Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1894-11-29

HER HUSBAND TUCKED HER ARM IN HIS.
5rights' paradise. Mr.. Bright frequently
,traightened out the accounts of theatric-
al companies. He was upon the books
of the Gaiety Opera company when the
manager suggested that he go with them
for short trip to Chicago. In a week he
returned. The manager of the Gaiety COM
pany had offered him 5000 month and
his expenses to act as its treasurer.
.sDo you mean travel around the coun-
try with a theatrical company just like
any actor?" demanded Mrs Bright.
II suppose so,' trying to avoid the sur
prised blue eyes.
"And leave me here alone?"
"But, Gertrude, think of all the money
1 can send you. Mildred can go away to
school, and you needn't work yourself to
death keeping boarders.
"You know l am perfectly contented to
work. would rather go down on my
knees and scrub all day and keep board
ers all my life than have you go away
with a theatrical company"
"But, Gertrude a man doesn't like to
have a woman support him. I've never
had half chance before, and think you
unreasonable to expect me to miss this
one"
Mrs Bright didn't believe her hus-
band would go and said little more about
it just then He didn't tell her that he
had signed with the company and was TO
Join them when he was sent for 1t was
on Thanksgiving eve when the telegram
came. Then she tried to persuade him
that going away meant striking the death
blow to their domestic happiness. What
was the fact that she took boarders to los
ing his companionship, she argued FL
nally she broke down and cried. AL
though he turned deaf ear to his wife's
pleadings, he pitied her. Indeed he was
far from cheerful himself.
"Let's send Mildred away to school, and
you rent this house furnished Just as
soon as you do you can travel with me, !"
Mr.. Bright suggested
This proposition only slightly appeased
her. In the night he wakened to find
her sobbing. Taking her in his arms be
consoled her by saying: Don't cry, Ger
trude, my darling. won't go if you feel
SO cut up about it. But alas for the
promises made by men to women in dis
tress-he had quite forgotten it in the
morning, and amid the tolling of Thanks
giving bells he went.
Mr. Bright had been gone six weeks
Mildred had been sent away to school.
The boarders, with little sympathy for
Mrs Bright's apathy, were grumbling ard
threatening to leave.
At first her husband letters came regu-
larly and were full of his loneliness, his
love and impatience to see her Then she
may have imagined it, but they seemed
less solicitous. They certainly We're less
regular and shorter.
What If her husband were being wean-
ed away from her and their domestic life?
She had told him that would be the case,
never believing it could be. The thought
was agony 1t was O'Clock. He was at
the theater. She had vague idea that as
treasurer he went behind the scenes Then
she remembered having heard that man
ayers and she supposed treasurers invaded
the actresses dressing rooms. There was
Tightening at her heart while she wrote
him that it was time she saw him. He re-
piled that she should meet him in Chicago
In two weeks and remain with him a
month
What relief she feltl He did want to
see her. All regrets were forgotten. In
closed in his letter was check for 500
which he told her to spend on herself.
At last the day arrived for her to start
They came from different directions both
arriving in Chicago ON the same day. AS
was prearrangcd, she went to the station
to meet him.
Finally she saw the train, and before she
realized it the passengers We're pouring