The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1921-12-29
CONSTANCE
BY ANNIE COLE.

s9@e9gSe9gSg9
! g. 1921, by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
When Joe announced his intention
Of marrying Constance his family had
warned him that he would have trou-
bic with a wife who was as spoiled
and selfish as Connie. But Joe, feel
ing that she loved him enough to
overcome her seltishness for his sake
had paid no attention to the warning.
Now, after six months of married
life, the family's prophecy seemed
about to be fulfilled. Connie was be-
ginning to assume a martyred attitude
and habit of numerically nagging
him at every opportunity
On this particular evening Connie
chose to be especially nasty.
Business as usual, suppose" she
inquired, sweetly sarcastic, when he
came in late to supper
Receiving no reply, and seeming de-
termined to provoke him, she tried
again.
do you know" she asked, coolly
and deliberately, "sometimes wonder
if it is all business ~
Instead Of hanging up his hat he
replaced it on his head and gave vent
to his temper.
| II am going out to a restaurant!
Perhaps some day when it's too late
you'll come to your senses! I've had
enough!' Slamming the door angrily
after him, he left the house.
Connie was so surprised that she
forgot the half-framed retort that was
on her lips. Joe had never spoken
like this to her before. She began
to feel uneasy and wondered where he
had gone. After two or three hours
OF trying to amuse herself she went
into the bedroom and addressed her.
self in the mirror
II don't care!" she said aloud. II
don't care! I'll show him. I don't
care If he never comes back!" And
just to prove that she didn't, she threw
herself down on the bed and cried her
self to sleep.
| When she aWOke It was IL O'clock
How could she have slept so long?
And where was Joe? She wondered
if he really had left her, and began to
feel shaky. She decided to go to the
drug store for a drink.
While slipping a chocolate milk the
conversation of two men at the cigar
counter came to her ears.
"Where-at Geb & Simmonds?'
eyes, today-shortag of $4,000"
Funny mix-up, anyone suspected?"
mo, not yet; but nobody handles
the money except old man Geb him
self, and that young fellow joe"
Connie waited TO hear no more Set
ting down her glass with a thump that
startled the sleepy drug clerk, she fed
from the store
| Ten thousand dollars So that is
what her incessant nagging had made
him do.
AS soon as she entered the house the
telephone rang. With her heart in her
throat she answered it.
mo, he isn't here, Mr.. Geb.
Yes, I'll tell him to call you as soon
as he comes in. No message?
Yes. Good-by." She hoped
her voice had sounded natural.
So they were after him already
The sound Of quiet footsteps on the
stairway sent chills up and down her
spine. They had come already! What
should she do? With show of cour-
age that she did not feel she went tc
the door and threw it open. Her hus-
band stood facing her
He looked very tired, and the hair
about his temples was damp with per-
spiration. Connie knew she had no
time to waste.
"Oh, Joe," she began breathlessly
"can you ever forgive me? It's all my
fault! Give it back! Don't let them
arrest your
"For heavens sake, what's the mat.
ter with you? demanded the thor
oughly bewildered Joe, fearing for his
wife's sanity.
The insistent jangling Of the tele-
phone interrupted before she could
duS"C1. JOc WcuL luLO l11c udIh Hall
to answer it, barking his shins on the
umbrella stand as he went Connie
listened in amazement From the
sheltering darkness of the hall came
her husbands voice-firm, confident
even laughing!
Eyes, was going to call you, Mr.
Geb, but I was afraid it was too late
Yes, found the error.
Nothing missing at all. The
jokes on us. A f1y-speck that
looked like decimal point threw a
whole column Of figures out Of bal.
ance. Tonight at the Office
Oh, that's all right; you're vel.
come Good-by."
He hung up the receiver.
Then, all of heap, very penitent
Connie flung herself at him, sobbing
out her story, begging his forgiveness
and almost choking him with the
strangle-hold of her arms about his