Rockingham post-dispatch., 1922-11-02
Those
Friday Evenings
By ELLA SAUNDERS


]
three rooms and Il bath.
Every morning Miss Carruthers
busted and swept, then went out and
made her purchases. then prepared
her dinner. After dinner came ht-
lie nap, little sewing, perhaps a
walk; then supper, little light read
ing Miss Carruthers was romantic)'
bed
But on Friday nights the program
varied. Every Friday evening the
supper table was laid for two AT
$50 precisely Mr.. James Wadsley,
who wns of Miss Carruther's own age,
| rang the bell. Then Miss Carruthers
heart would flutter, and, attired in her
best silk gown, she would hurry to the
| door.
Good evening Joan, my dear"
Good evening, James"
They would sit down to dinner. 1t
was always roast ham, Of which Mr..
! Wadsley was very fond, with French |
fried Eotatoes and New England apple
ME, Sometimes they would go to the
,henter after, but as often as not they
sat and chatted, and Mr.. Wadsley
smoked cigar, until at ten O'Clock
they shook hands. Mr.. Wadsley said
goodnight, and Miss Carruthers SET
lied herself for the week that must
elapse before she saw him again.
The mystery? They had been sweet
hearts years ago and Quarreled. James
Wadsley made hasty marriage. II
was not unhappy, exactly, but 1t might
have been happier. Then they met
and realized their folly. They loved,
would always love.
A permanent separation seemed inn
. possible. But both were honorable
, AS a result they agreed to meet each
Friday evening. There were to be no
embraces They We're to remain pla-
J tonic friends.
4 Every Friday night James Wadsley
left his home his wife and two girls
under the pretense of going to his
club and spent the evening at Miss
n Carruthers' fiat. incidentally, he sup
ported Miss Cawuthers. But he was
!, rich man, and-well, that had been
Lart of the arrangement.
8 And all this had begun twenty-seven
II wears before In the twenty-eighth
q wear Mrs. Wadsley died.
"As soon as the year is up, dear,
said James Wadsey. They did not
kiss--sQ strong Is habit, Things went
y. on much as before Every Friday
night James Wadsley appeared, ate
roast ham and French fried potatoes
and took Miss Carruthers TO the thea
ter or went hGme.
Six months went by, nine months
Miss CGrruthers began to show sign
of unrest. she acted strangely. One
she unexpectedly burst into tears
something which had been strictly
prohibited under the original under
standing. For there was to be n
cmotionAlity.
II During the first six months Jane
Wadsey had frequently discusse
o their future Miss CarrutherS was sc
in her ways, like most old maids. Sh
must live in the city, they must nav
nice apartment near where she live
now. She could not change her trade
men. with whom she had dealt
many years.
James Wadsley listened and studie
her. He wondered what had Decon
- of the Elsie Carruthers whom
had loved in his youth. This was
different person.
ne And then--his daughters. He HI
never told them about Miss Carrut
rs's ers. He too, had become set althoui
he did not notice it.
They were to be married when t
wear had expired. They did not mi
boy the waiting. Once they could n
r?" have borne to be separated four-ar
sci, twenty hours. Still, the marriage W
ing TO be the fruition Of whole hfetll
ling of-of love.
At this point James Wadsley, W
was not q ,sardonfc man, smiled ratl
grimly.
that Miss Carruthers grew more o
She became emotional in srdte or
agreement. Sometimes Mr. Wads
wondered what was stirring in I
ting why their old confidence had brol
down. They had long periods of
Ience
One evening when eleven mon
long had gone by Miss Carruthers reVea
you her heart:
"James, I've been thinking"
she "My dear?"
too at has been so pleasant, this
association, and we have been
happy, haven't we?"
"yery happy, my dear"
X me Suppose we don't get married
'omes "WhatY" He stared at her.
mean thatf"
IKE "It would be such IA br
tell wouldn't it2 SO upsetting." L
spoke the old maid. "And then, {
YOU see, you could continue to
N. here every Friday night and
marry shouldn't be risking-oh, losing e
'''iNA thing"
IF you really mean it, of cour'
Sense 'But do mean it, James. Car