San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-11-27
The Making Of
a Husband
Ann Isles N EN-
Phrase of Jim and
Amme's Marital
Adventure
Chapter 1873.
BY ANN Isle

copyright, 1875, King Features syn., Inc.
When Pat Dalton marched down
stains to the studio Of the Birches, he
left me filled with mingled wonder.
amazement and something queer and
indefinable save as fear. felt as r
i were in whirlpool being sucked
down by the forces could combat IL
l would stoop to use weapons I hated
TO touch.
II hate this whole cynical, self con-
scious, selfish. sophisticated modern
theory of living!" protested furious
ly to my wide-eyed image in the mir.
ror as ] stood brushing my hair.
And then 1 did queer thing-a
thing that had nothing to do with any
of the problems under consideration.
] let my hair fall where / generally
pile it. and l twisted and looped it
under until it looked something like
the short cut hair of the pages of the
italian court in Renaissance days.
My whole appearance was changed, by
my rolled-under hair. The quality that
made Jim name me "Lilac Princess
once upon time was quite gone. i
looked boyish-or at least as il / were
the type of girl to hike and swim and
play tennis with easy smoothness. j
liked the chance. / wondered what jim
would say to it. And then oddly
enough l found myself wondering If
Ralph Lacy would like it.
And the next second l was protest
ing to myself vigorously:
There can't be anything the mat
ter with Ralph. He can't be sick or
in business difficulties or anything
like that. I'd know If he were. He'd
know it was unfair to keep it from
me. He'd let me know. He'd be sure
to let me know. 1t would be the only
thing to do. He'd feel that - And
there isn't any other sort of difficulty
he could be in. He hasn't family or
anything like that to worry him."
But / was not completely treasured
and went downstairs feeling that I'd
give anything for the courage to march
straight up and ask Pat just what he
had meant when he limited that some
thing was wrong with Ralph.
/ couldn't, though. Perhaps 1t was
nothing but a lack Of courage that
stopped me. Perhaps it was q strong
feeling that Pat had merely insinuat-
ed something amiss to get rise out
OF me-" to see how l would take the
suggestion that things were not going
well with Ralph.
When / got downstairs Jim and
Pat were setting the table while
Jeanie hustled around the kitchen get
ting dinner and having lot of fun in
the process. il her beaming, eager face
was any sign.
81 mixed a can Of split pea soup
with one of tomato. 1t makes a won
derful combination" she explained to
Jim and Pat without noticing me as
stood in the shadow of the studio
watching the rest OF them at work.
"And / sliced the cold ham and fried
the cold potatoes and made a viniag-
rette sauce for a can Of asparagus. SO,
IL nv prune whip comes out as / hope,
we'll have a topnotch dinner.
sounds great" Jim said. is II
one of those hot baked whips like
mother used TO maker"
"Yessirreel" laughed Jennie.
Her gayety and happiness were in
fictitious. As Pat darted out into the
kitchen 10 kiss the cook came for
ward and twitched Jim by the coat
tail with breezy:
Heres the wife Of a hungry
heart, furnishing for kisses"
Jim turned and started to take me
into his arms. Before they went
around me, however, he stopped, with
staring eyes and dropping jaw. A
tide OF crimson anger rose in his face.
what have you been doing to your
self?p he demanded. where did you
e 4ha
aScissors?" / repeated duly, quite
forgetting my odd couture. -.
"What the dickens made you 80 add
yourself to the crazy army OF fools
who want to look like high school
boys?" Jim stormed. why under
the sun did you have to bob your
hair?"
II was on the tip Of my tongue to
protest it wasn't bobbed-that 1 had
lust pinned it under for a lark and
without realizing the "Boyish bob "
j was Stimulating, when some spirit OF
mischief whispered that I seldom had
a chance to get a rise out of" Jim
and that this was a glorious chance
10 see what he would say next. So l
merely asked with pretended meek
ness:
Don't you like my hair?"
II did like it." Jim said grimly.
Don't you like it now?" asked.
II should think you might have
gathered that from what I've said. You
look like a boy. / don't want my
wife looking like a boy. You might
have consulted me. Where do you
get all your fool notions from, Anne?"
Jeanne came running into the room
fairly on tip-toe with excitement.
Suddenly she burst laughing. Mock
ing laughterl The kind to offend Jim
even to infuriate him.
"Her hair isn't bobbed at ALL she
chuckled. "It's just pinned under.
The Jokes on you, JIM"
actually trembled.
sHee's where the quarrel starts all
over again." / thought.
TT ITO Re Continuedl