The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1895-12-27

friend who had como up from tho country
with her, Miss Jennie Mech, ono OF tho
prctticst and jollicst looking girls imagi-
nabls Then, rs soon us possible, taking an
opportunity when Mr.. Sharplcigh was
cngrossod with Jcnnic, Jack told his vito
In u low, tragic whisper: Don't mention
Ethel again. She has run away"
"Oh, don't believe itr'
(which docs not at all prevent Its being
truo. L have seen her farewell lottcr."
"The monstcr!''
II knew you would say SO, dear, as oil
truo women should. There's no telling
how many good mon, like Dick and my
SELF arc doterrod from marrying by scoing
what such creatures do"
"Why, you gousul 1t was Dick I
meant"
"Oh!"
"Of course 1t must have been his fault"
True had forgotten tho axiom, Tho
husband Hlono is to blame for all dono by
tho wife,"
Mary showed tho ladies to rooms I'D
stairs, whcro they could arrange their
toilets, and it seemed to tho gontlcmcn
waiting in tho morning room that they
wors very long time about it, ovon with
all due allowance for arrangements con-
scquont upon n night in sleeping car
When they did appear, Mrs. Denim's eyes
wcrc twinkling with fun, and her COM
panion was giggling outright. But from
neither could the cause for their 1ncrri-
ment be drawn. Hardly wero tho quar-
tct seated at tho breakfast table when
Mrs, Denim, to tho horror of her husband,
began questioning Mr.. Sharpleigh about
his wifc's cscnpado and his own purposes.
Had no anticipated the possibility of her
doing such thing? How did no feel about
itP Had he any idea where sho had gone,
or stn ,.1n tf
companied her? What had he himself been
doing to afford tho immediate provocation
for her leaving him? Would ho apply for
divorcc9 Would no try to bring her backp
Jack was astounded Mt his wifos heart
lcssncss and want of tact. He could never
havo believed her capable of such conduct,
and Miss Mccch's manifest enjoyment Of
the cruel batting to which his friend was
subjected completely Disguised him with
that young woman. In vain no tried again
and again to switch his wife off to some
other topic, but she would not be side
tracked. AS for Mr.. Sharplcigh, after u
little evident annoyance Mt first, he bright
encd up and even grew jocosc in adapting
himself to Mrs. DENNIS humor.
Bring her baci.' ho exclaimed "To
prove myself tyrant? Oh! no. Whcro
she is now shc may remain the rest of her
life with my full consent"
Both ladies burst into laughter-laughed
until tears stool in their eyes, and Mrs.
Denim, when she could speak, gaspcd.
"Oh, you must excuse us, Mr.. Sharpleigh,
but your philosophic chivalry is so funny
AMMO, I'm amazed ut you! I'm
ashamed of youn' cried her husband in
dignantly. But she only laughed tho moro.
They arc quite right" intcrposcd Mr.
Sharplcigh. "Why should they not laugh?
You are behind the times, Jack, or you,
too, would laugh. What else ure womanly
honor, wifcly fcalty or hymcncal happiness
than food for laughter? How stupid our
ancestors were to reverence such things!
We of the ccntury's end are wiser Wo
realize that married life is farce In three
acts-lovc, marriage and clopcmcnt No,
L should havo said four, for there Is di-
vorcc, in which all the fun climaxes That
reminds me. l shall start for Dakota to-
night. 1 have time to establish loyal
residence there, turn Mrs. Sharpleigh loose
with due formality and got another vito
by Thanksgiving"
"Oh, YOU wretch! believe you would
and would be glad of tho chance!' cried
handsome little woman in u wrapper, on
tcring tho room quickly through n door
behind Mr.. Sharplcigh and, moro than
half in earnest, "wigging' his head as
she spc':c.
NJ. Dcnims sprang up with an exclama-
ton of SURPRISE and the ladies at the table
laughed moro heartily than ever, but Mr..
Sharpcigh, with perfect imperturbability
responded: Personal violence in presence
OF witnesses. My case is perfect. Have
you returned for your bed socks?n
Bed socks? Oh, Dick! You uncon-
scionablc villain! To charge mo with
such grandmothcrly things! You know
don't wear them
'You would have been moro comforta-
bic last night if you'd had them That
attic room must have seemed chilly"
"llow did you know 1 was there"
~ suspected that you We're in tho house
when Jack and L returned from tho club
and found the dining room windows open
ed TO let the smoke out and left open,
with, before one of them, the chair on
which you had climbed to pull down tho
upper sash. My suspicion was confirmed
when looked again at your note and I'M
dcrStood tho quibble that l could not
"bring you Lack to this house" 1t bc-
camo certainty when Mrs. DENNIS, after n
long stay up stairs this morning came
down laughing, having been told Of your
supposed clopcmcnt, and talked to mo rs
am Surc she would not if sho hadn't seen
you. And If you were i'll the house. whore
else could you hide so well as in the attic
rOom?'
"Oh, dear! If I'm so easily caught in
just little sham olopcmont, 1 shall never
have tho courage To try IL real one
"But really don't SEQ tho object In it,"
observed Mr.. Dcnins
"Oh, you stupid old Jack! AS II q
woman wOulunu naturally want to know
what her husband would do under certain
circumstances. It's lucky for you never
happened to think of it," rctortcd his
vito.