The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1922-10-26
CLOTHES
BY HAZEL r. LANGDALE
~ - y N n n N I. . = = 80
g. 1922 by McClure Newspaper Syndicate

=
g. 1922. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate
Henry let the magazine he had been
reading slip to the floor as he reached
for his tobacco to fill his pipe. Then
he glanced at the clock and put his
pouch back In his pocket, unopened.
Stretching his arms above his head. he
yawned.
Gosh, Jenny, guess I'll turn in. I've
had sort of hard day at the shop, and
it's later than thought. You mind"
His wife, over her basket of mend
ing, shook an Indifferent head. might,
Henry. Don't forget to wind the clock
and set the alarm. I'll finish here and
then read spell to rest me-"
Silence settled on the Champion
household-a silence that lasted long
after Jenny had placed skillfu patch
on worn tablecloth, had darned sew.
eral pairs of Henry's socks, and had
read her spell in Henry's discarded
magazine.
For as she picked up the book
where II lay open on the floor beside
her husbands chair, garing title
caught her eye: "Have you kept your
husbands loveT Powerfully as a
spoken accusation, it rivetted and chal
lenged her attention, and she read
the indictment which followed with
breathless fascination. Then, when she
had finished the article she laid It
down with a deeply lndrawn sigh.
Why, that writer had drawn Henry
and her For wasn't Henry getting un-
romantically on In years, and wasn't
she middle-aged and run-down-at-heel
and unattractive? And hadn't Henry
long ago gotten over showing any OF
those intimate little signs of affection
which women prize? The occasional
tender word-the kiss at the door be-
fore going away in the mOrnng-the
cOmradely pat on the shoulder now
and again1
And there was aa warning tackled on
at the end of the article. "Be care
full" 1t read "that your husband In
a sort of second youth, doesn't look
for his happiness elsewhere. IF he
shows signs of sprucing up himself,
unmindful of your appearance be-
ware!'
Absent-mindedly she followed In
Henry's footsteps making sure that
doors were locked and bolted. Then she
climbed the stair and crept into bed
only to lie there for many wakeful,
planning hours.
The next day she experienced a
sharp and sudden pane when Henry
left the house without even saying
good-by.
Late that afternoon, bundle-laden
weary. yet withal exhilarated, Jenny
returned from the city. Her feet
dragged bit, but in her eyes was the
light of-was 1t battle or merely fem
mine anticipation? Shut In her bed
room, she unwrapped her purchases
and spread them upon the bed Then
she did various things TO her hair. |
dabbed a bit of powder on her nose, |
put a polish on finger nails that had |
been recently manlcured. and, finally. |
she arrayed herself from head to foot
In attire that was brand new. rather
expensive, and extremely up-tO-date.
AS she waited for her husband on
the little porch the minutes passed
slowly. One suburban car after an
other stopped at the corner and dis
gorged its passengers. Still no Henry,
Arrived an in-between rush-hour car.
which let out only two women and
man in gray. Jenny bit her lip
nervously. This was even later than
usual. Why-why-that man In gray
was stopping at the gate. He had
fha
path! Why, 1t was-Henryl
Yes, 1t was Henry in a new gray
suit, new hat, new shoes. And even a
new lift to his walk, new set to his
shoulders. Jaunty. almost. Yet his ex.
preston was that OF a man who has
been caught red-handed In crime. II
set badly with his air of rejuvena-
tion.
Suddenly that expression changed.
Amazement, bewilderment, incredulity
chased one another across his counte-
nance. Jenny felt impelled to explana,
tion. Then she would demand the
same from him.
I'll read an article" she said, just
bit defiantly. "about keeping your
looks to prolong your husbands love
But you, oh, Henry. what made your"
Henry drew her gently into the hall
within, his arm exerting tender pres
sure, "why. Jenny DEAR" he said. ~
read that same article, and decided
that what's sauce for the goose you
know. 'ls sauce for the gsnderr"
"Henryr Jenny's voice fairly sang
the word. wasn't II odd that we
both-"s
ut sure was" interrupted her hus-
band, hastily. 1T sure was"
But considering that Henry had
taken pains to drop his magazine open
at that particular spot. perhaps 1t was
MT so very odd. after all