Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1923-04-05

1t was quarter to eight that morn
ing-a full fifteen minutes past the
usual hOur-when the door of Red
mond's BEDROOM opened and Redmond
hastily emerged. In the same haste
he hurried toward the stairs, He was
late, that was all there was to it-late
at breakfast; and, as he Reached the
stairs, his eyes on the hall clock as he
hrisked along, his absorbed, somewhat
boyish face wore on 1t n look of CON
Germ not unmixed with guilt.
Dear, dear" he clucked
To be late at ones own breakfast
table is, of course not so heinous an
otfense; but as RedmOnd's haste de-
noted, the case here was different.
1ime-and with 1t prOmptfless-natu-
rally concerned woman as active and
influential as Redmond's wife. At any
rate, In the life, the career she had
made for herself. Mrs. Redmond long
had found 1t necessary to regulate her
day to schedule, every minute of
which was actively employed. She was,
In fact, that Myrta Redmond whose
prominence as president of the Wom-
ems State Civic Federation was state
wide, If not natiQpal; and with the de-
mands this and her other activities
made upon her. 1t was only reasonable
that Redmond should do nothing TO
conflict with her appointed plans. He
was, 1t seems, the minor official Of an
insurance company In the city.
An absorbed and retlcent, self-ef-
facing person, Redmond seldom If ever
came in contact with his wife's official
life. Even If he had, however, it's un.
likely that he would have made much
of an impression on her wide circle Of
acquaintance, her social and political
associates. Among people Of affairs
the selected, active set that surround
ed Myrta Redmond, he would have
been adjudged obscure, perhaps inef-
fectual-in word. one they termed
domestic"
That, indeed, was the word. True.
once In his wife's career, though II
was only once, Redmond had appeared
as honorary secretary of a meeting
Mrs. Redmond had convened. the
original appointee having succumbed
at the final moment to distressing at
tack of migraine. His shy embarrass-
ment, however-his ignorance, too. OF
the mere fundamentals of parliament
tary law-at once had betrayed his I'M
fitness; and, propelled from one EN-.
barrassing blunder into another. the
ladies', his wife's associates and her
self Included. had automatically re-
lieved him Of the place.
The hall downstairs was long and
spacious. 1t was, In fact, I'm character
with all the house spacious not only.
but even vast. However though there
were only these two to occupy It
they, John Redmond and his Wife
this, too, had its explanation. Space
or as Myrta termed it, Scope" Myrta
In her active life needed naturally :.
ana 1t was for this the house had been
selected, hahtatlon suitably room
able for committee meetings. for eau
cuses and the like. But then, this air
of largeneSS, of Scope" was due NOT
entirely to the size of the structure IT.
self; the furnishings-that. or. rather.
the lack of them. accented this: knd
as Redmond FASTENED along the hall
the sight of its present bare emptiness
pricked him with another thrust Of
conscience, stab. Tonight a meeting.
a committee caucus, was to be held.
Myrta's candidacy and her campaign
for a state office were to be discussed :
and already the man of-all-work,
prompt at the task, had begun to move
out the chairs, the tables and other
furnishings. Later, they would be re-
placed by rows of folding stools char
tered from the local undertaken.
Redmond's concern grew more evil
dent. He was still hurrying; but as he
reached the breakfast room and
stepped inside he stopped abruptly.
"HelloW he exclaimed.
The breakfast room was vacant