The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1923-08-31

The soft arms frightened still more
about his neck.
Hardy"
But don't you understand I was
just trying to make you say the things
you did say-it was the only way /
could think TO do 1t. Don't you seer
didn't know any other way in the
world TO make you quarrel with me, to
forget that eternal counting to a hum
bred before you'd ever answer, TOTO
John, please-won't you kiss met 1
don't love anyone in the world but
you. swear it--nobody in the world.
John. Don't you seer IL" Then
the tears came-"I just couldn't stand
1t any-any more"
stand it-stand what?"
"Why--why. everything. John. You
just can't endure things forever with
out salt and pepper. 1t isn't natural.
lit just got on my nerves until 1
thought I'd go crazy. l."
whats the" Frank amazement
was his now. 81 don't understand you
cant make you out. Medaine. Salt
and pepper"
"Just what mean, John. Put your
arms around me, won't you please?
Please. Johng' She caught hand and
raised 1t to her shoulder where 1t hung
moment. then dropped Imply. But
he did not resist her now. as he had
done moment before. "Tell me, John
lis this the first time you've ever
thought me splneless9'
He shook his head, saying silently
what he would not say in words. II
seemed to please her. She kissed him.
And haven't you wondered often
how on earth you ever married me7
Haven't you wondered IL really had
enough spirit to even have a quarrel
with tradesman7 Haven't you, John7
I've thought that about you-wondered
how on earth you managed to trans.
act your business, how you ever got
the backbone even to discharge an
employee. You've never shown II at
home. I've tried to nettfe you. anger
you-and all you did was count to q
hundred"
THAT was our bargain" He said 1t
somewhat grudglngly.
"Just the trouble--just what hurt
me, that you'd stay by silly bargain
like that. John" she looked at him
quickly. during the time we've been
married. have you really been happyi'
TIP he paused. His lips pressed
tight for an instant. Then: III You
want the frank TRUTH haven't"
"Whyi"
Again a pause. Then:
"Oh, never mind.''
"But l want to know, is II for the
same reason that haven't been happy
because everything has been Just
the same. just the regular monotony
of sugar, sugar. sugar all the time and
never bit of bitter-sweet? Is that
the reason, John2 And ] have been
unhappy. John. I've known every min
ute what you were going to do.
knew the minute you were going to
leave home, the minute you would tel
ephone me, the minute you'd get here
at night, and what you'd talk about
at the dinner table. | knew to a dot
what you'd do and say and how you'd
act. And. John-a woman NAV saw
she wants that. but she doesn't She
wants husband who'll be good to
her most OF the time, but who now and
then--well. who won't. We can't be
superhumau. John. n isn't in us
You've been on time Ia dinner for ten
wears. | haven't even had the excite.
ment of scoldinR YOU for being late
Il" Then. MS IL with an inspiration.
she looked at him-"Johp. did Won ever
notice how an electrical storm
clears the ARR And how sultry It has
been beforehand We've never even had
the chance TO know how beautiful
things can be after the clouds have
gone. We've had nothing but sun.
sbIne-untii it's blinded us and we
haven't been able to see anythingr"
Then she halted-s suddenly beaminp
A HIGHT of understanding had come in.
10 the ewes of John Darlington. The
tired expression faded To give vav IN
one which Medaine had not seen in
years Slowly his arms raised and
clesped about the form of HE wife ua
kIssed ber-slowly as one who tastes
long nj n sweet he is loatb IN leave
Ten wears seemed TO have rolled
AWAY. ten drab uneyentfu, vears which
now bore no more importance In retro.
spect than the fairness of monotonous
plains. A soft hand touched HIS fem.
nle and fingered there
"We'ye inst heep driftwood Jobn "
He nodded and kissed her again
Then. like a streak he Turned from bpr
and bounded nm the stairs Wonder.
ing. she heard him fnmblIng about in
an upper room hanging at drawers
md uttering strange things under HIS
breath A Vrunt Another lander
Then.
"Medsine" came I'm be,,owino tonea