Argosy All-Story Weekly, November 13, 1920 — page 93: what you’re looking at

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

WHO’S her named for Aunt Judith—it 11 mean a lot to her.” : ‘So far as that goes, I don’t give a hang about your Aunt Judith or her money, but if you want her named Judith—name her that,” Robert had conceded. He spoke almost crossly. Miriam couldn’t understand. And not usderstanding, she wept copi- ously. ‘“How can you—how dare you speak to me like that!” she almost wailed. ‘‘ You’d never have spoken to me like that before we were married. You don’t love me like you did then—I know you don’t—” “ Please—please, don’t’ begin that again, Miriam,” Robert protested. ‘I’ve told you time and again that I love you more than I ever did. I’ve tried to explain—to make you feel it. It may not be the same kind of unthinking love, but there’s more of it, and it’s stronger. Besides, I can’t see what that has to do with choosing a name for the baby. I simply like Miriam, and Id like for her to be named for you. But of course if you want Judith—why, it ll be Judith.’ II. LirTLE Judith was one year old when Robert found himself one day taking an inventory of himself. He had just failed to land a very important contract. And he knew that there was no good reason why he should have lost it. His wares were as good as those of his competitors. Also the people letting the contract were inclined toward his firm. And Robert told himself that he had failed to land the business sim- ply because he had fet his competitors out- talk him. The realization started him thinking. He knew that two years ago there was no young man in the brokerage business -who could outtalk him. Two years ago he would not have been afraid to go up against any man in New York City when it came to landing a contract. But he seemed to have lost his power to convince others. The responsibility for this condi- tion, he knew, was directly traceable to his domestic life. He had become accustomed to giving in BOSS? 371 at home. And the weakness was creeping into his office and his business. He had become so accustomed to admitting to Mi- riam “ you're right—I’m wrong ”—if not in so many words, by his every action— that he had lost, or was losing, the power to convince others that he was right—even in his business. After communing with himself for half an hour, Robert was convinced of one thing—steps must be taken. And the first step must be taken at home and imme- diately. By the time he arrived there in the eve- ning he had figured out a pretty well founded plan of action, the paramount idea being that he was to quit letting his com- mon sense be subservient to Miriam’s whims. He knew in his soul that it would not be an easy program to follow. Above all things in the world, he hated scenes—es- pecially domestic scenes. But if scenes were necessary to bring back his self-assur- ance and to curb his financial downfall— why, scenes there’d be. At home he found Miriam in a high state of excitement. : “Oh, I don’t know what I’m going to do about everything,” she began when they were seated at the table. ‘‘ It’s such a re- sponsibility—being married, and having children.” ‘““What’s wrong now?” Robert Edwards asked. ‘It’s about little Judy, and Alice. I’ve simply got to have another maid. Alice can’t serve as maid and nurse, too, and take proper care of Judy.” ‘““She’s been doing it, hasn’t she?” he hazarded. ‘Yes, but Judy’s getting bigger. She’ll soon be walking, and she has to be watched every minute. Oly this morning, while Alice was straightening up, the little dar- ling found «a hairpin—the Lord. knows where—and when I came in she had it in her mouth. fust think, Bobbie, she might have swallowed it.” : ‘““ Couldn’t you keep an eye on her your- self when Alice is busy? You have two servants new, and it seems to me that’s enough in an apartment the size of ours.” A