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domesticity。
But while on the way Mr。 Dougherty altered those
intentions。 He had been casting stealthy glances at
his attractive companion and he was seized with the
conviction that she was no selling plater。 He re…
solved to parade with his wife past Seltzer's cafe；
where at this time a number of his tribe would be
gathered to view the daily evening procession。 Yes；
and he would take her to dine at Hoogley's； the swell…
est slow…lunch warehouse on the line； he said to
himself。
The congregation of smooth…faced tribal gentle…
men were on watch at Seltzer's。 As Mr。 Dougherty
and his reorganized Delia passed they stared； mo…
mentarily petrified； and then removed their hats … a
performance as unusual to them as was the astonish…
ing innovation presented to their gaze by 〃Big Jim〃。
On the latter gentleman's impassive face there ap…
peared a slight flicker of triumph … a faint flicker；
no more to be observed than the expression called
there by the draft of little casino to a four…card spade
flush。
Hoogley's was animated。 Electric lights shone
as； indeed； they were expected to do。 And the napery；
the glassware and the flowers also meritoriously per…
formed the spectacular duties required of them。 The
guests were numerous； well…dressed and gay。
A waiter … not necessarily obsequious … conducted
〃Big Jim〃 Dougherty and his wife to a table。
〃Play that menu straight across for what you like；
Dele；〃 said 〃Big Jim。〃 〃It's you for a trough of
the gilded oats to…night。 It strikes me that maybe
we've been sticking too fast to home fodder。〃
〃Big Jim's〃 wife gave her order。 He looked at
her with respect。 She had mentioned truffles； and be
bad not known that she knew what truffles were。 From
the wine list she designated an appropriate and de…
sirable brand。 He looked at her with some admiration。
She was beaming with the innocent excitement that
woman derives from the exercise of her gregarious…
ness。 She was talking to him about a hundred things
with animation and delight。 And as the meal pro…
gressed her cheeks； colorless from a life indoors； took
on a delicate flush。 〃Big Jim〃 looked around the
room and saw that none of the women there had her
charm。 And then he thought of the three years she
had suffered immurement； uncomplaining； and a flush
of shame warmed him； for he carried fair play as an
item in his creed。
But when the Honorable Patrick Corrigan； leader
in Dougherty's district and a friend of his； saw them
and came over to the table； matters got to the three…
quarter stretch。 The Honorable Patrick was a gal…
lant man； both in deeds and words。 As for the Blar…
ney stone； his previous actions toward it must have
been pronounced。 Heavy damages for breach of
promise could surely have been obtained had the
Blarney stone seen fit to sue the Honorable Patrick。
〃Jimmy； old man！〃 he called； he clapped Dough…
erty on the back； be shone like a midday sun upon
Delia。
〃Honorable Mr。 Corrigan … Mrs。 Dougherty；〃
said 〃Big Jim。〃
The Honorable Patrick became a fountain of en…
tertainment and admiration。 The waiter had to
fetch a third chair for him； he made another at the
table； and the wineglasses were refilled。
〃You selfish old rascal！〃 he exclaimed； shaking an
arch finger at 〃Big Jim；〃 〃to have kept Mrs。
Dougherty a secret from us。〃
And then 〃Big Jim〃 Dougherty； who was no
talker； sat dumb； and saw the wife who had dined
every evening for three years at home； blossom like
a fairy flower。 Quick； witty； charming； full of light
and ready talk； she received the experienced attack
of the Honorable Patrick on the field of repartee and
surprised； vanquished； delighted him。 She unfolded
her long…closed petals and around her the room
became a garden。 They tried to include 〃Big
Jim〃 in the conversation； but he was without a
vocabulary。
And then a stray bunch of politicians and good
fellows who lived for sport came into the room。 They
saw 〃Big Jim〃 and the leader； and over they came
and were made acquainted with Mrs。 Dougherty。 And
in a few minutes she was holding a salon。 Half a
dozen men surrounded her； courtiers all； and six
found her capable of charming。 〃Big Jim〃 sat；
grim； and kept saying to himself： 〃Three years；
three years！〃
The dinner came to an end。 The Honorable Pat…
rick reached for Mrs。 Dougherty's cloak； but that
was a matter of action instead of words； and Dough…
erty's big band got it first by two seconds。
While the farewells were being said at the door
the Honorable Patrick smote Dougherty mightily
between the shoulders。
〃Jimmy； me boy；〃 he declared； in a giant whis…
per； 〃the madam is a jewel of the first water。 Ye're
a lucky dog。〃
〃Big Jim〃 walked homeward with his wife。 She
seemed quite as pleased with the lights and show
windows in the streets as with the admiration of the
men in Hoogley's。 As they passed Seltzer's they
heard the sound of many voices in the cafe。 The
boys would be starting the drinks around now and
discussing past performances。
At the door of their home Delia paused。 The
pleasure of the outing radiated softly from her
countenance。 She could not hope for Jim of evenings；
but the glory of this one would Tighten her lonely
hours for a long time。
〃Thank you for taking me out； Jim；〃 she said；
gratefully。 〃You'll be going back up to Seltzer's
now； of course。〃
〃To with Seltzer's；〃 said 〃Big Jim；〃 em…
emphatically。 〃And d Pat Corrigan！ Does
he think I haven't got any eyes？
And the door closed behind both of them。
LITTLE SPECK IN GARNERED FRUIT
The honeymoon was at its full。 There was a flat
with the reddest of new carpets； tasselled portieres
and six steins with pewter lids arranged on a ledge
above the wainscoting of the dining…room。 The won…
der of it was yet upon them。 Neither of them had
ever seen a yellow primrose by the river's brim； but if
such a sight had met their eyes at that time it would
have seemed like … well； whatever the poet expected
the right kind of people to see in it besides a prim…
rose。
The bride sat in the rocker with her feet resting
upon the world。 She was wrapt in rosy dreams and a
kimono of the same hue。 She wondered what the peo…
ple in Greenland and Tasmania and Beloochistan
were saying one to another about her marriage to
Kid McGarry。 Not that it made any difference。
There was no welter…weight from London to the
Southern Cross that could stand up four hours … no；
four rounds … with her bridegroom。 And he had
been hers for three weeks； and the crook of her little
finger could sway him more than the fist of any 142…
pounder in the world。
Love； when it is ours； is the other name for self…
abnegation and sacrifice。 When it belongs to people
across the airshaft it means arrogance and self…con…
ceit。
The bride crossed