured.
"Mrs. Gail paid me a call OF regret
this afternoon. She is a dear little
creature. 1 hope that we shall become
better friends"
So Eleanor had not brought refiec-
ton upon him by her absence.
John Gail sighed relieytdly and
mingled with his relief was also re-
morse. How unfair he had been to
her. What possessed him anyway, he
impatiently reflected. that he should
take this new critical attitude toward
the girl whom he had considered alto
gether admirable. Well, he would
make 1t up to her in future confidence.
He recalled a certain sneering ref
erence to chorus girl tastes" and
here shaming him was conservative
Mrs. Gainsworthy wearing a replica
of the dress he had condemned.
Nell, at this moment was aroused
from her comfortable interest In a
magazine story, to answer the tele-
phone:
my dear Mrs. GAIL" came a sweet
toned voice, "this is Mrs. Gainsworthy
speaking. 1 Just could not resist let
ting you know of the success Of u
pleasant conspiracy: Your husbands