Argosy, Vol. 123, No. 1 — page 149: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A RINGING TALE. the boss. ‘“ But are you sure Jim knew you wanted a lorgnette?”’ “ Well, I should say so! I told him every time I saw him, for fear he’d make a mis- take. And when I saw that bunch of pur- ple knickknacks, I raised a holler. And what do you think he says? ‘That he wouldn’t encourage any such extravagant wishes as that, because when he and I get married, we'll be poor people! Think of it! A man that deliberately intends to stay poor all his life thinking a girl would marry him! And me—that can get any fellow in Medford, honest! You may not believe that, Mr. Thatcher, but it’s true.” “ T haven’t a doubt of it,” the boss hastily reassured her, casting an admiring glance at her pretty face and neatly gowned figure of girlhood. “Well,” Maggie went on, “ after I’d told him the sixth time that I wanted a lawn- yett, I stopped. I have my pride. But when he sent me that purple celluloid set, on Friday, and then came around on Satur- day, to take me to the park and look at the animals, I refused! And I refused so hard that he just hustled right down-stairs and out the front door and said nothing.” ‘The wretch!” sympathized the boss. © And then?” “ And then—” Maggie paused reminis- cently, and shook her head. ‘“ And then Bessie Barnes came around to see me. You remember Bessie—I’ve told you all about her—that little softy that lives with her brother and his wife and takes care of those five squalling kids while Jennie washes and irons and cooks for the whole family. Don’t some married women have it fierce?” “‘ Most of them,” assented the boss quick- ly. ‘“ Why women ever marry us—” Maggie nodded. “ Yes, but you’re one of the few men who will admit it—and I bet you pick a lemon finally. However,” she hurried on, seeing the boss looked em- barrassed, ‘‘ around comes Bessie, all cheer- ful and happy, because she’s got a day off, because her sister-in-law was all crippled’ up with rheumatism, and couldn’t wash or anything, and had took those five children off for a holiday. Personally, I wouldn’t call it much of a holiday to drag five squall- ‘ing kids in and out of street-cars and over _ others. 139 a lot of rough ground to a picnic-park, and slap and bang them all day because they will get jam and everything all over the things that I’d just washed and ironed and starched for them—would you?”’ The boss shook his head emphatically. ‘“ Some people are easily amused,” he ad- mitted. ‘Or has got strong nerves,” opined Mag- gie, sighing faintly, “ not like me. I guess fine nerves and appreciation of fine wearing apparel and jewelry go together.” ‘“‘ Undoubtedly,”’ agreed the boss. ‘Well, I guess I didn’t act very glad to see Bessie—she’s a nice little thing, but so soft. Why, J can make her do anything— but what I made her do that day—O-o!” Maggie paused in appreciation of the re- sults of her own superior will-power. “Well, she noticed that I wasn’t very happy, and she began trying to make me feel better by contrasting my fate with Ain’t that a fool way some folks have of doing? Nothing makes me madder, nor makes me feel worse, to realize what a rotten world this is, anyway! Don’t it your” ‘It does,” assented the boss. ‘Well, Bessie started in to make me feel pleased and satisfied with that purple cellu- loid set by telling me what an awful time old Mrs. Graham is having. You’ve heard me speak of old Mrs. Graham—she must be seventy, if she’s a day—and so thin, you'd think she’d break in two. And poor! Say, if she manages to get April’s rent paid by the last of August she faints with joy. And she used to live such a different. life—she was a vaudeville actress in her. day, and used to smoke cigarettes—twenty a day, she says. But I think she exagger- ates—just to annoy Jennie, Bessie’s sister- in-law, who is awful straight-laced. “Well, anyway, Bessie tries to cheer me up by telling me that this poor old thing has pawned everything she ever owned, even down to the cigarette-case that she clung so hard to. And worst of all—show- ing you how diplomatic my friend Bessie is—she tells me that Mrs. Graham has pawned the lawnyett she showed us last winter, that some crowned-head had given her. = comiclboool ©