The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-09-20
THE HAPPY SECRET.
BY Miss Martha Emery.
Copyright, 1922, by Wheeler Syn
dictate Incl

Copyright, 1922, by Wheeler Syn
dictate, Inc-)
1T doesn't seem right, and it isn't
right, either. know Henry appre-
cia&es what l do for him, and he's
kind and free-nearted, and all that
But, just the same, unless a man
shows some affection for his wife,
unless he takes her in his arms
once in a while and tells her what
she means to him, 1t hurts pretty
badly and it makes her feel that she
isn't any more than an ordinary
housekeeper.
$50 you're going to sit up and lis
ten, Henry Elder, and show me a
little real affection from now on,
or we'll see what's the matter"
! Nancy Elder was addressing the
silver framed photograph Of her
better half that hung beside her
own in the> living room Of their
farmhouse. She had reached this
point when the sound of heavy rack
wheels driving in the barn doors
and a beloved Whoa" told her
that Henry had come with another
load and was waiting for his Gus
tomary dipper Of cold water.
1t was o1t Until after the sup
per dishes were washed that night
that Nancy again found time to let
her thoughts drift along the line OF
making Henry sit up and take no.
ltice. Bobbie and Anna were visit
ing their Grandma Elder for the
week and it seemed rather lone
some when night came not to have
them to tuck into bed and read
stories to. So, while Henry sat or
his side of the table reading the
evening paper, Nancy on her side
was busy drawing a crochet hool
back and forth, and all the while
trying to form a plan.
For two weeks Nancy spent al
> her spare time in thinking, ant
thinking hard. She even tried tt
get books at the library in town tt
help her solve the problem, but tt
no avail. Then, like a light in tn,
. dark, a bright idea came into he
: mind.
The Thimble club of Danvill
had been planning. for months TO
the midsummer fair and carnival
/. Nancy was an appreciative mem
Der. She sewed and quilted an,
. never missed a meeting. And thi
4 last week there was extra work t
be done, in order that all should b
! in readiness for the great even. "a
especial attractien," the Danvill
d Journal put it, will be the gyps
encampment, which will occnp
one side of the grounds. The cara
r van, which plans to arrive here Fri
day afternoon, have been asked t
: help in the fair by selling hand
made baskets and telling fortunes.
Now Henry Elder was not a ma
: |whO saw things clearly at once. H
was usually quiet and Thoughtful i
'pondering over solutions to prot
lens that vexed him. So it was nc
strange that he didn't ask question
when he found his wife at the tele
phone for three nights in success
lion as he came in to supper. A
first he Just supposed her talk wa
with some member of the club an
had to do with the carnival. BIZ
on the fourth night she was talkin
with man and making an arrange
u ment to meet him in the city. Henri
was puzzled. Nancy usually RI
marked with whom she was COZ
versing. but this time she said moth
ling.
It Friday night Henry was MOI
troubled than ever. Nancy had bee
away in town all the afternoon an
y telephoned that she could not DO,
fsibly be home for supper. Poe
Henry, tired and hungry from a
Afternoon in the hay field, came j
at 5 o'clock to find no warm suppe
awaiting him. Never before ha
Nancy left him to report to a col
cupboard.
By 8 o'clock the grounds In fro,
4. OF the town hall were crowded vii
people. moving here and there fro
Il one booth to another under III
'semi-circle Of colored lights. Hem
!! dlant ariyee until s:se, and Ttke