Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1895-07-20
PLAYING WITH FIRE,

he liked TO occasionally cut loose from
her apron strings and tnjoy himself
About midsummer he told Lena tina
he had business in Burlington, VT.
and had to go there-alone, of course
She pouted, and cried, there was ar
exchange of unpleasant remarks, anC
Herbert left the house, feeling yer.
unhappy-one of the unhappiest meI
in New York.
An hour later, at the Hoffman
House, he met his old college chum
Reginald Mansfield, to whom he re-
lated his troubles, and asked his ad-
vice.
Follow your own inclinations, old
fellow" advised Reginald. Don't
permit yourself to be tyrannized by
your wife. l am astonished at her
efforts TO rule you, and only four
| months after marriage. Go to Yer
mont and she will soon realize the
fact that a husband was born to con-
troll"
This seemed sensible advice, and in
less than week Herbert Latimer had
gone to Vermont. He had gone with
out leaving his address with his
friend, Reginald Mansfield, and the
latter was on his way from the club
to Latimer's house to obtain it,
1t was his first visit. He had been
In Portland, Oregon, when Herbert
had married, and he had returned but
few days prior TO the conversation
just reported. On the evening of his
arrival he had gone TO see a middle
aged lady, an old friend of Herbert
Latimer, once the friend of Reginald's
own mother. She was a woman of
the world, who had kept the depth of
her heart and feeling, and who gad
phases of life with her clear, steady
eyes. The talk had turned on Her.
bert Latimer's wife.
''She is a simple country girl, Is she
notF" asked Reginald.
"She has a rare and charming ma
ture, strong and sweet4-far TO good for
II 1rbert. But she adores him-as girls
of that character adore men of his
"Oh, Herbert is not bad"
"Not at all. But weak. A weak
AdOnis. Men of that kind always have
the best love lavished upon them
Mrs. Percy paused a moment Then
she raised her eyes to Reginald's.
"She looks like Eleanor" she added,
In a gentle tone.
She saw that he changed color.
How that memory lives with him.
she thought. She alone knew this
man as he was. She alone had known
closely the dead girl who had been the
dream of his young manhood. When
people spoke of Reginald as a
Lothario. she would remark. quietly:
let us not jcdge too much from the
surface"
she looks like Eleanor"
Those few words of Mrs. Percy had
been persistently in Reginald's mind
as Herbert Latimer had come to him
Few DAYS later with his grievance.
Ihey were in his mind as he rang the
Dell or the young mans house.
Like Eleanor, Was il true? For an
instant, as he waited in the dim draw
ing-room he wished that he had not
come. Then curtain was raised and
dropped again. A slight, girlish figure
In straight, flowing dress advanced.
Mrs. Latimer put out her hand.
You are good friend of my hus-
band. ! have heard of you often.
am very glad to see you" she said.
But Reginald Mansfield stood for an
Instant as one bereft of sense. Mrs.
Percy was right Here was the same
rare Madonna type of beauty. the
zane low, broad brow. the same ma.
thettc mouth, the same expression OF
inc violet eyes-his heart beat fast
with the sudden ache that he had so
often hoped was stilled.
Are you illY' asked Lena Latimer.
startled. He had already recovered
himself with an effort.
You will think me absurd" he said.
lightly; but you look strangely like
some one | used to know"
In his agitation he forgot the object
of his visit
II was warm, cloudy morning I'm
August. Herbert Latimer had returned
from his outing, and, to his dlsmav
learned that his wife had gone on
yachting excursion to New London
with the Wentsworths, a family with
whom he and his wife were very init
mate. But this was not the most i'm.
porlant part of the disclosure. Regi-
MAID Mansfield was with the partyl
rms was rather too friendly on the
part Of his old college chum.
Herbert fastened to the home of
Mrs. Percy, and to her related his
troubles
That lady endeavored to calm him
by such words as these:
"Oh, that yachting excursion is nil .
right. Mrs Wentworth is the model .
OF propriety. And young married wo. /
men must amuse Reconsideration /
when their husbands are away
on, this is outrageousr' exclaimed
Herbert. Probably you see nothing
wrong in Lena leaving New YORK yes.
terday to 'amuse' herself, as you saw.
On the very afternoon that she knew
would arrive"
Mrs. Percy shrugged her shoulders
Her visitor had turned toward the
loor 'o
Where is the yacht likely to be
lowF ] take 1t you are Informed, Mrs.
Percy" 49,
Il believe it is to return to New