The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1922-10-05
The Court of First
Resort
By MARTHA M. WILLIAMS



must speak TO somebody. | shall die
unless dot"
whats the fatal somethingT' Mrs.
Dean asked, suppressing an incllna.
tion TO laugh. Anne was hardly past
her honeymoon-she had sung the
praises Of Peter in every key through.
out n tedious engagement. And all
| the first month the praise chorus had
Observation-Disclosures was wonderful
nobody like him. No other woman
ever had or could have such a lover
husband. Anne was happier than the
| sunshine. she knew now just why
she hud been created--to love and
cherish Peter-but was puzzled as to
how she had fallen into such amaz-
ing and undescrved felicity.
Continuous harping wears thin the
rarest strain Mrs. Dean had, In
truth grown tired Of the paeans She
was genuinely glad the young folk
were so happy but wise enough to
| be sure the happiness would last long
or II not so furiously advertised
| lntultlvcly she understood that Anne's
AN lnnrtlculate effort to charm Peter
into forgetting everything but her
self
she was rather piteous figure,
gusplng and snuhblng. her fine hair
little unkempt, her eyes red-rmmod.
II moved Mrs. Dean to say kindly:
Tell me your trouble-provded II is
| tpf fVfn IN
edy."
peter has Joined the gun club !"
Anne gasped rather than said. "Wlth.
out word to me-said he knew
had a foolish prejudice against guns
and things. ] must get over II be-
cause he loved them-almost next to
me Thlak Of that When he knows
I have been brou ht up TO regard
killing thlngs-what they call sport
as next to crime"
"There's no killing Mt the club"
Mrs. Dean commented. "They shoot
only at clay pigeons for the Joy Of
craftsmanship. You ought TO be glad
rather than hurt"
"Ohi Oh-oow Anne walled "You
know they 20 on camp hunts once or
twice year, stay n fortnight and
kill kill all the time"
"H-m-ml think you like the venl-
son they fetch back" Mrs. Dean in
terrupted.
Anne flushed. "It Is dead, and not
eating II won't bring the poor deer TO
life" she protested. "But that isn't
the real hard part I have to stay
az home. How can Peter think Of that
AS crazy as he was to be always
with me?'
"You thought you knew him mp and
down. backward and forward" Mrs
Dean began 10 answer.
Anne broke I'm eagerly: "But
didn't ! find | am married 10 almosl
stranger"
"Well, you have all your life TO get
really acquainted with him." Mrs
Dean said patiently.
Anne sprang up angrily: you
nor--Peter needn't be too sure OF
that" she cried. separations are not
looked nj as they were. II go home
after things blow over shall easily
take my old place"
"If ] thought you meant what you
say I should he sorry indeed. | have
thought lot of you always" Mrs
Dean said rcnectlvely. "You VOWED
In sight Of God and man: Until deatl
us do part If you are thinking Oi
periuring yourself simply because
Peter win not let your personality
submerge his well. It may be lucky
for him"
Anne gasped again, staring hard a
her hostess, then covered her fac,
with her fingers and broke into wild
sobs. II thought youd-under
stand" she moaned between pgrox
ysms that you were the best friend
I had-one could come to for help
in--in-anything
"You thought rght-lh right things,
the older woman answered. "Tr
wrong ones--no. | tell you plainly
you are rlsking the happiness of two
lives; II may he many more. You are
Ike 50 m0ny girls-neyer see the
mans side. Let me tell you. hus
band Is much like set of artficia
teeth-no matter how carefully they
are made and fitted II takes practlc,
10 make them wear easy. Hearts ant
mouths are not so different as yot
might think ! dare say Peter has
found out lot about you since yor
took his name; but, being a man. ha,
been decent enough TO accept the IN
evitable disappointment like a goot
sport"
peter disappointed In me? Wha
are you sayingl' Anne cried, her eye,
flashing. "He wOrshlps me-love,
the ground | walk on; the clothes
wear"
"And no doubt win love the pies
you make-after you learn how" was
interjected, cruelty. "Let me tell yor
a secret-he asked me privately IL
wouldn't show you how"
$50 he's tricky-goes talking abou
I" Anne broke out, the eyes flashing
I gsI 4.