The Raymer enterprise., 1923-09-06
The Court Of First
Resort
By MARTHA M. WILLIAMS

unless l d0r
What's the fatal somethingy' Mrs.
Dean asked, suppressing an inclina.
tion to laugh. Anne was hardly past
her honeymoon-she had sung the
nraises Of Peter In every key through.
out a tedious engagement. And all
the first month the praise chorus had
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. was wonderful
nobody like him. No other woman
ever had or could have such lover.
husband. Anne 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. 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
er II not SO furiously advertised.
lntuitively she understood that Anne's
alteration was grounded In sel6shness
an inarticulate effort to charm Peter
Into forgetting everything but her.
self.
She was rather piteous figure,
sasping and snubbing, her fine hair
little unkempt. her eyes red.rimmed.
1t moved Mrs. Dean to say kindly:
'Tell me your trouble-provided II l.
anything a friend may hope to rem
edy."
Peter has Joined the gun club"
Anne gasped rather than sold. "WIth.
out word to .me-said he knew
had foolish prejudice against guns
and things. must get over Il be.
cause he loved them-almost next to
me. Think Of that! When he knows
have been brought up to regard
killing things-what they call sport
as next to q crime"
There's no killing at the club"
Mrs. Dean commented. "They shoot
only at clay pigeons for the Joy Of
workmanship. You ought to be glad
rather than hurt"
"Ohl Oh.oo!" Anne walled. "You
know they 20 on camp hunts once or
twice a year, stay fortnight and
kill, kill all the time"
"H-m.ml / think you like the veni.
son they fetch back" Mrs. Dean In.
terrupted.
Anne flushed. ut Is dead, and not
eating It won't bring the poor deer to
life" she protested. "But that isn't
the real hard part. have to stay
at home How can Peter think Of that
-as crazy as he was to be always
with me2'
"You thought you knew him up and
down, backward and forward" Mrs.
Dean began to answer.
Anne broke In eagerly: But I
didn't. find ! am married to alnos,
q 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 at as they were. II 60 home
after things blow over I shall easily
take my old place"
III thought You meant what you
say should be sorry. indeed. have
thought lot Of you always" Mrs.
Dean said refectively. "You vowed
In sight Of God and man: Until death
us do part II you are thinking Of
perjurins yourself simply because
Peter will not let your personality
submerge his-well, It may be lucky
for him."
Anne gasped again, staring hard at
her hostess, then covered her face
with her fingers and broke into VIVID
sobs. II thought you'd-under.
stand,' she moaned between parox.
ysms, shat you were the best friend
had-one I could come to for help
in-in-anything."
"You thought right-in right things"
the older woman answered, "In
wrong ones-nO. I tell you plainly
you are rlsking the happiness Of two
lives; It may be many more. You are
like SO many girls-never see the
mans side. Let me tell you. a hus.
band ls much like a 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. l dare say Peter has
found out a lot about you since you
took his name; but, being q man, has
been decent enough to accept the In.
evitable disappointment like q good
sport"
"Peter disappointed In mel What
are you saylng!" Anne cried, her eyes
aashing "He worships me-loves
the ground walk on; the clothes
wear"
"And no doubt will love the pies
you make-after you learn how" was
lnterjected, cruelty. ''Let me tell you
secret--he asked me privately II I
wouldn't show you how"
$50 he's tricky-goes talking about
met Anne broke ont, the eyes flashing
keen sparks. "He ought to be