, 1922-09-14
The Court of First
Resort
BY MARTHA M. WILLIAMS

whats the fatal s%omething?' Mrs.
Dear asked, suppressing an inciina-
ton to laugh. Anne was hardly past
her honeymoon-she had sung the
praises of Peter in every key through
out a tedious engagement. And all
the first month the praise chorus had
strengthened-Peter was wonderful
nobody like him. No other woman
ever had or could have such a lover
husband. Ann was happier than the
sunshine. She knew now just why
she had been created-to love and
cherish Peter-but was puzzled as to
how she had fallen into such amaz-
ing and undeserved felicity.
Continuous harping wears thin the
rarest strain. Mrs. Dean had, in
truth, grow tired of the paeans. She
was genuinely glad the young folk
We're so happy, but wise enough to
be sure the happiness would last long
er if not so ~furlously advertised.
Intuitively she understood that Anne's
alteration was grounded in selfshness
an inarticulate effort to charm Peter
into forgetting everything but her
self.
She was rather n piteous figure,
gnsping and snubbing. her fine hair
a little unkempt, her eyes red-rimmed.
1t moved Mrs. Dean to say kindly
TEL m your trouble-provided it is
anything atfrlend may hope to rem
edy."
Peter has joined the gun club -
Anne gasped rather than said. with
Q nrt "a word tp mn-GafI hA Innur I
had n foolish prejudice against guns
and things. l must get over 1t be
cause he loved them-almost next to
me. Think of that, When he knows
I have been brought up to regard
killing things-what they call sport
as next to II crime"
There's no killing at the club
Mrs. Dean commented. "They shoot
only at clay pigeons for the joy of
craftsmanship. You ought to be glad
rather than hurt
ooh! Oh-oo." Anne walled. "You
know they go on camp hunts once or
twice "A year, stay a fortnight and
kill, kill all the time
Hmm! 1 think you like the veni-
son they fetch back" Mrs. Dean in
terrupted.
Anne flushed. at Is dead, and not
eating it won't bring the poor deer to
life" she protested. But that isn't
the real hard part. I have to stay
at home. How can Peter think of that
AS crazy as he vas to be always
with meg
you thought you knew him up and
down, backward and forward Mrs.
Dean began to answer.
Anne broke In eagerly: "But 1
didn't. | find l am married to almosl
n stranger"
"Well, you haveeall your life to get
really acquainted with him." Mrs.
Dean said patiently.
Anne sprang up angrily: you
nor-Peter needn't he too sure of
that" she cried. Separations are not
looked ut as they were. If | go home
after things blow over l shall easily
take my old place"
IF l thought you meant what you
say / should be sorry. indeed. have
thought a lot of you always" Mrs.
Dean said reflectlvely. "You vowed
in sight of God and man Until death
us do part II you are thinking of
p%erjuring Yourself simply because
Peter will not let your personality
submerge his-well, II may be lucky
for him"
Anne gasped again, staring hard at
her hostess, then covered her face
with her fingers and broke into wild
sobs. II thought you'd-under-
stand" she moaned between pnrox-
ysms, that you were the best friend
I had-one | could come to for help
ln-in-anything.'
you thought rlght-ln right things"
the older woman answered. an
wrong oncs-no, | tell you plainly
you are risking the happiness Of two
lives II may be many more. You are
like 50 many glrls-never see the
mans side. Let me tell you. n hus-
band is much like n set of artificial
teeth-no matter how carefully they
are made and fitted II takes practice
to make Them wear easy. Hearts and
mouths are not so different as YOU
might think. I dare say Peter has
found out a lot about you since you
took his name; hut, being "A man. has
been decent enough 10 accept the In
evltable disappointment like Il good
sport
Peter disappointed IN me? What
arc you saying'' Anne cried. her eyes
flashing. "Ile worships me-loyes
the ground | walk ON the clothes
wear"
"And no doubt viii love the pics
YOU make-after You leHrn how was
interlected, cruelty, let me tell you
n secret-hc asked me privately II
wouldn't show you how"
$ he's trlcky-EOes talking about
me q" Anne broke out. the ewes finishing
keen sparks. "Ile ought to be-
ashamed ever TO look me In the face