The Washington times., 1937-12-06


fight his way to some spot which
would take him from the scene
Joe was a born pacifist.
Joe married Stella Dwight. Well
Joe and Stella were married. but
Judging him on form in past races
ten would get you fifty that Stella
married him.
Stella probably raised her manly
voice when she said, I love yot
Joe and I think we will get mar
ried Immediately" And so they
were married.
Stella was everything Joe was
not. She would have made a mucf
better soldier than Joe because she
loved fighting for its own sake
She fought with everybody sne
ever knew. When she coulon'
find anybody to fight with, she
fought with herself. oo
They were married early IN 1871
not long after Joe got home with
the boys from overseas. They
didn't make such a bad looking
couple at the altar.
UNUSUAL COUPLE
Standing very erect, the top OF
his head came up to a little above
Stella'S mammoth shoulder. They
looked something like little boy
beside a large circus tent, because
Stella was large and dark.
Her little black eyes snapped.
Her big mouth was closed firmly
for the moment. Her curves,
even then, were threatening 20
overflow. Even as a young girl
Stella was big.
The organ played Mendelsohn' S
Wedding March, but what should
have been in that choir loft was a
firing squad to fire three volleys
and a bugler to sound taps.
For it was at that moment that
Joe died, if death is a complete
loss of individuality. Stella simply
reached out and took it over.
There is one thing of which
Stella could never be accused. She
never used that Sneaky subtlety
with which women from time i'm
memorial have bent men to their
will. She merely decided that a
thing was to be done. She told
Joe to do it and Joe did.
In the very first phases of their
married life, Joe got up the temer-
ity to argue. He stood upon what
he fondly imagined were his rights.
He stood up with his little fists
clenched and told the world and
Stella that he'd be damned if he'd
do it. Stella would look at him in
mild surprise.
Then she would reach down
among her lower octaves and pull
out the full stop on her voice. She
sounded like a bull fiddle out Of
control. Joe hated noise. He did
what he was told.
Stella made only one mistake in
handling Joe in all the twenty
years of their married life. Once,
when they were married about
seven months, she struck him.
FIRST MISTAKE
At first, Joe thought the sock he
had just received on the side of
his jaw was a love pat. Stella
made love like a tigress. But when
he found the blow had been struck
in malice, he became very indig-
nant indeed.
Being a little man, he was very
jealous of his dignity. That was
what made him such a good hand
to-hand fighter in the war.
He stared at Stella a moment in
Mortified surprise. She mistook it
for bewilderment and fear and
started another haymaker to his
eye. It never landed. She became
the landing field Of more open
hands than she had ever seen.
Then, despite her size and
weight, she felt herself lifted and
hurled into the air. While sailing
through it. she took time to
wonder what part or parts of her
would be broken. But she landed
on the bed.
The bed collapsed, but that
never was important. When she
opened her eyes, she found Joe
glaring down at her with blazing
eyes.
Stella" he said mildly, don't
ever do that again. 1t anoys me
to be hit"
Stella, being intelligent, obeyed
him in that one thing. Never
again. no matter how angry and
disguised she became with Joe
did she ever put her hand to him
in anger.
WELL" she would say, "Joe and
! may have our little ouarrels
and Spats, What married couple
doesn't? But I'll say this. we
never have to resort to physica
violence, like some people I know
No matter how angry we get, We
always remember one thing. We
are q lady and a gentleman"
THRIFTY MAN
But they were fairly successful
Joe got q job as a bookkeeper
And he was plodder. He ap
portioned his money. He spent s.
much for upkeep, so much TO.
amusement.
He saved a little every week
That savings account grew. I
bought them a home and it en-
abled them, to pay the interes
when it came due and to cut
) chunk of it off every year.
They were saved one item o
expense. They never had an,
FrfI.s