Evening star., 1922-10-01
The Self -Efacing Husband
Who Was Domestic" While
the Wife Sought a Career.

easy victory. Already opposition had
reared its head; and his air question:
ing. his astonishment growing on
him, Redmond hurriedly drew out his
watch.
He had made no mistake, however.
It was q quarter to S-hfteen
minutes past the hour: and again
Redmond shot a glance at his wife's
vacant place. The night before he
had not seen Mrs. Redmond, though
in that itself was nothing strange.
They occupied separate rooms-he
and Mrs. Redmond: and in her full,
active life his wife was frequently
out at night long after he had gone
to bed. What was strange was that.
on a day to her so vital. Myrta Red
mond should let time dwindle be-
meath her feet.
He was still standing there. watch
in hand and wondering, when tho
pantry door opened. and a 'gaunt,
angular figure in cap and apron ap-
peared. 1t was maid, the Red
monds' waitress.
you're late" she greeted abruptly,
bluntly.
Redmond knew he was. That, how
ever. did not concern him now.
Neither was he the more concerned IN
the maids brusque aoruptness. Nor
mally, of his own choice. Redmond
would have preferred a different,
less thin-lipped, sere and flint-eyed
Hebe to serve him his repasts; but
Mrs. Redmond. naturally. had made
the choice. The woman, Harriet Lipp,
was a protege Of hers. fragment IN
fact, of that human social wreckage
Myrta Redmond, in part with her
career. made 1t a habit to snatch
from troubled waters and relauncn
again in life. The waitress. in fact'
owed not only her present place 10
Mrs. Redmond; she owed also ner
liberty to her, Mrs. Redmonds lnnu-
ence with the state pardon board
having obtained Harriet Lipp's re-
lease from q three-year sentence In
the penitehtiary. AS Mrs. Redmond
however, had pointed out, it was Tor
a crime Of violence, not one Of ignoole
meanness or stealth, for which Har-
riet had been convicted; but Of this
distinction, a difference, in Mrs. Red
mond's view. Redmond was not thlnk-
ing now.
"Where's your mistress?" he in
quired
upstairs" the woman answered
briefly.
The reply, too. was as blunt. as
brusaue as it was brief: and, his dis
taste for her growing, REDMOND
stared at the woman.
when is Mrs. Redmond coming
DOWN." he asked.
Harriet Lipp's air did not alter.
she ain't," she answered, and RED
mond started.
What"
"Ehe's breakfasting abed." said Har-
riet Lipp.
I'm bed?" Redmond echoed.
"Uh huh," repeated Harriet Lipp.
y + X =
vaguely perturoed
w now. Redmond wandered to the
table. In the same wonder. he drew
out a chair and seated himself. the
maid watching him with hard.
aggressive eyes. 1t was nothing new.
though, that Redmond should break
fast alone. Often, in her full, active
life. Mrs. Redmond was up and away
even before he had come downstairs.
There were days. too, often weeks
when her official duties. public anairs.
called her entirely from her home.
No, to be alone was nothing new.
Bu: now-Mrs. Redmond breakfasting
in bed. That vas new-yes
! A woman's trick, that-breakfast in
he'd. 1t was q trick, too-a woman's
trick-of 8. sort that Myrta hereto
fore would have scorned. The soft,
the fndulxent, the femininely fem
mime things popularly presumed OF
womankind, Mrs. Redmond instinc-
lively and contemptuously disdained.
| To her they meant but one thing
a confession Of sex-of the weakness
confession Of sex involved. The
parity of the sexes-the abolition,
| rather, Of all sex-that was Mrs Red
mond's watchword.
Here" Redmond said sharply to
the maid. Bring me my eggs and
coffee"
He sat there. staring at his hands
Something had happened. he saw
that; something visibly out OF the
| way. Redmond. in fact, in the twelve
years Of his married life, had grown,
II only subconsciously, too familiar
with his wife's ways, her habitude.
not to sense that something unusual
had occurred to her. It's indications,
however, were not merely the other
| wise trivial circumstance OF her
breakfasting in bed. or late he had
noted in his wifes usual calm, her
| somewhat complacent self-restraint, q
hint of nerves. Of temperament-A
reaction as II she labored under some
secret weight, a burden. Uneasy.
now, a frown puckered on his brow.
What had troubled her. he wondered,
his uneasiness gaining ground.
| 1t was rarely, ii ever, now, in these
later years, that Mrs. Redmond con-
flded in the man she'd married. Be-
tween the two, 1t was as II the usual
marital - situation had become re-
versed-he, not she, the dependent:
she the master hand. The change.
ihowever-if such had happened-was
not Just equitable: for Redmond-it
he were the inferior-bent under
what virtually was a double re-
sponsibility-that of the provider, the
( one who brought in the living; with
that he, to all intents and purposes
ran the household as well. or that
never mind, however. With all the
other calls on Mrs. Redmond. there
| might have been no household, save
that John Redmond had stepped into
F., the breach. He had not complained
Oyershadowed by his wife-sub-