The Wasp, 1918 · page 300 of 330
The Wasp — 1918 — page 300: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains no cartoon or satirical illustration—it's prose fiction from *The Wasp* magazine (page 291). The text appears to be the conclusion of a romantic narrative about characters named Willis and Kitty. The story describes Willis recovering from fever, marrying Kitty (who nursed him), and planning to move to the English countryside to practice medicine. It establishes their secure future: Willis comes from a respectable yeoman family with property, and they'll inherit a rose-covered cottage. A character named James Burnham made an unmentioned visit or gift to Kitty that she keeps secret from Willis. Without seeing preceding pages, the full satirical context is unclear. However, the conspicuous secrecy about Burnham's involvement suggests *The Wasp* may be critiquing romantic deception or class dynamics. The emphasis on Willis's family credentials and financial security hints at social commentary on marriage and respectability in late 19th-century America.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE WASP 291 to perfection, nursed her lover night and day, had in the best doctor, and paid all charges as she went. To cut a long story short, Willis recovered from the fever and married Kitty without delay. _ Nursing him had evidently agreed with her, for she had recovered her looks to an amazing extent. She told him nothing of James Burnham’s visit or gift. It was decided that they should go to the country and live very quietly in his home village, where he owls practice his profession. : : On the night before the morning of their departure from London they sat for hours at their open window. Her head rested upon his shoulder and his right arm was about her slender waist. He told her of his people, of the old farmhouse, of the broad acres, of the sleepy village. His father was a substantial yeoman, proud of his class and his family traditions. His mother was the youngest daughter of a small country gentleman. There was a cottage of old pink brick in the village, its walls clambered over. by climbing roses, which would be theirs for the asking. Even should his practice be small, want would not touch them. The grey face of want and the comichooks.com