The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1922-05-04
SECRET OF CHARM
BY SYLVIA l. BERKMAN

uerself on bed and buried her face
IN pillow. She wanted to cry. but
didn't because crying made her nose
req and her eyes look washed out, and
tor her husbands sake she wanted to
look pretty. That was the whole
'rou0le-she wanted to look pretty and
retain her husbands love. but. instead.
'he grew larger and less attractive
every day, while Reggie's love seemed
10 diminish accordingly.
She had tried many ways to get
thin. She had tasted, dieted. exercised
everything. but each new experiment
only increased her weight. With her
ught hair, blue eyes, and fair skin, she
wasn't homely, but she was large, and
Reggie had said, when she was Young
er and more slender, that he disliked
rat women. Now he seldom STAYED
at home in the evening, and people
said he was interested In a cute little
brunette at his office.
That morning she had received
pamphlet which said that the only
way TO keep a husbands love was to
cultivate charm. By practicing before
the mirror, she had attained what she
thought was perfectly irresistible
smile. Then she had added q glide to
ner walk to make her seem graceful.
and prepared ITO conquer her husband
oy charm. AS she glided through the
doorway with the irresistible smile on
her face, Reggie had stared at her in
silence. She thought it was the silence
hnt
MS voice and exploded: Are you
playing you're a fairy, Daphne, or
shall L call a doctor?" Rushing from
the room, she had thrown herself on
the bed in fit of despair.
1t was of no use. She was undeni-
ably fat, and Reggie thought that she
was crazy when she tried to please
him. When she had followed the ad-
vice of an adviser to the lovelorn,"
and tried sitting on his lap and put
ting her arms around his neck. he
had thrust her from him and laughed.
DO you want to break my knees,
Daph? That was all right when you
were slim, but you're far from that
now, grille"
She remembered the day he had
caught her getting thin to music"
How he had laughed and leased her
But If he would only love her as he
used to, she wouldn't mind anything.
He was unkind to her. but she still
loved him with all her heart.
The next morning she did not get
up in time to see Reggie, because she
didn't want him to be annoyed by her
presence. She would keep away from
him If that was what he wanted.
During the afternoon as she was
reading an article on the art of keep
ing thin" her mother, Mrs. Price,
came into the room.
Hello, Daphne, child" she greeted
her, "how are you and Reggie getting
along? I just saw him at the office,
and he said to tell you to expect him
for dinner"
It's a wonder" Daphne sighed, "he
isn't at home much now"
"Well, you'll have one more tonight.
I'll stay. It's raining, and I don't
want to get wet What are you going
to have for dinner?"
III
fruit salad, and I'll get something to
drink, and We'll have a light dessert"
Daphne Joselyn, do you mean to
tell me that you feed your husband
In that way? Why, after a man has
worked all day, he wants something
substantial, not salads and drinks and
light desserts. No wonder the poor
man eats away from home"
But I have to, mother, to keep
from growing fat"
well, there's no need in starving a
man just because you want, to get
thin. Daphne, I'm ashamed of you.
Instead of brooding over your size,
come down to the kitchen and Wen
prepare a dinner that's fit for a hun
CRY man, and not one that would sat
isfy a bird"
Two hours later the table was set
in readiness for a meal that would
warm the heart Of any man. Daphne
had become interested In the work,
and surveyed the dining room with a
smile. Outside a violent storm was
raging, and within all looked cosy and
comfortable.
Suddenly the telephone rang, and an
agitated voice asked for Daphne's
mother When Mrs. Brice returned
she said: 81 must go at once. Daphne.
Mrs. ThOmpson's twins are very sick,
and she wants me to come over, hate
to leave this cosy place for the storm,
but 1t must be done. Take the pie
out Of the oven in FIVE minutes. and
beat your sauce now. Good-by, dear"
Thirty minutes later Reggie came
In, dripping and worn out from the
battle with the storm, when he had
changed his clothes he entered the
dining room, stopping with surprise
as he noticed the daintlIy set table.
With its load of good things. Daphne
herself looked charming with her face
flushed prettily.
After Reggie had eaten as much as
possible he leaned back in his chair
and gazed at his wife with complete
satisfaction.
Gee, Daph," he said, I'm glad YOU
had this supper ready tonight I ex-
pected one Of those cold meat affairs.
and this is a pleasant surprise. I was
almost tempted to go to a restaurant.
but I'll say that I'm GLAD didn't