Evening star., 1922-11-12
BY IRWIN 5. COBB,
In The Stars Series Of
American Fiction.

ways, of my Ats o. irritability. Of my
refusal to like many of the people
that she persisted in liking. of my
tastes and my habits and inclinations.
She didn't care for some OF my
/ friends: didn't care for some Of hers.
I objected to any number Of things
about her-and rarely refrained from
! saying so. She has told you that be-
tween us there was never cross
word. Bah! There were tens Of thou
sands OF cross words. When we got
on each others nerves, which was
often. neither Of us hesitated to let
1t be known. When we disagreed over
something-or anything-we argued
: 1t out. We loved each other. but
merely loving did not make either of
US angelic. q We quarreled and made
up and quareled some more We fell
out and We fell back together again.
! There were times when we were like
pair OF cooling doves. and again there
were times when the proverbial
monkey and parrot had little. IL any
thing. on us. In short. and in fine, sir.
we behaved just as the average rea-
sonably well mated married couples
do behave. And for my own sake. and
incidentally for yours. sir. would not
! have you believe differently.
That, believe. is practically all
had TO say to you. Having said il.
wish to add final word TO our wife
, here. Evelyn, speaking with such au-
T thority as Is BETTING n first husband
] wish to state that, so far as my oo-
! servations from another sphere have
gone, your present husband is first
! rate fellow. I like to think OF him as
my successor. And 1 intend to see
| that he has a fair deal from you. I
trust this visit from me has been
lesson to you. Hereafter, in your deal
| ings with him you will please be SO
good as to stand on your own merits
You will kindly refrain from dragging
me into your arguments as an advo-
cate on your side. My stock Of pa
| tience Is no greater than 1t was be-
fore ! became a memory-remenbe
that. I sincerely trust IL will not be
| necessary for me to admonish you
! personally a second time. Because I
warn you here and now that next
time shall return under circumstances
I that will be mos: embarrassing TO you
/ Next time there will be no privacy about
! my appearance. ! shall come to you in
, public. You'll be IA talked-ahout
woman. Evelyn. There'll be pieces
about you in the paper. and spiritual
/ lists and trance mediums and delivers
/ into the occult-a meddlesome. nosey
! lot. too. ! may add-wil1 make your
| life burden for you. So have a care.
Evelyn,
Sir, to you 1 extend my best wishes.
| I'm sorry We didn't meet before. But
some OF these days We'll make up for
! lost time-when you join me on the
: plane where 1 am at present residing.
Wei. I guess that will be about all.
( Oh. if you don't mind. I'll just dis
sipate into air and float UP the CHM
ney-it's more convenient"
J Out o. a nothingness near the f-e-
place came a voice growing thinner
and fainter: Goodbye. Balm. old
chap. Good bye. Evelyn-and dom
( forget"
! 1t was at this juncture that Mrs
/ Balm went off into swoon. Il also
should be noted that even as he
sprang to her side to revive her Mr..
Balm wore on his face a look OF hus-
bandly solicitude and concern. but his
feet twittered in a dance measure.
Personally do not believe IN ghosts.
l assume. readers. that YOU do not
believe in ghosts. either. But Mrs.
| Balm does. and as for Mr.. Balm. he
does. too. firmly-and. as a happily
married man, he is every day renew
/ ing and strengthening his belief IN
! them.
Copyright. 1922 All rights reserved.'