The Washington times., 1935-11-18


planning to work six hours a day
:. maybe eight. But he said that
had nothing to do with it. He
said that didn't change the fact
that he didn't like the idea Of his
wife working.
Ann stared at him with
stricken, dismayed eyes. She had
thought they had settled all that
once and for all. And now.
here they were quarreling about
it; or If not actually quarreling,
looking hurt and unhappy about it.
She said slowly: IT thought we
had settled that. I thought we
had agreed that you weren't going
to feel that way about it."
Am I to blame" demanded
Kipp, his voice clipped, unemo-
tional, because I happen to be
the sort of man who likes to feel
that he is supporting his own
wife? Am I to blame because I
have always had a certain con-
tempt for those modern fifty.fifty
marriages? Damn it, Ann, a man
doesn't want a wife who is a good
business woman and can pay her
share of the expenses; he wants
q wife who is interested in him. :.
and the job Of being his wife!"
You sound" said Ann slowly,
her voice quivering suddenly,
completely Victorian. I suppose
you also want me to have at least
six children as soon as possible"
Then she said more calmly: I
thought we'd talked this all over
and decided there was no reason
why I shouldn't go on with the
shop. I thought you agreed with
me that there wasn't"
For a moment they faced each
other. eyes defiant, cigarettes
Smoldering in tense fingers, lips
set tightly, accusingly. Kipp
spoke first. He said, flinging the
words at her deliberately, witch
ing her finch beneath them:
I'VE did talk it over and I did
agree with you; but I had to be
married to you to realize how
much I was going to hate it."
Ann stopped looking at him and
looked over his shoulder. Sun.
light slid brightly through the
smallpaned windows, slid brightly
over his dark head, over one tense,
silk-clad shoulder. On the hearth
a log crumbled into scarlet and
gray emberS. The room was very
still except for their quick light
breathing.
Il suppose" she said finally, still
not looking at him, her fingers
shredding cigarette to fragments,
you realize that you are prac-
tically forcing me to give in to
you about this
Not at all" Kipp moved i'm
patiently, lifted himself to his feet
and kicked back his chair. "I am
simply agreeing with, you that it
is the thing to do. but I'll be
damned If I'll pretend to you that
I like it."
But I thought" protested Ann
desperately. that you. that we
s..
IT know. And I thought so too.
But I'm trying to tell you that I
wasn't married to- you then, Ann.
What you don't seem to realize
is that you're the sort Of woman
a man wants to, take care of.
protect. =" He stopped q n d
flushed darkly, suddenly feeling a
little foolish. Ann was staring at
him with such level, such amused
gray eyes. He said abruptly: "Oh,
what the hell. You're right, you
know. I haven't any right to ask
you to give up a job you like to
sit around home and watch me
struggle with one I like. as a
matter Of fact" he concluded
grimly, II should probably go quite
mad if you did,
And suddenly he was grinning
at her. quite Shamelessly. I'm
ploring her to forgive him for be-
having so badly. .imploring her
to laugh with him and at him and
forget about it. ......
Suddenly he was no longer a
young man with a grievance.
he was Kipp very much in love
with Ann. He flung his cigarette
away and walked around the table.
He took her in his arms and kissed
her eyes and her mouth and the
warm curve Of her throat. He
said: We're a couple of fools,
darling" He said: Forgive me
for being so rottenly poSSeSsive."
Ann clung to him and let her
self be kissed. She said, her voice
weakly relieved: you don't de-
serve to be forgiven for
moment. you had me positively
scared"
Don't be. don't ever be scared
about anything. You won't be-"
persisted Kipp softly, his lips
brushing the dark fragrance Of
her hair, will youP"
Ann said, mo" Her fingers
slid up beneath the sleeve Of his
dressing gown. .tightened about