The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1885-04-02
THAT WOMAN"

'.THAT WOMAN"
Eyes, Winona, the less you have to
do with that woman the better pleased
I will be-" said Frank Bennett to his
wife as they stood together on the w.
randa of the Mountain house.
AT any rate, " replied Winona, lyon
might at least designate her by her
proper title-'that woman il scarcely
. term for . gentleman to use in speak
ing of . lady.
Bertha Roland, the woman Of whom
they were speaking, was . widow,
SYSTEMATICALLY years Of age. Her
hair was deep gold, which suggested
hours ofpatience spent under the dyer's
hands. Her complexion was beautiAed
by the best cosmetics, but even with
out these artificial additions she would
have been handsome woman. Winona
was just the opposite dark, petite and
only pretty.
"Well, then," said her husband,
Mrs. Roland is not at companion for
my wife. and I want your friendship
with her to como to an end at once"
"Then you will want in vain," re-
piled the wife. Il am not going to in
suit her just on account Of your silly
prejudice, which is caused by your be-
grudging me the little pleasure I get in
her society,""
"You are wrong, Winons, you are at
liberty to enjoy yourself as much Is you
please, but not by putting yourself un.
der obligations to that woman"
'"There You are, that woman again.
Mrs. Roland, my dear husband, consid-
ers me under no obligation because
ride out with her on the back of one of
her horses or play lawn tennis on her
premises. She is my confidential
friend, and I am not going to be un-
grateful"
Every WE'LL" Frank sadly said, 'do
as you please, Winona. shall say no
more, no matter how much I feel that
Mrs. Roland is not q fit associate for a
respectable woman" Then he walked
away. {.
Winona was too angry to speak. This
was their first quarrel and she felt it
keen1y. They had just been married six
months, and until summer had brought
them to the Catskills all had been peace
and happiness.
No more was said in regard to Mrs.
Roland until after supper, when Vino
ma said:
frank, as you have promised to play
cards with Mr.. Jackson, I think I will
just run over to Mrs. Roland's; I prom
ised her I would"
"That woman again." exclaimed
Frank; but he said no moro and Vino
Ma went.
Her husband watched her enter the
gate of the magnificent villa, and then
turned away with sigh. Mr.. Jackson
was beside him.
"You don't seem to like Mrs. Roland, ="
said he.
II do not dislike her, returnedF Frank !;
"but we know nothing about her or her
antecedents. Ny wife is infatuated
with her, and all I say will not keep her
from that house."
II agree with you; come take turn
IN the garden and will tell you the
best cure in the world for your wife's
infatuation."
In the meantime Winona fastened to
her friends house, and found it alive
with mirth and music. Mrs. Roland's
face beamed with smiles as she welcom.
ed Winona, and until 10 o'clL ok the
merriment was unbounded; then, to
Winona's utter surprise and displeas-
hre her husband was ushered into the
parlor.
! He spoke to the hostess, politely but
coldly, and received her introduction to
the other guests in like manner.
Then he advanced to his wife, say
ing: 'Winona, have come to escort
you home as soon as you are ready to
60. You need not be in any particular
hurry though"
Wtnona was pleased with his words,
and followed her own inclination as to
fastening her departure.
Music and wine followed, and while
Winona played on the grand piano her
husband talked to Mrs. Roland.
On the way home he said to Winona:
"Your friend is nicer woman than I
thought her to be-"
The young wife's face beamed with
smiles. "Oh, Frank" she cried, II
knew you would come to my way of
thinking yet. When you know her
more you will like her better.
This was not his last visit to Mrs. Rol-
ands; many more followed, and soon
the young man could not speak highly
enough of her. Winona was over1oyed.
At last Frank was coming to his senses
and learning how to appreciate her
friend. One evening she sat sewing on
the hotel verapda when Mr.. Jackson ap-
preached, and seating himself beside hor
asked:
Have you ever read The Treaohery
of LauraY"
"No," she replied.
II have it here" he continued. ''If
you would like to read it you may. It
is remarkably we'll written story. It
deals with q subject I have often
thought of. "A woman pretends to be
another woman's friend only to take
from her her husbands affection. Do
you not think such treachery is unpar-
denable?"
Ido," cried Winona, "but-but the