The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-12-01
BICKESTER'S WIFE.
Sin and Happiness Can Not Walk
Hand in Hand.

Let johnson be ready to take me out IL
half an hour" said Mr. BiclSster to the serv
ant who answered the parlor bell.
a cloud fell over the fair face OF his wife
Are you going out this eveningf' she
asked, and the disappointment in her voice
was perhaps not unmiXed with reproof.
'Yes; there is to be quito 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. II
IL something / must not full to do my share
of-ths entertaining business, you know
Ciarice."
at must be very delightful to be enter.
taincd," she said sarcastically. II 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. / don't want you to get
lonesome; and you know am very liberal
with you. l don't know another fellow with
handsome wife who is as glad to have his
friends entertain her, and be entertained by
ber, as j am"
90 yes; l know that" Mrs Bickester
answered with weary little sigh "But
sometimes wife is so foolish, you know,
as TO prefer her husband to her husbands
friends. However, ] 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"
II was De Forest with his violin, and 40
companied by strikingly 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 | 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.n
II am very glad you took the liberty, and
] trust you will have pleasant evening""
MIR. Bickester said, as he rose to go out
'As for me, | have duty of entertainment
TO perform AT the club tonight; and duty
is not always the greatest pleasure, you
know, IL it is supposed TO bring the highest
happiness. In this instance, 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
tcmain 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 ii very pleasant evening,
as such evenings co." Clarice told her hus-
I,n,,
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 II competence
And he has come to America to seek
rich wifei He Is very shrewd-he will, of
course, succeed," laughed Hugh. "Scores
Of hercsses will be glad to lay their for
tunes at his feet, ia exchange for his title"
But he could not give his title to a score
of them very WELL" Clarice responded.
''Aud Mr.. De Forest tells me he has ro-
mantle history he lost the idol of his
iIeart-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 a
restless wanderer ever since, and never
taken the least interest in womankind.
isn't it sadl"
Very, if true, and a 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, lo will become the sensation ere
long, and charming Mrs. Bickester wiz be
more than ever the envied OF her sex, fov '
having been the first to feed the lion"
Clarice smiled q 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 |
horst A couple noted Tor their conjugal |
ievotioni That can not be Ia these days
my dear, when society G1H',nds so much of |
husband and wife in dine. snt directions.
Were we dwelling in Arcadia, clothed in fig
caves and sustained By falling frait and
'unning brooks. we could afford to forget
.he whole world and live for each other
,nly, with Love is enough for our motto.
But we dwell in a hard aud practical age
society Is composed of wheels within
wheels. am dependent upon Jones, Smith
nd Brown for success in my business. Con-
must not offend Mrs. Jones or
drs. Srith or Mrs Brown; in fact, must
10 gallant and compliment them when we
meet, and you must be as charming as pos
ible 10 them ALL The more popular you are
very way, the better for me- II we care
or nobody, nobody cares for us. And this
eminds me that Harry Gray and his wife
re getting up theater-party for this even
ng, and have asked US and any Of our
riepds to join them. Suppose Idrop around
nd invite Dc Forest and Duboisiv
Another shadow lifted acS ,ss the face Of