The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-11-24

HER HUSBAkD TUCKED HEX AKIN IN HIS.
Brights' paradise. Mr.. Bright frequently
Strengthened 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 a short trip to Chicago. In q week he
returned. The manager of the Gaiety com
pany had offered him $500 a month and
his expenses to act as its treasurer.
do you mean travel around the coun-
try with a theatrical company just like
any actor?' demanded Mrs. Bright.
81 suppose So, trying to avoid the sur
prised blue eyes.
"And leave me here alone?"
"But, Gertrude, think of all the money
I can send you. Mildred can go away to
school, and you needn't work yourself to
death keeping boarders.'
You know I am perfectly contented to
work. 1 would rather go down on my
knees and scrub all day and keep board
ers all my lifo 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 a 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
yOoS tho fnpt thar che Hook hOor6prs tn 10G-
ing his companionship, she argued. FL
nally she broke down and cried. AL
though he turned a deaf ear to his wife's
pleadings, he pitied her. Indeed he was
far from cheerful himself.
Lets 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 thu night he wakened to find
her sobbing. Taking her in his arms he
consoled her by saying: Don't cry, Ger
trude, my darling. 1 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.
u y
Mr.. Bright had been gone six weeks.
Mildred had heeeHH. sent away to school.
The boarders, with little sympathy for
Mrs Bright's apathy. were grumbling and
threatening to leave, fi9goa ,H2tuH psa
AT first hor husbands letters came rsgu-
larly and were full of ehis loneliness, his
love and impatience to SEQ her. Then she
may have Imagined it. but they seemed
less osolicitouss They cersainly were less
regular and shorter. "
What If her husband. were being wean-
ed away from her and their domestic lifeS
She had told him that would be the case,
never believing 1T could be. The thought
was agony. 1t was s O'Clock. He was at
the theater. She had a 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
a 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 q
month.
What a relief she felti He did want to
see her. All regrets were forgotten. In
closed in his letter wa a check. for 500
which he told her to spend on herself.
At last the day arrived for her to start.
They can,o from different directions. both
arriving in Chicago on the same day. AS
was prcarrangedr she went to the station
to meet him.
Finally she saw the train, and beforeshe
realized IL the passengers were pouring
ous. She strained her eyes for that below.
ed face Suppose he wasn't thereYs Just
as she felt q siekening sense of disappoint-
n,ent she saw him.
Even In her gIadness she noticed some
thing strange about him, and the people
with him were stranger still. Men and
women alike wore checked ulsters. with
collars turned up to their ears, and satch.
els thrown over their shoulders. The men
we're bcardless. the women blended, paint.
ed and penciled, She had come prepared
for much. but she felt ashamed to be seen
with them. After kissing her. her hus.