Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1923-06-07

about this fancy-dress ball at the
country club tonight" said Archibald
Welkins, as his wife, looking very love.
1y In French-blue housedress, poured
the morning coffee, II don't quite like
the idea, do you, Eleanor?"
Her large blue eyes turned up to him
fnquiringly.
"What don't you like about it,
dear?" she asked
"Oh, this fool notion Of husbands
and wives dressing separately-not
knowing about each others costumes"
Often in the eight years of their mar
ried life he had been disturbed by her
trait of remaining silent when she dis
agreed with him, and now, as she did
not Vply, he stated more explicitly
what was in his mind, saying: 81 think
we'd better tell each other what we're
going to wear"
"We'l find out when we unmask,"
e said.
But I think the idea Of secrecy is
all nonsense" he insisted with a little
show of heat.
"Pass Mr.. Welkins the marmalade,"
his wife said to the maid.
He helped himself. then repeated: II
think it's all nonsensel"
But she did not answer. He had
never known a woman with Eleanor's
capacity for silence. It gave her q
mysterious power.
"The steward at the club told me
they'd had over five hundred accept.
ances," he went on. "That means q
mixed crowd, and I'd like to know
what your costume Is going to be so I
can look after you"
THAT'S sweet of you," she answered,
shut I'm sure I shan't need looking
after"
'You might" he declared.
"Oh, I don't think so-not at our
own country club"
But tell you it's going to be "a
mixed crowd. You're a darn pretty
woman-and blonde" And as again
she was silent, he added in tone that
held a hint Of accusation: Blondes
always attract more attention"
"Take some hot toast" she said to
him as the maid appeared. He took
some, and waited till she left the room
Then he sesd:
II wonder why men always think
good looking blondes are" But he
did not finish the sentence.
'Are whatw she asked.
swell, anyway" he declared, 'fancy
dress makes people reckless. They feel
that the lids off. There'u be a lot Of
TASKS, too. There's so much more
drinking since prohibition. That's an.
other reason why want to know.
'Know what2"
'What?" he repeated irritably. "Just
what I've been asking you--what
you're going to wear"
II don't think it would be playing
the game to TELL" she said. "How do
you like this bacon? It's a new brand"
''Look here" he said sharply, "you
can't put me off that wayI You say
you don't need looking after, but your
memory doesn't seem to be so good as
minei Before your filtration with that
dolled-up French officer you fell for,
used TO think you didn't need looking
after, tool But guess l." He
stopped.
Having thrown IN her face the one
indiscretion of her married life. he
instantly regretted 1t. He always did.
He always told himself that to keep
referring to 1t was to take q mean
advantage Of her, and that he would
never speak Of 1t again. Strange that
he could not overcome the jealousy
left with him by that episode Of sew.
eral years ago, when, ever since, she
had been so circumspect. After all 1t
had been only mild filtration, and the
Frenchman wasn't very young. He
was fool to keep thinking of 1t, and
greater fool to harp upon 1t.
Ae said no more, but left the table,
+ hAwith her and angry with him.
In the interest Of secrecy It had been