Show The Fiction INFECTIOUS LAUGH Richard H Wilkinson Corner IT WAS ETHAN PRYOR'S laughter laughter laugh laugh- ter that first attracted Abigail to him When Ethan laughed every everyone everyone everyone one else laughed The sound had that mirthful appealing quality that was infectious It was good to hear It gave you a feeling of well- well being This Ibis all aU happened In 1929 when Ethans Ethan's retail antique business was netting him 15 15 a year It was easy to laugh then They were a jolly couple In 1931 1031 Ethans Ethan's retail antique business dropped off aU from one half its top amount to third one-third then to one That year passed and the next The didn't find it so easy to tola la laugh ugh They gave up their theira a seven room e ven-r ven o om 3 3 Fiction apartment and moved into a aless aless aless less expensive one In January of 1934 they moved to a single room in an unfashionable able part of the city Ethan was barely making enough to keep them from starving Abigail hunted for a week and eventually won for tor hers herself ell a Job It wasn't much of a job She sat behind a glass window all aU afternoon after atler noon and evening selling tickets for fora a stock company performance The stock company wasn't doing so well It looked as though it might fold up any day But it paid 15 a week and would have to do until she could get something better Inspired a little tittle ashamed Ethan went Job hunting himself him him- self eU lie He hunted a week two w wee weeks e e k I a without success lie Ue began beran to brood Abigail did her best belt to cheer him up to get him Mm into a happy happ frame of ef mind Lets Let hear the old laugh ring rIne out darling A plea pleasant ant frame of mind mind is half hail the battle She sat on the arm ann of his hi chair Tell TeU you OU what Lets Let's celebrate Lets Let's take 3 5 and go A down to Tonys to We Wo can have a gay time for a change VHEY TIlEY WENT to Tonys The They 1 drank wine and ate a big din din- per nero They danced They sat and watched the floor show It wasn't a bad floor show Among other things there was wal a comedian The comedian was sad He wasn't funny But Abigail laughed She laughed as though she thought h her he was tremendously funny Ethan looked at a her A fond light came into his hIa eyes ees She Shi was trying to be bo ga gay She was wu doing al aU she ahe could to bolster up hi his bI spirits lIe He could at least leu help belp Ethan laughed it was the old time mirthful appealing laughter It rolled out and filled tilled the room Others heard huret It Others Other laughed They couldn't help It The They laughed with Ethan The comedian was in In- After the show a man came up and sat down at Ethans Ethan's and Abigail's Abi Abl galls gall's table Abigail Introduced him himas as the owner of the stock company show where she sold tickets ts His name was Jones Listen said Mr 1 Jones Well pay you yon 5 a night to come and laugh at our show Its It's supposed to be a funny show You can put It across Ethan scratched his chin He Bo looked at Abigail He said Well Veil I dunno For 40 a week I J might consider It Sold said Mr Jones Ethan looked at his wife wile when he got home You d it he accused Sure said Abigail When in have something it should ba be cashed in on You can laugh your my way I b briches riches my dear Times were getting better P People Pre Peo- pie were buying antiques By Efi th b beginning of 1936 1938 be he was dot dom doing quite well That summer hi ha c ix his shop Well Wello said Abigail IJ I Iguess guess we laughed our way that depression all aU right Ethan kissed her Then he be to back his head and began to Ui lenA There Then lIe He laughed loud and long he said That laugh isn't going b cost any anyone one a cent From now urea i iI CD I laugh because I want to and Ind t fret of charge Honey I love you H Ditto said Abigail |