Arizona republican., 1921-12-08
A HUSBAND TO MARCIA
By CAROLYN BEECHER

into the new apartment. Marcia was jubilant. She was so cheery, so hap py, that John felt almost guilty that he had begrudged her this happiness. Her mother, too, preening herself be- cause of her judgment in the selec- ton of her apartment, was full of conscending good nature and affa- bility.
 But his joy was short lived. It last ed only until they began to arrange the furniture. Nothing really fitted, or seemed to belong-it never does. Rugs were too small, or improperly shaped for the place on the floor Marcia wished them to occupy. Chairs looked shabby and needed re- upholstering. new lace curtains were necessary for most of the rooms, and | the bright sunshine made the new overdrapes a necessity.
 Sometimes John wondered what ailed Marcia. She seemed filled with a curious unrest at times, a disin- l clination for the normal pursuits of | life. When she was planning some thing new and different, something | for which she could spend his money | John thought bitterly, she would be 1 for a time. content. But no sooner was one thing finished, or perfected, | tIldD Su6 pcSdl QuGStAIi6 | for something else.
 l When John remonstrated with | Marcia as to the refitting of the apartment. and reminded her that he had said they could not afford to spend a penny additional to the rent
 she looked at him with big serious l eyes, and said:
 T won't spend penny don't have | to, John, you know won't but things must correspond. If you weren't go- l ing to let me make the apartp1en i look decent you shouldn't have taken it."
 T shouldn't have taken it!" Johr repeated to himself with bitter
 laugh. T shouldn't have taken it!
 Can you beat it?"
 John had attended to the moving l of his precious china himself. To nc
 other hands would he intrust it 1 Marcia laughed at him, called him an
 old woman. and gleefully told hel
 mother of his extravaganza in paying 1 SEQ for - plate.
 "I had seen a hat that very day that I wanted" she reminisced for 1 her mothers entertainment, "and dc | you know was fool enough not to take it. Thought I would be econo- 1 mical. Then what does John do but
 bring home that old china plate. But the very next morning I rang up the l milliner and told her to send the hat 1 If John can pay S20 for plate l
 guess can for a hat"
 T should think you might. daugh- ter. I never could understand vast ing money on such fad" Mrs. Vane replied. "Of course if one is a mill | lionaire 1t is different. But to preach i economy to a family, then spend l money on trash isn't in keeping-not to my nind.''
 John said nothing, but he winced. 1 How often he had wanted to spend l a few dollars for some rare piece Of
 china, only to shut his eyes and his 1 ina agination against the desire. He | had walked day after day by cer- tain window, never daring to go in | feasting his eyes on some bit oi priceless pottery in the window. What Marcia flung away in bridge losses, in entertaining people who
 cared nothing for her save what they
 got out of her, would have allowed
 him to occasionally add to his treas
 ures, But save for the plate so ob'
 noxious to Marcia he had not added
 single piece since he married her
 Neither had he said anything of hi
 desires in that direction. Marci
 would not understand. She consid
 cred his love for beautiful potter
 just a foolish notion, not worth con
 sidering except as it took none
 from her. Then 1t was to be frowne a upon.
 s Gro be continued)