Evening star., 1921-11-14
MALES AND MAILS.

'OR q week after the most vio-
X lent skirmish in prolonged
quarrel that John and Mer-
riam Lindsay fought out anent
his persistent habit of opening mail
addressed to his wife. the youthful
pair maintained a stilted formality.
They were secretly ashamed Of their
absurd squabble, but each of them
was too proud TO admit defeat. John
he'd taken the unfair side of the
argument. Merriam had a guilty con-
science. She was more annoyed with
herself than with her John because in
an off-guard moment she had been
indiscreet enough to confide her trou-
bles to her husbands employer and
her own very devoted admirer, Rich
ard Slocum. Her curiosity about
what Richard might do rather hecked
her. He had limited mysteries and
opportunely dashed off on business
trip.
John still opened Merry's letters
But with discretion. Bills and ad
yertisements he tore open with a
flourish. When he had glimpse Of
envelopes that hinted personal notes.
he saved his face by pretending not
to see them. And Merriam, on her
part, feigned important culinary en-
gagements when she saw the postman n
| coming. The feud was dying the nat
ural death that most matrimonial
differences die il left solely to the
original contestants.
! Merriam had temporarily forgotten
| ii one afternoon while she was max
ing Johns favorite pudding. She was
humming contentedly when she was
| startled by the bang of the front
| n oh n
Of time. Ha stromped through to
\ the kitchen. flung an opened news
paper before her.
| How dared you?" he demanded
melodramatically Merriam stared a,
1t. For moment she felt a quick
thrill of pride as she caught glimpse
! or Johns very gOodlookins profile
spi cad in double column space q,
| the top of a page. But the next mo-
ment. with sinking heart, she real
! lied that it was adorning sprightly
| woman department conducted by
| one Molly Mason.
This husband believes every hus-
band has the right to open his own
wife's mail. What do our readers
think" A prize of $40 TO be given
for the best answer to this mooted
discussion
In f1ippant phrases that poked deli
cate fun at all matrimonial foibles,
John Lindsay was depicted as hero
who dared to fight an almost dying
cause. that ancient principle. What's
hers is mine, and what's mine is mine
own"
Merriam turned crimson -che ek X ed
with rage. She simply couldn't rea-
son. She stamped her foot childishly.
her brown eyes flashed.
How hateful. How dared anybody?
ON. Johnsy. couldn't you just kill
whoever did it?'
How dared you speak to her in
the first place." John shook the Of
Tending sheet in her face. why did
you give her my photograph"
Il never. never did," Merriam cried.
II never saw the awful person. I
never gave anybody your picture :.
= her words began to trail weak
iy as she recalled Richards amused
eyes. She felt horribly guilty and
very frightened. She fairly few to
John: she grasped the lapels Of his
coat entreatingly. Her head bent SO
low that all he could see OF her was
the white, white nape of her neck.
Jonnsy. dear. she almost Sobbed
I'm that scared. wouldn't tell you
IN a million years for a million dol
lars how l guess that happened. I'm
awfully much to blame but l didn't
mean to do it. l only told one person.
person was. didH't know tha.-
that person would tell anybody else.
Oh, please, please forgive me. III
let YOU open all the mail I get all
the rest of my life if you'n forgive
me-"
MY darlingest" John kissed the
White neck eontritely. don't cry
about it. 1t was all my fault; was
beastiy cad. Ill never open a let
ter of yours as lopg as live! wasn't
angry with YOU. I'm just gosh -darned
mad at the fool-woman who wrote
this
And I'm gosh -darned mad at her.
I Merrla III danced around excitably
Their rage vented upon the arch
criminal. forgotten was their wrath
at each other. They spent a thrilling
evening composing an answer to the
writer creature.
This Merriam discreetly tore up the
following morning.