Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1923-03-19
there never had been such things as


husband first came into his life. They
had been married just two months
then. The honeymoon was in its last
quarter. If the couple were ever to go
along together in harmony the time
had now come when mutual under
standing must succeed the period OF
adjustment and balance. She had the
benefit of experience on her side, for
she had been through the process once
before. Tom Balm might be green
hand at this business OF being married,
but, subconsciously, he was beginning
TO adjust himself in his ordained ana
proper place in the matrimonial scheme
as it related to him and this very
charming lady. In other words. he had
reached the place where he was slip
ping out OF the bridegroom pose into
the less studied and more matter-of-
fact status Of a husband. He was
ready to quit acting part and be his
own self again always, though with re-
gard for the limitations and restric-
tons imposed by the new estate upon
which he had entered.
The campaign against him-we may
as well call it a campaign-opened on
the evening following their return from
the trip to White Sulphur. That first
day at his desk had been a hard one;
so much which seemed to require his
personal attention had accumulated
while he was away. He left the office
pretty well tired out. On his way home
he built up a pleasant vision of nice
quiet little dinner and then a peaceful
hour or so in the living room in slip
pers and an old smoking Jacket
Mrs. Balm met him at the door with a
greeting that put him in thorough good
humor This, he decided, was the best
of all possible worlds to live in and his,
undoubtedly, was the best of all posi-
bic ways Of living.
you're late. dearest" she said.
you've just time to run upstairs and
slip on your evening clothes. I've laid
them out for YOU"
"Why, there's nobody coming in for
dinner, Is there?" he asked.
She drew away from him slightly
"No, there's no one coming" she said.
"What difference does that make?'
"Well," he said, I'm rather fggged
ont, and I sort of thought that, seeing
there'd be only the two Of us, I'd come
to the table just as am"
every well, DEAR" she said, "suit
yourself"
But he took note that she had short
ened the superlative dearest" to
"dear." Also she slipped herself ont
of the circlet of his entirclng arm.
Suddenly there was suggeStion-a
bare trace-of an autumnal chill in the
air
But, rs Il newly married man, how
could he suit himself? He clad himself
in the starchy shirt, the high, tight col
lar that pinchcd his throat, the plnchy
patent leathers, and all the rest of the
funeral regalia IN which civilized man
encases himself ON any supposedly fes-
tai occasion. she gave him an approx
ing look when, ten inmates later, he
presented himself before her.
Tom" she said as they sat down, II
think you always should dress for din
ner. Arthur always said that gentle
man should dress for dinner"
He stared at her, puzzled.
Arthur" he echoed. Who's Ar
thur"
MY first husband" she explained.
Arthur looked SO we'll in his evening
clothes"
oh" he said, Ike that. That was
all he said for a minute or so. He was
thinking.
She was thinking, too. Practically all
women are popularity supposed to have
intuition, and certainly this particular
woman had her share of it, Probably
it was in that very moment of rehec-
ton that the lady decided on 4 future
plan Of action.
vt any rate, this was the beginning.
Eventually Mr.. Balm awoke to realiza-
tiOn that ne was the victim of a gentle
tyranpy-that no had fallen captive to
q combination enemy made up OF an af-
fecti0nate if somewhat maSterful lady
and the memory Of q dead and gone
personality Mrs. Bain's first husband
was persiStently logging Mrs. Bain's
second husband Daily, after one fash
ion or another, the latter was remind
cd of the late Arthur Arthur It
seemed, had never lost his temper
What made the comparison hurt the
more was the iDdUbitable fact that Mr..
Balm occasionally did lose his. Arthur
had never raised his voice above the
low-pltChed key of innate refinement
no matter how irritated he might be.
Arthur had been SO tidy; never left his
clothes lying about where he dropped
them Arthur had not given her 3 cross
word III all the seven years of their
life together. Arthur invariably had
been SO considerable of her feelings. II
was Arthur this and It was Arthur
that. She realized her power and she
used IT, Mrs. Bains first husband was
ever 50 10 speak, at the elbow of Mrs.
Bain'S second husband, 10y proxy child
ing him, admoniShing him. correcting
him. Scolding him, even.