The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-03-29
my HUsBAYD's SECOND WIFE

My husband came tenderly to my
side.
care you going out this evening,
love2"
l looked down eomplacently at my
dress of pink Grape, dew-dropped over
with crystal, and the trails of pink
azaleas that caught up,its folds here and
there. A diamond bracelet encircled
one round, white arm and a little cross
blazed fitfully at my throat. 1 had
never looked better, and / felt q sort of
girlish pride as my eye met the fair
reflection in my polished mirror.
"Come, Gerald, make hastel Why,
you haven't begun to dress YETI"
Where were my wifely instincts, that
/ did not see the haggard look on his
features-the fevered light in his eyes !?
al cannot go tonight, Madeline; I am
not well enough"
"You are never we'll enough to
oblige me, Gerald. am tired of being
put of with excuses"
He made no answer. but dropped his
head in his hands upon the table before
him.
"Oh, come, Gerald" / urged petu-
lantly, it is SO awkward for me to 60
alone always"
He shook his head listlessly.
"I thought perhaps that you would
be willing to remain at home with
me, Madeline"
"Men are so selfshp' said plain.
lively; "and / am we'll dressed
Claudia took half an hour for my hair
dare say you'll be great deal quietel
here without me-that is, if you are
determined not to CO."
No answer again.
"Well, If you choose to be sullen,
can't help it," / said lightly, as l turned
and went out of the room, adjusting m!
bouquet-holder, the tube-rose and hello
tropes seeming to distil incense a
every motion.
Was / heartless and cruel? Had
ceased to love my husband? From tn,
bottom of my heart I believed that
loved him as truly and tenderly as eve
wife did but had been SO spoiled anc
petted all my life, that the better in
stincts were, so to speak, entombet
alive.
/ went to the party and had my FL
OF adulation and homage, as usual. TIL
hours seemed to glide away, shod wit
roses and winged with music an
perfume; and it was not until, wearie
with dancing, / sought momentar
refuge in the half-lighted tea-room, ths
/ heard words wakening me, as it were
from dream.
"Gerald Glenp
could not be well mistaken in tn
pame-it was scarcely common-plac
enough for that. They were talking
two or three business-like looking gel
tlemen-in the hall without, and
could catch, now and then, fugiti,
word or phrase.
"Fine, enterprising, young fellowp-
"Great pityW-"Totally ruined,
Bees & McMorken say p'-" Reckle
extravaganza of his wife,
And these vague fragments / hearc
and some one said, "And what is |
going TO do now?"
"What can he do2 Poor fellow!
am truly sorry; but he should ha
calculated his income and his expens
more accurately"
"Or his wife should. Oh, the
womenl they are at the bottom of all
mans troubles"
And they laughed. Oh, how cou
they. i had yet to learn how easy it
in this world, to hear other peopl,
troubles.
/ rose hurriedly up, with my hes
beating tumultuously beneath nv pil
azaleas, and went back to the light
saloon Albany Moore was waiting
claim my hand for the next dance.
"Are you i'll, Mrs. Glen? How p,
you look"
"I-I am not very well. 1 wish y
would have my carriage called for n
Mr.. Moore"
For now felt that home was
proper place for mel
Hurried by some unaccountable