The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1923-05-18

a year past you have been intimidated
by the constantly presented image OF
a fabulous creature. Your peace OF
mind has been seriously affected Be
fore your eyes have been held up as
a paragon. And | resent the SLAM
der on my name. Ii has been an in
suit which no self-respecting memory
should be compelled TO stand Sir,
wish you to know the truth. ! was
not paragon. and l thank God for 1t.
was not the perfect husband this
woman would have you believe was
fussy. faulty, crochety-and am
proud of It,"
"Oh, Arthur" Mrs. Balm, under at
tack. was reviying. was rHllying TO her
own defense as powers OF coherent
speech returned to her.
Don't oh. Arthur me-" he snapped.
but listen: And you, too, sir II you
will be so good, We quarreled fire.
quently In those years OF our married
life. She complained of my brusque
ways, of my fits of irritabiilty, of my
refusal to like many OF the people that
she persisted In liking. of my tastes
and my habits and inclinations. She
didn't care for some of my friends;
didn't care for some OF hers. l object
ed to any number of things about her
and rarely refrained from saying so.
She has told you that between us there
was never n cross word Bah There
were tens of thousands ofscross words.
When we got on ench others nerves,
which was often. neither of >us hesl-
tated to let II be known When we dis
agreed over something-~or anything
we argued II out, We loved each other,
but merely loving did NOT make either
OF us angelic. We quarreled and made
up and quarreled some more We fell
out and we fell back together again.
There were times when we were like n
pair of cooling doves and again there
we're times when the proverblal
monkey and parrot had little IL any
thing on us. In short. and In fine, sir.
We behaved Just as the average rea-
sonahly well-mated married couples do
behave. And for my own sake, and In
cidentally for yours, sir. I would not
have you believe differently.
'sThat, I believe, Is practically all
had to say to YOU. Having said II,
wish TO add final word TO our wife.
here. Evelyn, speaking with such au-
thority as is BETTING first husband,
! wish to state that, so far as my OBJ
servations from another sphere have
gone, your present husband is first
rate fellow. ! like TO think of him as
my successor And I intend to seq
that he has fair deal from you.
trust this visit from me has been n
lesson to you. Hereafter, In your deal.
ings with him you will please be so
good MS to stand on your own merits
You will kindly refrain from dragging
me into your arguments ms an advocate
on your side My stock of patience is
no greater than II was before I be-
came memory that ]
sincerely trust II viii not he necessary
for me TO admonish you personally q
second time. Because l warn YOU here
and now that next time shall return
under circumstances that will be most
embarrassing to YOU. Next time there
will be no privacy about my appear
ance; shall come 10 you in public.
You'll be a talked-about woman, Eve
lyn There1l be pieces about you in
the paper and splritualists and trance
mediums and delivers into the occult
meddlesome. noisy lot. too, may add
will make yonr life burden for you
So have care. Eevlyn
"Slr, to you ] extend my best wishes
I'm sorry we didn't meet before. But,
some Of these days wen make up for
lost tIme--when you Join me on the
plane where ] am Mt present residing,
Well, ] guess that viii be about ALL
=. oh, II you don't mind I'll Just dis.
sipate into air and float up the chin
ney--it's more convenient" Ont of
nothingness near the fireplace came n
voice, growing thinner and fainter:
"Good-by, Balm, old chap. Good-by,
Eveiyn-and don't forget"
II was ri this iuncturc that Mrs
Balm went or into n swoon II also
should he noted that, even ms he sprang
TO her side 10 revive her, Mr. Baln
wore on his face n look Of husbandly.
sollcitude and concern but his feet
twitiered dance measure.
Personally, do not believe In ghosts
' assume. readers that you do not be-
lieve in ghosts either, But Mrs. Balm
does, and ms for Mr. Balm, he does too,
firmly and. rs y happily married man,
he Is every day renewing and strength
enlng his belief IN them.
.----.-.---.-.------------