The Monmouth inquirer., 1924-08-28
Il =
Beginning to Live

mouth existence 1s no. way W i've
cried young Bayles, disgustedly, push
ing the teahouse candlestick reck-
lessly to one side to confront his pref
ty young wife. She continued to sip
her coffee composedly.
Il tell you, he began again." this
thing of living in two rooms and go
ing out for our meals is getting on
my nerves. I'm so tired of eternally
trying to decide where wen take din
ner on every one of the seven days in
hate having to say whether it shall be
roast beef rare or spring lamb with
mint sauce. / should think every fe-
male gainfully employed to wait on
table in a radius of three miles of our
rooms would know by this time that
never take coffee with my dinner. It
isn't the food altogether, Ruth! it's
the ignominy! i ought not to have
married you until could take care of
you"
His wife looked at him over her cot
fee cup in precisely the fashion most
ABuOIIGuL " LlE Vi tIAO VI O0A ~
butantes.S do you still really think
that you had much to say about that?"
she inquired.
Young Bayles smiled, thus betray-
ing the fact that he was extremely
good-looking.
Listen, Bob" went on his wife.
"This hand-to-mouth existence, as you
call it, really isn't half bad. 1t gives
US both quantities of freedom. It's
economical. And it is just incOnVen-
lent enough to be good for US. You
don't want me to get stoddy, do you?
/ tell you, Bob, when one gets SO one
can't or won't endure single discom-
fort If one can help it, that very min
ute one begins to grow old-or mid
dle-aged, which is worse! It's run
ming for trains and walking twenty
minutes to get breakfast and dashing
out in all sorts of weather for ones
dinner, and climbing to the dollar
seats in the theater that keeps one
young!"
Her husband put out his hand to lay
it upon hers. but, quickly recollecting
himself. put 1t into his pocket. Never
any privacy he growled. And that's
another thingl"
His wife laughed softly: More than
we should have had with you here IN
the city all this winter and your pres
ent wife teaching English in Boone
HILL" she remarked, serenely.
"Look here, Ruth" said her hus-
band, and leaning forward persuasive
ly. EITHER you enjoy this dogs life
or else you're too good a sport to COM
plain. In the latter case you're also
mighty good actress. But | tell you
that don't believe you like it, You've
got the idea into your head that it is
better for my prospects to put the
money where it shows more than it
would in rent for a cheap little flat
and furniture that has no art value.
Own up, now!"
His wife evaded his eye. "Goosei"
she remarked, irrelevantly. Help me
on with my coat. Quick, before the
waiter comes; the Innings ripped.
What you need is gallery seat at the
theater to cure your blues. Hurry!"
mot so fast, Ruth" objected her
husband, holding her wrap. Look me
in the eye and tell me that Pm not
right in what I've been saying. You
are tired of vagabondage; in your Sc
cret soul you positively long for that
cheap little flat and that outfit of fur
niture which never heard of Chippen-
dale And three meals a day all by
ourselves"
"And real laundry tub in the base
ment instead of washbowl, and cur
tains to put up and take down, and
little cupboards to polish but, no, it
will be pier glass in the parlor,
won't it, or a cracked oval over the
fireplace that smokes!" The young
wife had spoken eagerly, breathlessly.
"And doors to be rehung and lights
to be fixed and an electric bell that is
always crying out for a new battery.
Hurrahi" ~
Young Bayles slammed the teahouse
door behind him and made face at
the unconscious proprietress where
she sat in brocaded state behind the
desk. For the last timel" he cried.
Then, turning gleefully to his wife. he
said; "And now let's celebrate! Why,
what's the matter? You're cryingi"