The Monmouth inquirer., 1923-04-12
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The C~onquerOrs
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who sat on the summer hotel porch, 4
can hardly wait now to see Mr.. Bas-
com. He's coming tonight to take me
home. l hardly know how pye ever
managed to remain away from James
all this time. Really James and l are
a ridiculously devoted couple"
A little self conscious laugh rippled
over her full face and gently shook
her plump shoulders. I'm awfully de
pendent upon Mr.. Bascom," she went
on. Indeed, he quite makes a baby of
me. It's really beautiful isn't it, how
a great strong man loves to pet the
little woman who belongs to him?"
She glanced at Miss Winters, tho
only unmarried woman in the group,
who being thus appealed to, said, Eyes
/ suppose it's beautiful" but her toRe
was not one of conviction.
Dear me, Mrs. Bascom you should
MT complain of your brief separation
from Mr.. Bascom," remarked the wo-
man with a little girl in her lap. "You
have been here only two weeks, and
I've. been away from home nearly all
summer. l never would have done it
if Nj. Collins hadn't just insisted
that baby and I needed the country
air. But thank goodness. he's coming
tonight too.
Edwards the most unselfish man
that ever lived, l do believe. know
he's been absolutely desolate this
summer. / really think the loneliness
of our apartment has affected his
health. He expected to take a vaca
ton and come up in August but he
simply couldn't get away. He's a re-
markable business man. No n in
the office can take his place"
She Rugged her little girl and turn
ed to Miss Winters with a smile. isn't
it wonderful how some men will work
for their wives and children?r
1T certainly is" responded Miss
Winters, mechanically.
81 often say to Edward that I can't
understand why some rich girl didn't
marry him for his good looks. He's the
bandsomest man Miss Wintersi Some
times / wonder how he ever happened
10 pick out poor little me-"
my husband is extremely fine look
iLg too" said Mrs. Bascom, and he
has such a brilliant mind. Indeed, his
intellect quite overshadows mine, and
to tell you the truth, he's a bit master
full in his way now and then. But we
m need some one to lean on. We
realize that our husbands know bet
ter than we do about many important
matters, so we ought to defer to them.
Don't you think so, Miss Winters?"
81 do,y agreed Mrs. Collins, before
Miss Winters had time to frame an
answer. Il say to Edward that he
must decide everything for baby and
me. He's the captain of our little fam
lily craft. Dear me, Miss Winters, it
must be hard for you sometimes not
to have a nan to assume responsible
ties. But, of course, girls-unmarried
women-are quite independent nova
days." she added with patronizing
kindness.
"Oh manage to rub along" return
ed Miss Winters, but she rose from
her seat and strolled away. Altho she
knew herself to be a busy and happy
woman, she could not help feeling sol
itary in the presence of such enthus-
iastic wives.
A brisk tramp around the lake
brought back her usual good spirits
and it was with only a mild envy that
she saw, as she neared the hotel at
dusk one of her companions of an
hour or two earlier hurrying down the
driveway to meet the village bus. She
paused in the shadow of a tree in or
der not to intrude upon what she felt
would be a tender reunion between
husband and wife.
She was startled to see a fat bald
headed man aIight from the bus and
give Mrs. Collins a most casual kiss.
well, l got here at last,' he said
joyially. 81 thought I'd run UP and see
If you'd like to stay during the au-
tumn. You can just as well a. not. I'm
getting along tiptop."
Was this the devoted husband who
was pining away in the city for the
wife of his bosom? Miss Winters ask
ed herself this question with inward
laughter.
Then she saw Mrs Bascom striding
down the path with a red headed lit
tie man following her as meekly as a
pet lamb. Could that be the intellec-
tual giant pn whose wisdom his wife
depended for her guidance? Miss Win
ters sank upon the grass and rolled
about in a paroxysm Of mirth.
"And | was almost sorry for my
state of single blessedness,'' she said
to herself as she rose and went toward
the hotel in Joy and thankfulness.