Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1925-12-30
CHAPTER NTII-Continued

"Why, you're nothing but a lady's
maid Jane. You've been home five
DAYS and / haven't had a chance RI
say ten words to you. Now, don't mis-
understand me. I'm fond of Aunt To-
sephine She's great fun, but, hang If
all, she's right smack in the center
II the stage all the time. 1t isn't fair
Jane. You can't go on being a slave
40 her She"
"She has always had some one TO
wait on her, Oliver" said Jane. ST
dout mind. I am really very fond Of
her And she is just beginning TO
Hire for me. At first, l think she was
q little afraid of me. She couldn't be-
lave that / was real. The other day
IN Chicago-she suddenly reached ont
ind touched my arm and said: 1t
DOESN'T seem possible that you ever
sauaIled and made the night hideous
Tor me and your poor father. l can't
believe that you are the same little
baby / used to fOndle and spank when
wasn't any older than you are now
Besides, Oliver, like doing things
for her 1t makes father happy"
"But it doesn't make me happy" he
grumbled. Then his face frightened
Wasn't she great last night when she
got started on Uncle Horace and-and
an this hullabaloo he's stirring upY"
The fourth day after his wifes re-
turn to Rumley, Mr.. Sage blurted out
The question that had lain captive in
hls mind for weeks.
"If it is fair question, my dear,
would you mind telling me just why
YOU came back to me?"
She leaned back in her chair and
studied the ceiling for few minutes
before answering.
"I may as well be honest about It.
Herby," she said, changing her posi-
tion to meet his perplexed gaze with
one chat was absolutely free from
guile II came back because they
were through with me over there. I
was getting passe-in fact, was
quite passe. They were beginning to
east me for old women and character
parts. Two or three years ago they
started my funeral services by seeing
what I could do with Shakespeare. I
was through. My musical comedy DAYS
We're over. The stage was crowded
with young women who could dance
without wheeling like a horse with
the heaves and whose voices didn't
crack in the middle register. People
didn't want to see me in musical com
pdy any longer, and they wouldn't see
me in anything else. I'm fifty-three,
Herbert-between you ard me, mind
you-and just the right age to be a
preachers wife. SO l made up my
mind to retire. You notice, Herby.
didn't cable to ask If | could come
uome-I cabled thar was on the way.
Aow yoa know the secret of my home
coming BY the way, I've put by
iiu.e money-uuite a sum, in fact-so
}op mustn't regard me as a charity
gaHeut Wen pool our resources.
And when the time comes for you to
step down and out Of the pulpit for
Che same reason that / chucked the
stage-why, Wen have enough TO live
en- for the rest Of our days. You won't
have 10 write sermons and preach 'em,
and I shan't have 10 listen to them.
It's an awful thing to say, but Wen
both have to mend our ways if we
want our grandchildren to love u.s."
Tie aid his arm over her shoulder
and gently caressed her cheek.
You are still pretty much Of
pagan, JO," was all that he said, but
he was smiling.
But you are jolly well pleased to
have me back, aren't your"
More overjoyed than l can tell
you"
no doubts, no misgivings, no I'M
easiness over what l may do or say to
shock the worshipers?"
= have confidence in your ability as
an actress, Josephine" he said. 81 am
sure you can play the part of a lady
as well as anything else"
She flushed. "Score one," she said.
Then she sprang to her feet, the old
aEat Of mischief in her wonderful
eyes. But, Herby, what's going to
"Hipen when / spring all my spangles
on the innocent publicY
y shudder when l think of it," said
'e lifting his eyes heavenward.
! saved every respectable costume
I'VE worn in the last ten years-and
some that are shocking. Twelve
trunks full of them.
Never mind, old dear. l shan't
"'-race you. I've got few costumes
VIII put on in private for you. Bless
YOUR heart Herby, don't look SO hor-
.".'a I've still got my marriage
.g'0heate-though God only knows
where 1t is"
He cleared his throat. "I've got it,
any Gear. You neglected to take it
'"aJ with you when you left"
S"e smiled. "Well, 1 daresay it was
SD.rr with you than it would have
oeen with me-"
i was the fourth week in Septem-
oe' When the detectives arrived in
l'l'a.ey The city editor of the Des-
D"'c1 Interviewed Detective Malone,
vie chief Onproti1,e In cboroa IF what