The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-07-26
BY MUTUAL CONSENT.

"lt IS plain to me-" said hummer,
after he had quarreled with his wife
for half an hour over the breakfast
table, "it is very plain to me that we
are quite Incompatible"
81 fully agree with you," retorted
Mrs. Blummer, wiping the tears of
anger from her pretty brown eyes.
"We are not at all congenial!"
"On this point" observed Blummer,
icily, "we seem to have no difference
of opinion. We were utterly mistaken
in ever imagining we cared for each
other enough to-"
"You are right" the little woman
broke in, determined he should not
gain the least advantage. at was very
silly of me and shall never cease to
regret it."
Il made a blooming idiot of my
SELF" Blummer brutally declared.
"But then, you were rather pretty
and stylish girl when met you at
"Oh, you are really growing COM
plimentary! So was rather pretty
and stylish girl-when you met me!
| That was just one year ago. l suppose
have grown old and homely and
dowdy in year! If so, the life I have
led with you during the last six months
| is the cause of it,"
She was growing hysterical again.
81 have done all could to make you
happy, but you are the most unreason-
able woman l ever saw. Thought you
an angel, but have found you possess
per-like-like-a coal chisel.
| Our married life has been a wretched
| failurei"
Then he very deliberately attempted
| to take drink of coffee from his egg.
glass.
"There is aremedy for our wretched-
ness!' exclaimed the little woman, de-
cidedly, look of resolution on her
flushed face.
"Yes," he nodded. "The remedy is
separation. 1t would be a glorious
thing to be free man again"
She leaped to her feet
"That settles it, Mr.. Blummer! I'll
not live another day with you after
this! shall enjoy my freedom quite
as much as you will The only thing /
dread is the horrible disgrace of being
seen in divorce court"
"You need not worry about that,
Mrs. Blummer, unless you wish to
marry again, for we can live apart by
mutual consent and there need be no
divorce. AS for me,I shall never mar
~ again"
"Nor l. Once is enough for me! We
will separate quietly"
She sat down again and they talked
it over, finally arriving at an agree
ment.
Mrs. Blummer went away to re-
81,
where she could spend quiet sum-
mer. She stopped at a picturesque
I'D hotel, where she was known as a
widow, as it happened she affected
black. And very gay little widow
The made, for she was determined to
obtain utter forgetfulness IN the pleas
Ire to be extracted from the passing
moment.
And so it came about that she made
:he acquaintance of perfectly love-
y" old doctor, who took a great inter-
EST in her. He was so very kind and
attentive that he seemed like a father
to her.
Day after day Mrs. Blummer and
the doctor were seen together and it
was not long before the other guests
began to gossip mildly about them.
"She is awfully lucky" declared one
gushing young thing. "He is really in
earnest and he's so awfully rich! No
sensible girl would mind his age, for
he's awfully handsome. But it's al
ways the widows who make the lucky
catches"
One day the doctor and Mrs. Blum
mer were alone in cozy little nook
beside the mountain stream, where
they had come for the ostensible pur-
pose of fishing. But their rods lay
idly on the ground and they were
seated quite near together on the soft
| moss.
Mrs. Blummer," said the doctor,
securing one of her hands. IL love
you and | want you to marry me. ]
am wealthy man and l will do every
| thing in my power to make you hap
py."
Her tender brown eyes filled with
tears and she tried to release her
| hand.
doctor, I cannot marry you"
"Why notP"
81 am married already"
Then she told him everything in q
frank way that made him feel that he
| loved her all the more desperately.
| When she had finished he said:
you do not love this man to whom
you are bound?"
"No."
Would you marry me if you were
free?"
"I-I think so.'
"Then you must obtain legal separ-
alton frgm him."
Three hundred miles away Blummer
was enjoying himself at the seashore.
He met very charming and beautiful
girl and by way of diversion he sought
her society as much as possible. One
day he came to the conclusion that he
was really and truly in love with her.
From that moment Blummer grew
rapidly desperate, after the manner of
any man who knows his affection is
reciprocated yet feels that the situa-
ton is hopeless.
One night as they sat on a huge
bowlder and watched the glory of the
moonlight on the ripping ocean he
| told her how much he loved her and
heard her sweet voice confess mutual
attachment.
Then came the task of revealing the
truth, which he did in a manly man.
ner. Of course she was shocked and
distressed, but she acknowledged she
| loved him still,
"Would / were free mani" he cried.
u can be in short time" he added, a
sudden thought coming to him. "My
wife will not oppose separation.
Win you wait for me and marry me
then?"
Eyes, dear"
Blummer felt himself the happiest
man on earth.
Mr.. and Mrs. Blummer met by APP
pointmept. They greeted each other
coldly.