Judge, 1914-12-05 · page 13 of 36
Judge — December 5, 1914 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a romantic comedy story-illustration, not political satire. It depicts Henderson, a man who abandoned a woman named Miriam a year prior without explanation, encountering her at Redondo Beach. She has since married Mr. Hickett, a wealthy but inattentive husband worth "ten millions" who is currently flirting with other women on the beach below. The humor centers on Miriam's pragmatic marriage: she married for money rather than love or physical attraction. She deliberately ignores her husband's calls and feigns poor hearing/sight to avoid witnessing his flirtations with other women. The "unexpected" element appears to be Henderson's reappearance and her cool reception of his renewed enthusiasm, having moved on to a financially advantageous (if emotionally unsatisfying) marriage. The satire targets women's limited options and marital compromises of the era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
«cYOU HERE? Well! This surprise is joyous!’’ He beamed upon her. “‘Joyous?"’ “Perfectly rapturous !’’ “What enthusiasm! When &% did you arrive?"’ # “An hour ago. But was I not always enthusiastic where you were concerned?”’ “*You were enthusiastic, I remember, when you suddenly disappeared from New York.’’ She cast down her eyes, but she still wore a smile. ‘*Where have you been?”” “Just got back from South America. But my enthusiasm has returned with me.’’ He looked at her ardently. “Do you imagine you are the only man in whom I have seen enthusiasm?"’ “Naturally not. Men have eyes and other senses. more attractive than ever.”’ They had met at Redondo Beach, on the Pacific, and it was the day before Christmas. She looked at him and still smiled, but with a certain air of reservation. ‘‘And yet you went away without a word to me, and for a year I have not heard from you, Mr. Henderson."’ “Plain mister, eh?” “Quite proper, isn’t it? Things have happened since I saw you.’’ She fingered a miniature pendant upon a chain at her throat. He peered at it. “*A man’s portrait. Whose?’’ “‘My husband’s. Let me introduce you to Mrs. Hickett. Delighted to meet you, Mr. Henderson, in my new character. I know you are pleased to see me again, for you have said it with lovely adjectives."’ “ Miriam!" ar Her name was shouted from the verge of the sea below them. Henderson looked for the source of the call and saw a bullet-headed, athletic male looking up You are es PADFADIAPISLPADIANG ™? 3 The Unexpected = By J. A, WALDRON at them. Miriam did not seem to hear. “I think that person down there called you,’’ suggested Henderson, who had lost a phase of his smile. “Mr. Hickett.”’ “‘Why,’’ and Henderson again peered at the miniature, ‘‘he doesn’t look exactly like this.’’ “No man looks the same in a bathing costume.’’ “You certainly didn’t marry this man for his physical har- mony and grace.’’ “You think that a shrewd conclusion, I suppose. He is worth ten millions.'"” “‘Well, that sum, even with his name, is passable. It would be passable to most women.”” “It didn’t passme. You remember, don’t you, that you dis- appeared suddenly? And I don’t believe you have one million.’” “But I have some other advantages, 1 believe he is calling you again.’’ Mr. Hickett was calling again. Mrs. Hickett turned and waved a hand at Mr. Hickett. “Yes. I heard him this time.’” “But why didn’t you hear him before?"’ “Just a notion. I sometimes pretend I’m hard of hearing and that my sight is poor. If I didn’t pretend my sight was poor I should see a lot of things that hurt a woman’s vanity, even if she is not madly in love with her husband. Now Mr. Hickett, as you can see with half an eye, is fond of other pretty women, There are two with him at the moment. I don’t care to go into the water with him, for he is ungallant enough to pay more attention to others than he does to me. And at the dances he always ignores me as long as there is another sightly woman to be had. Perhapo these aberrations, as I may call them, are because he is married to me. Besides, if he sees me even talking to a good-looking fellow like you—especially to a bachelor.