The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-04-30

turned away 10 hide my tW1tcning
mouth. Horace loathed camphor!
Kitty came right back, looking puz-
zled. Horace left for his Office with
out his customary good-byeand did
not return until midnight.
Next morning | blithely renewed
my theme. "Oh, chop it!' Horace
inelegantly blurted, and l changed the
subject.
had prided myself that our life
was free from the petty chickering's
we saw in other homes. Was it. be-
cause, concealing my own irritations,
had shielded Horace from the an
noyance Of errands, baskets, and bum
dies? 1t made me blaze to see how
chivalrously he relieved Kitty of these
homely tasks. Pleading urgent BUSH
ness he had always excused himself
from all household cares.
knew that he was engaged on an
important, case, but / had no. mercy
in my heart. If he lost the asuit, he
lost money; but was fighting for all
that made life dear I dared not relax
my purpose. So, in the midst of his
intense application, made Kitty's
birthday an excuse for merry even
ing
When Horace came home, white,
tagged, I sent Kitty to greet him.
You are working yourself to death
over those old law books!." she pouted
babyishly. Quick tears stung my eye
lids, seeing the tired lines fade into
tenderness at the clasp of her hands.
But, as the evening wore on, saw
that it was increasingly difficult for
Horace to keep his mind on Kitty's
nonsensical chatter. Nevertheless, I
encouraged her to the moment of her
departure. When Horace sprang to
assist her with her wrap, a gossamer
frame for her loneliness, I followed
them out, ostensibly ''for a breath of
air'-so Miss Matte waited up for
nothing that evening.
Finally, seeing us equally interested
in our gay neighbor, think even Miss
Mattie's suspicious died out Kitty
was making younger acquaintance,
and l sensed relief in the way Horace
was setting back into his quiet hab-
it's. My heart was lulled into thank
fulness. Then, without warning, the
blow fell.
Horace came rushing back one
morning, saying he must make the
early train for Chicago. dutifully
helped him off, then planned an orgy
with my vacuum sweeper. While loop
ing back the curtains, noticed taxi
stopping a. the Madison porch. "Mr.
Madison's home. He ought to come
home oftener," l thought, then stared,
astonished, seeing Kitty hurry out in
her trig travelling suit. We'll have
to scorch some to, make that nine
train!" the driver said, slowing away
her shiny bag and slamming the door.
l tried to call her, but only a hoarse
croak came from my contracted
throat. The room swan. l turned to
stone. In the mirror l saw myself
in the merciless morning light-a hag-
gard, aging woman! "tsG@
Through my hour of anguish pierced
the thought of the noon flyer" The
blood surged back through my veins.
I ordered a taxi, bathed my face,
smoothed my hair, got into street
clothes, threw roll of bills into my
well-worn bag, then pinned veil over
my ravaged face and set out on my
ill-defned quest.
On my arrival in Chicago I decided
to go straight to our usual hotel. 7
had registered and was on my way to
the suite we generally occupied, when,
glancing backward, saw Kitty, beam
ing and smiling as usual. !. My
heart stopped beating! Her own
husband, instead of NINE was bend
ing over her! In panic followed
the boy to my room. When the door
closed after him I INDUCED in my first
attack of Mysteries. r"
A voice reused me-Kitty's voice,
followed by her husbands mildly child
ing, why did you come over with
Old Law-Books?"
81 didn't! came as soon as I got
your wire-but not with him. 1 hid,
so he wouldn't see me- she giggled.
1 held my breath. They were in
the room opposite, and both transoms
were open. brazenly listened
I'D have punched his bald pate if
I'd seen him philandering with you"
"Of all the insolence!" I gasped.
at has looked, sometimes, as if he
were smitten with you," the voice
insisted.
ANDY, Dandy! You wouldn't want
a wife nobody'd look att"
What puzzles me is how the Missus
stands for it," 'a
"She understands He doesn't mean
anything. He's been tired this long
time, trying to be as young as he used
to be. If she wasn't such an old
dowd, he wouldn't have looked at me
in the first place"
"She is trump. Can't blame him
for wanting to rest his eyes-but Il
didn't send for you to talk about
them
The voices merged in gleeful chat
ter.
1 fiounced to the mirror "Old
dowd" | tainted myself. Trump
| Knocked, for trump l saw, in an
old-fashioned, wrinkled suit, shabby
hat and gloves, dusty shoes.
wouldn't have Horace catch me
here for the world! And had plumed
myself on getting full service out of
my clothes, contrasting my frugal ex-