Show FICTION THE ION THE LAST STRAW SIRA W CORNER By Lula W. W Kellams THEIR EARLIER married IN years Flora and Ralph Wilson were an ideal couple Both were handsome and Jolly with identical identical cal tastes and friends But as they grew older Flo matured while Ralph tried to say boyish and Minute frisky 3 Fiction Why not act your age she oft often e n asked wistfully We have such a lovely comfortable home for middle aged Our department store is 11 enough for older manage manage- ment You dont don't have to keep up a front Ralph would chuckle Not Jealous jealous jeal Jeal- ous of your old man are you Laby No I dont don't show the years a bit do I 11 Its not honest Flo FIo contended Everyone recognizes middle age when he sees it Anyone can a toupee But she knew when to hush They mustn't quarrel over trifles Of course curse she didn't think this growing grow grow- ing ng breach in their ages was a rifle but Ralph did Every day she felt more strongly that something must be done to preserve pre pre- serve erve their marriage and every everyday day ay she could think of no possible solution I One morning she said I 1 I dont don't feel eel like Uke going to the store dearm dear m Im sure Miss Gray can manage lone alone There is housecleaning and things to do here Okay dear Ralph agreed kissing her good Fear stabbed Flo Fla Why did he be agree so 50 hastily Why didn't he ask her what was wrong She Funniest thing happened Ralph said When I took off my hat my toupee came off too had an Impulse to change her ber mind and go But Dut tears team and sell self were aching In her eyes and throat To conceal her feelings she sal said briskly Wear this old hat dear I want to send that one to the cleaners But its it's so shabby and it doesn't fit well Stubbornly Flo FIo held out the old straw hat until he donned it reluctantly leaving his soft gray felt feU felton on a chair She refused to watch him swagger off whistling like their son Danny when he was a college freshman Tears blurred her vision while sha picked up things and cleaned and swept Wasn't there something that would av save their marriage something something some some- thing like taking reducing exercises or turning kittenish The idea was revolting She had no heart to with their three young daughters If If- If if she had Just begun years ago trying to remain remain re re- main glamorous instead of turning Into a mother maybe things wo would d dhave have worked out better By DY NOON she felt less frustrated She even hummed while she whipped up Ralphs Ralph's favorite cake and cooked If she had an especially appetizing supper and the children were in Jubilant mood maybe Ralph would see how well oft off he was Maybe Just once he would forget his diet At the children called saying they had to stay Itay for play practice Flos Flo's spirits drooped Would Ralph call too pretending that business detained him leaving her in inthe the dark silent house ouse She waited with apprehension At sharp she heard the car top stop then Ralph Ralph's step n the porch Supper ready Mom he called Dread gripped Flo Hed He'd called her mom Instead of baby or dearl Just one days day's staying s home mad mado her seem old fashioned to He lIe strode Into the living Mom lom youre you're looking at a successful suc suc- man Today I landed that tat fat Atkinson account air Mr their new buyer said laid 1 I looked like a settled respects bio ble business man He chuckled at Flo's Flos lo astonished tace ace Funniest thing happened Remember how tight that old straw hat was Well the minute I took itoU W it off oU to in front of that Miss Mill Ora Gray and the tho office force torce they all aU started giggling My loty toupee came off oU too o 0 I glared like I meant to look fifty instead of ot thirty It Its It's a wonderful wonderful won won- feeling of relief What's f tor supper Mom and your our favorite c k As they marched in to supper sup up- per er arm ann in arm Flo Just knew that thit there never Elever had bad been such luch a lovely ballS bald head as her ber husbands husband's p- p |