The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-10-23
MRS. PINKEYE.

They had been very, very happy during
the few swiftly passing months of their
welded life, and in spite OF the memory
of business reverses and of a week Of con-
tinual struggle to meet her payments
Mrs. Pinkeye smiled a smile of isseffable
contentmenu as her oroughan stopped be-
fore the door of the handsome house that
had been her mothers marriage gift, and
she thought of her dear Horace waiting
for her in his boudoir-dear Horace, whose
lips in a few short moments would be
pressed to hers. Even the frightful posi-
bility Of financial ruin that awful specter
that, ever since her return from their hon
eymoon to find that a trusted employee
had proved unfaithful, had haunted her
almost ceaselessIy day and night, vanished
from her presence in the beatific anticipa-
tion of her husband s kiss
What is this you tell me, Alexisg'' she
was saying two minutes later to her hus-
bands valet as she carelessly threw her
hat into a chair. Mr.. Pinkeye gone out?
And has he left no word Cor me2"
sHe-he went out about o'clock, 7" fall
tered the man, ssand=and he said he
would be back by 5. He2'-
Alexis said the lady in the tone of
one accustomed to command, you are
keeping something from me With whom
did my husband 60 out, and has he babe
you conceal aught from me2'
The frightened servant, awed by the
sternness of the voman's voice and over
come By the inherent weakness Of his sex,
at last blurted out that a lady whom he
did not know had called for his master
soon after luncheon and had taken him
away in a hansonl- His master had hidden
him say nothing to his mistress about tho
matter and had been careful to conceal his
departure from the other servants. He
had gone out with the Same woman every
afternoon for a week, but had always re-
turned in time for dinner before. Upon
A fn1
he had once seen the strange lady kiss his
master.
Maud Pinkeye staggered slightly, as if
she had received blow, but recovered
herself in moment You may go,
Alexis = she said quietly With strange,
unnatural calm she lighted cigar and sat
down before her library table So it had
come at last, and SO soon! What was thcru
left in life for her If she no longer had
faith III man2 And if she could not longer
trust her Horace-if Horace We're unfaith-
ful-great Godl She could not allow her
self to think of Il. Tho overwhelming des-
olation of that possibility was more than
even she. strong as she was. could bear
And yet she must think Of it, Oh, why
had fato been So crnel2 What Il paltry
thing the possible loss Of her fortune
seemed by comparison with tho dread ca
lamity that had overtaken herl She
crushed in one hand an enameled brass
inkstand that was on the table before her,
tho pof-s Of the tortured metal.
Five minutes later she found herself,
she knew not how, IN her husbands bOu-
doir An opened book lay on the table.
Ii was The Lives Of Eminent Washcrwo-
men. . by DIR. Clara Huxley, PHI. D., and
it was open at the story of the faith and
devotion Of a husband who had helped his
wife at a financial crisis with money that
he had made crocheting doornats for
livery stable while she lad supposed him
r. Il
Pinkeye read a few pages and groaned
aloud at the parallel the tale suggested.
Then the doorbelI rang, and moment
later she heard her husband 5 voice in tho
hall inquiring anxiously II he bad yet
come in The moment had arri.-ad She
wondered that she was able 20 control her
self thus as she strodc Down tie stairs.
Then she knew that her heart MAS dead
yes, dead
Horace Pinkeye tripod lgh.iv Up tc
his wife and held up his lush red lips for
kiss.
Darling" he said, did you wonder
why / was away? And you lone
some without me2 say you were, dar
lingl'
Maud turned away her head ed fold
ing her arms. drew herself TAP 10 her full
height ..Traitorl'' she Missed. sIraitorl
Tell me who is the woman with whom
you have been spending your afternoons
for the last week.
To her surprise her husband dla not
finch beneath her gaze. He laughed
nervous laugh, but said without "a suspi-
cion Of the consciousness Of guilt ia his
voice.
Has that nasty Alexis been telling You
things If he has. / shall slap him real
hard, right on his face too
Who was the woman Maud demand
ed sternly.
Her husband burst into tears and threw
himself into her arms She knew then
that he was guiltlcss OF any wrong against
her, and she held his head to her bosom
while ne told the story that made her a
happy woman again.
lit was my sister Ethel, z Horace
sobbed. You know she is tho business
manager of the Psychological Medical sup
ply company, and, dearest, II had heard
that you were in-in financial trouble,
and-and had been reading about how
husband had once earned some money fer
his wife and II made Ethel give 40
some work at the factory And so for the
last week have spent three hours every
afternoon punching the holes in the pc~ous
plastcrs. I was late today because it was
pay day, and, darling, here are my earn
ings, 81. So all for you viii you forgive
me. darling, for deceiving your"
As Maud Pinkeye strained her husband
to her throbbing bosom she vowed in her
heart of hearts that, come what might
she would never for moment nlstrust /
ina pain NSeVv York World