Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-11-29
BICKESTER'S WIFE.
Sin and Happiness Can Not Walk
Hand in Hand.

Let johnson be ready to take me out in
half an hour" said Mr.. Bickster to the serv-
ant who answered the parlor bell.
A cloud fell over the fair face of his wife.
Are you going out this EVENING" she
asked, and the disappointment in her voice
was perhaps not unmixed with reproof.
ayes; there is to be quite a famous guest
at the club tonight" he said; 'some En-
glish swell, and we are to give him supper,
and then party of us go to the opera. 1t
is something / must not fail to do my share
of-this entertaining business, you know,
Clarice"
1T must be very delightful to be enter
tained," she said, sarcastically. 81 would
like to realize it myself"
well, isn't De Forest coming around to
practice with you. saw him to-day, and
told him to come. 1 don't want you to get
lonesome; and you know l am very liberal
with you. don't know anotherfellow with
handsome wife who is as glad to have his
friends entertain her, and be entertained by
her, as l am"
40, yes; l know that Mrs Bickester
answered with weary little sigh. 'But
sometimes wife is 80 foolish, you know,
friends. However, l would be the last
woman on earth to want you to stay at
home one evening, or one hour, against your
own inclinations. There is the bell-no
doubt it is De Forest and his violin"
1t was De Forest with his violin, and ac-
companied by strjkingly handsome man,
whom he introduced as Count Dubois.
81 took the liberty of bringing my friend
with me he said to Mr.. and Mrs. Bickester
as he placed his violin at the end of the
piano, without waiting to ask permission
The Count only arrived this afternoon from
an extended tour of the States; and l did
not wish to neglect the kind invitation ex-
tended to me to-day by the hospitable host
of this mansion, and felt sure could not
better entertain my friend than to bring
him here into the presence of the charming
hostess"
II am very glad you took the liberty, and
/ trust you will have a pleasant evening"
Mr.. Bickester said, as he rose to go out
LAS for me, have duty of entertainment
to perform at the club tonight; and duty
is not always the greatest pleasure you
know, if it is supposed to bring the highest
happiness. In this instance, l am certain,
both the pleasure and the highest happiness
would be secured by foregoing the duty and
remaining at home with three such COM
panions. However, / trust to have that
privilege on many future occasions. Count
Dubois, consider the house yours while you
remain with US. ANY friend of Mr. De
Forests is welcome. Good evening, gentle
men; au revoir, madame"
Hugh Bickester little dreamed how fully
Count Dubois would carry out the privilege
accorded him by his host.
20, yes; it was very pleasant evening,
as such evenings CO." Clarice told her hus-
band, when he asked her if she was well
entertained during his absence. 'Mr De
Forest played better than usual, and he
brought beautiful composition with him
something new, for piano and violin. And,
best of ALL Count Dubois sang. He has a
marvellous tenor voice, which affected me
powerfully. could not restrain the tears
when he sang one song. Mr.. DE Forest tells
me he is the last of very old family in
France-the sole possessor of the title and
the estate, which yields him competence"
And he has come to America to seek
rich wifel He is very shrewd-he will, of
course, succeed" laughed Hugh. ''Scores
of heiresses will be glad to lay their for
tunes at his feet, in exchange for his title"
s-But he could not give his title to score
of them very WELL" Clarice responded.
'And Mr.. De Forest tells me he has a ro-
mantle history; he lost the idol of his
heart-a young girl whom he was to we'd
Just before they were to have been married.
That was ten years ago, and he has been
restless wanderer ever since, and never
taken the least interest in womankind.
Isn't it sad!"
''Very, if true, and harmless little story
at all events" Mr.. Bickester replied. HE
is evidently very highly cultivated fellow
and very handsome man. We are quite
fortunate in being the first to entertain him
No doubt, he will become the sensation ere
long, and charming Mrs Bickester will be
more than ever the envied of her sex, for
having been the first to feed the hon.''
Clarice smiled sad little smile.
Charming Mrs. Bickester asks for no
honors of that kind, and for no notoriety in
with foreign counts or society
lions" she said. 'She would much prefer
to have her name spoken only in connection
with her husbands"
And his spo ken only in connection with
hersl a couple noted tor their couiugal
devotion! That can not be IN these days
my dear, when society demands so much of
husband and wife in different directions
Were we dwelling in Arcadia, clothed in fig
leaves and sustained by falling fruit and
running brooks. we could afford to forget
the whole world and live for each other
only, with Love is enough for our motto.
But we dwell in a hard and practical age
Society is composed of wheels within
wheels. / am dependent upon Jones, Smith
and Brown for success in my business Con-
/ must not offend Mrs. Jones or
Mrs. Smith or Mrs Brown; in fact, must
be gallant and compliment them when we
meet, and you must be as charming as pos
sible TO them all The more popular you are
every way, the better for me. If we care
Tor nobody, nobody cares for Us. And this
reminds me that Harry Gray and his wife
are getting up theater-party for this even
ing, and have asked us and any Of our
friends to join them. Suppose Idrop around
and invite De Forest and Duboisa''
Another shadow fitted across tina face OF