New Britain herald., 1923-04-27
The Decision Madge Swiftly Made to
 Meet Dicky's Uitimatum

Dicky's sneering reference to me as Joan of Arc with -fagots- just
 lighting" was the last mntch needed
 to set the powder magazine of my temper ahala2e.
 One of my husbands most effective ways of infuriating me Is to refer to me as martyr -like'~-l sometimes wonder fl my wrathtul reaction to the accusation is not because of my sub conscious recognition of soupcon of truth in it--and the words in which he had couched his ultimatum con corning our finding another place had been especially blistering.
 The one advantage l have In any tilt with Dicky has it's roots in the essential difference Of our tempera- ments. When he Is angry he uncon- sciously works himself Into a rage which becomes more tempestuous as 1t advances. But as general thing, the more angry I am, the more quiet becomes my voice, and the more con- trolled becomes my demeanor. Be- fore let myself go, am like seeth- ing volcano. but the mere act of loosening the reins on my wrath changes me to an iceberg, with q frigidity of voice and nnien which gen erally stands me in good stead in any controversy
 "I-WilI-Not {"
 So. with every nerve taut but con .trolled. threw back my head and faced my irate husband steadily.
 You mean then. I infer, to break our budget agreement to pay only so much for rent because we wish to save for Junior?" I put the query jelly.
 T mean to get out of this blasted l hole no matter what I pay or what happens" Dicky stormed.
 Very well, then" I acquiesced. | You are at perfect liberty to select as expensive an apartment as you please-but--it will be a bachelor one. I will not live in any apart ment for which we pay more than the rent we so solemnly agreed upon when we arranged our budget--"
 Dcky promptly consigned the budg- ct to a place which would inevitably consumes its leaves, but I went on unheeding.
 Neither will I again undergo the back. breaking. nerveshattering drudg- cry which preceded my finding of this place." I said steadily. You hunted spectacularly for day or two. and then tossed the whole thing upon my shoulders, and off your own mind. You know nothing whatever of hous- ing conditions nor of the infinite trouble I had before fortunately stumbling upon this apartment. If you can find another at the same price in which you will consent to live. I'll gladly share it. or l will stay here, with you. But look farther for an apartment, myself, or live in one more expensive than this, are things -will--not--do,"
 Dicky Settles One Question
 I purposely made each word em- phatic and stressed the pauses be- tween them. Then I turned away. as if Dicky's reaction to my ultimatum was a matter of no interest to me.
 In reality, however, my nerves were tensely fused into one burning inter rogation point. I did not have to wait long for an answer. however. With a muttered imprecation, Dicky hur- ried through the frosted-glsss doors which separated the living room from the only bedroom and closed them so behind him that I feared the glass would be slivered.
 It was a satisfactory punctuation of the controversy, I acknowledged toI myself philosophically. although well knew that it was by no means ended. But, with nerves somewhat essed of their tension. let down the ; big davenport, which was a really good looking couch by day, and a comfortable bed at night and sd- justed my coverlets and pillows.
 The couch had been one of the things which decided me upon the apartment--this chance for Dicky and me to have the separate rooms that have been ours since our marriage, { and because of his propensity for throwing his things upon the bed or