RISING TO THE OCCASION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17245, 11 January 1924, Page 9

RISING TO THE OCCASION.

It lay in its little cradle of orange velvet in the jeweller’s window and looked very beautiful. It strangely attracted me. The rich, blue hue of its amber resembled the honey of the clover-fed bee. I coveted it-. I regarded with disfavour the little yellow patches on my first and second fingers. Why should I endure them longer? After all, why should IP I entered the shop. “ You have an amber cigaretteholder in the window,” I said. “ It is quite a plain one in a little orange case. I will buy it.” When I left the shop a few minutes later it was in my pocket. It seemed to me that there was something odd in Elaine’s manner. She appeared to be expecting something. She was anxious, unsettled. ‘‘ Anything gone wrong?” I asked. “ Cook isn’t leaving again, I hope.” “ No,” she said with infinite sadness, “ it’s—it’s not cook.” ** Well, Mary, then? Has she been Elaine smiled wanly. “ Oh, it’s nothing domestic,” she sighed. “ I’ve only been thinking, that’s all. Men alter so quickly, don’t they?” “Do they?” I said vaguely. “ They—they forget so soon.” 1 Forget what?” I asked. “ Oh, nothing,'’ 6he murmured. “ 1 —I don’t suppose it matters really. Only we .women are rather sentimental. \\ e don’t like our husbands to—to “Of course not,” I said frankly. “ Nobody would.” Elaine glanced at me doubtfully. “ Do you know what to-day is?” she asked. w Tuesday,” I said. She sighed pathetically. “ you have forgotten,” she whispered. “ I knew it was silly to hope. Why, it is the anniversary of our wedding day. Still, I mustn’t blame you, I suppose. I only remembered it myself this afternoon.” i looked at Elaine reproachfully. Previously she has remembered our wedding dAy in the morning “Darling,” I said j n a sad , hurt tone, you should never judge others by yourseh. It is a practice that leads to much unhappiness. All men nre not so iorgetful as—as some women. Just shut your eyes and open your mouth and accept what a good husband has brought you ” eUe'holder" 1 -gar. M. L.-N.