Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 225, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 October 1917 — Emma’s Experiment [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Emma’s Experiment

By John Elkins

(Copyright. 1817, by W. G. Chapman.) Emma, Baxter had gradually come to a realizing sense that her husband was tired of her, and had begun to look around for a younger wife. They had been married nearly thirty years, and she had attended steadily and faithfully to the domestic side of the partnership while Joel was out in the big world accumulating a fortune. Quite naturally these very different pursuits had very different effects on the two people. Mrs. Baxter had not felt that she could take the time for dubs and mental culture while the meals were to be bought jtnd cooked, and the children’s clothes to be looked after. Then when their circumstances no longer demanded that she should cook the meals there were the children growing up, and their interests to be looked after, entertaining their friends, an<f consulting dressmakers. Later on the business of betrothals and weddings took her time, till now when she seemed to be no longer needed for these things, and everyone else had gone on In the pursuit of his or her own happiness, she discovered that her husband had also found her no longer necessary or in fact desirable. At first this brought a sinking at the heart, and a good many tears. But Rrnma Baxter was not the sort to waste much time in tears. She had always been a resourceful woman, one who faced a situation, and courageously tackled it. She proceeded to do W bqw. finnwihing Jikft a lawyer she started out to consider both sides of ;the case, and to take the testimony of both parties. She took Joel’s testimony first. He was being greatly at-

tracted to young girls with slender figures, very short dresses, and absurdly rakish hats. He had come to the time when he had more leisure for amusement, and he liked to take this kind of girl to suppers, the theater, and on little trips to Coney Island. Furthermore she had reason to believe that he wanted this girl to sit opposite to him at his own table, especially when he invited his gay friends, and the present Mrs. Joel Baxter was either silent or floundered hopelessly in the sea of modern frivolity. Joel was not a millionaire, and he could not pay an unlimited price for his new luxury. liFfact he came near being stingy when jt came to home expenditures. Now for the case of Emma Baxter. She looked in the mirror, and took account of her personal* attractions. It was about the first! time she ever considered this subject seriously. She had always been too busy doing thipgs for others to take the time. She was“a decidedly fat figure, a very double chin, hair streaked' with gray, and a switch that didn’t exactly match. There were lines around the eyes and mouth, and the cheeks sagged. To be sure the eyes were bright and the mouth still shapely in the line of the lips; but on the whole the reflection was a failure taken purely from the point of physical attraction. As for reducing, so many women of her age looked worse than ever in the face after they got reduced. No, that seemed a rather impossible proposition. She had heard of women who had their faces peeled, and came out with the complexions of infants; but she couldn’t consider that for a moment; and she had always said she would not dye her hair, no matter wlmteame. Well the question of physical rejuvenation seemed impossible. She might go to a hairdresser, and see what could be done in that line. ;And probably her gowns might made more becoming. Still on the whole the possibility of entering the contest with the svelte young thing in short dresses on the 'ground of outward attractiveness was distinctly out of the Here Mrs, Baxter sat down, and

heaved a heavy sigh. After all on what other gtwnds could she compete? The appearance w’as about all Joel could be thinking of. But was it all? Emma Baxter sat some time pondering this in her heart. Then she took a resolve. The next day when Joel came home to dinner he found Miss Mildred Cook there. To say that he was surprised would scarcely express it. Mildred was very pretty, very much up to date, and the girl to whom he was most deyoted. She had a studio, studied art, and was exceedingly bohemian and unconveiitional. For these reasons Mrs. Baxter knew she would not mind her unceremonious invitation to dine. Baxter could not conceal his very evident delight at having the young lady to dinner. Mrs. Baxter promised her that Mr. Baxter would take her home in their car. But quite late that evening Mrs. Baxter on,ordering the car heard that it could not be taken out on account of a break somewhere, so she begged the young lady to remain overnight, and take a motor trip with them to'the seashore. Joel of course added his entreaties, and Mildred remained. Returning late, Mrs. Baxter again urged the girl to stay overnight, and the next day prevailed upon her to make them a visit of a few days. Mildred being something of the ‘salamander’ type, all being fish that came to her net, and convincing herself that anything she could get out of ‘old Baxter’ was clear gain, very willingly remained. The next day Mrs. Baxter received a telegram saying a near relative was very ill. She told Mildred she must take the next train, and begged her as a great favor to “stay and take care of Mr. Baxter,” she would not be gone long. But Mrs. Baxter’s visit stretched out into weeks. She wrote often, speaking of the progress of the patient, and hoping to be soon home, adding she trusted Miss Cook was taking good care of him. During her self-imposed absence — for there was no ill relative —Emma was doing some speculating as to the outcome. She was giving Joel a ehance to find out If he really wanted to exchange her for the gtri. Finally she decided to go home, and face the result, bitter though It might be. Mildred met her. exquisitely gowned, and smiling,. Emma found her husband up in his room looking tired and rather worn. He seemed glad to see her. But that was undoubtedly just a bluff. “Good heavens! Joel what have you done to your hair? It’s .awful black in front, and three shades lighter In the back!” she exclaimed. —“Well, I tried to do It myself, and I made a mess of it,” he explained. Mrs. Baxter always “touched up” her husband’s hair, and kept It a nice, even brown, and she carefully concealed her amusement at his discomfiture. “Great Scott!” he growled, rummaging in the closet. “I’ve bought two pairs of slippers since you’ve been gone! That fool maid never puts ’em where I can find ’em.”

Again Emma concealed a smile. “Look here Emma, I just can’t dress for dinner. I’m all In. I wish you’d have it sent up, and tell Mildred I’m not well enough to come down.” Emma found his slippers, made him comfortable, and promised to send up his dinner. Later on she heard from Mildred about the good times she had been having. Judging from theuplaces where Joel had taken her. and the continuous round of gaiety they had pursued, it was no wonder Joel looked worn and tired. The next evening Mrs. Baxter caught Joel with his dinner clothes in his hand. He gave them a vicious throw onto the bed, and turned on her with: “There! I’ll be hanged if I’ll put them on! I’m going down just as I am. if Mildred is shocked.” “I haven’t been shocked all these years when you didn’t dress for dinner,” quietly observed Emma. “No." he answered. “See here Emma. couldn’t you tell Mildred you and I are thinking of taking a trip away to the mountains. We’ll go away together, and have a good old rest.” Emma was so happy she made an errand into the next room to do away with the tears that would come.

“Well, I Tried to Do It Myself, and I Made a Mess of It.”