The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-29

hnd that she had recovered her spirits
and that these new friends amused her
and made her easier TO live with. But
later, when business took him away on
journeys, Leora was left alone with
| only servant or two; and of course
she was lonely; and, OF course, Rollo
called oftener and stayed longer, as he
was going back and forth on his way
to the office.
To say that the neighbors began to
gossip over this infatuation is super
fiuous. And yet no one really thought,
nor predicted, any serious consequences.
Both parties had too good standing
In the best society, Rollo noticed, with
growing irritation, that Sara did not
call upon Leora as often as at first;
that she had ceased sending messages
and little friendly, neighborly presents;
that she grew pale and grave. II he
suspected a cause, he refused to ac-
knowledge II TO himself. He was
thought to be, he thought of himself,
as "a pretty good fellow" He was not
going to do any one wrong. But theh
there was no sense In being so straight
laced. Why couldn't one enjoy the
friendship of pretty woman without
all the world cackling like a flock of
geese? Sara was really beginning to
fade besides, she was so taken up with
her children and her housekeeping that
she had ceased to be the compan-
ion that she used to be. A
man must have some amusement;
ana besides, that little witch
at this point he would smile, remem-
bering the little witch's fascinating
ways. He never noticed that poor
sara had a haSder task to make the
ends meet; for he was neglecting his
business, as we'll as his wife, spending
hours with Leora when he should have
peen at work. The poor Sara: My
heart aches for her. How she tried to
smile, and smooth out the wrinkle be-
tween her eyes, as wives are so often
told is their duty to do! But 1t was a
sad smile, and her eyes looked as IL
tears were not far off. This we own
was especially annoying to Rollo. In
fact, there is nothing quite so annoy
ing as having ones conscience prick
one. He loved the sunshine and merry
times, but he never reflected that he
had 1t in his power to make a clear
sky, or the reverse, for his wife. Why,
then, are husbands never admonished
",
discouraged wife?
1t was all a matter of drifting! Roll
had never planned nor even foreseen
such a state of affairs. But he was
fond of his own likes, and in humor-
ing them he had simply let himself
go! OF course nothing bad would
come Of it. To be sure, people would
talk, but he knew enough when to
StOn and falxa nara Of hio oood
What wonder then that Charley, the
Bently steed. had a great deal of at
tention; or that, when he was given
exercise, he was oftener and oftener
hitched to the covered buggy, while
his master and Mrs. Hungerford took
little drive. At first, it is true, there
had been a pretense of asking Sara
instead, but she was often busy at
the hours when Roll chose to go, and
besides Leora had had a slight illness
and needed the fresh air, and her
husband was away. So all pretense
was cast aside and they took their
daily drive for Mrs. Hungerford's
health. Had any one charged Roll
Bently with unfaithfulness to his wife,
or with even a premeditated idea Of
1t, he would have replied, with indig-
nant sincerity-straighteni his
shapely shoulders, as did one of old
Us thy servant a dog to do this
tEing?"
Shall we suppose for a moment that
the willy serpent did, literally. whisper
contraband knowledge into the ear of
our fair mother. Eve? Do you imagine
that Eve thought she would yield to
temptation? No indeed! She only list
ened and thought about i'll
One warm summer evening Roll
stepped off the cars and made his way
to his own house. He felt in high good
humor, although he found it dark and
silent. But he had expected this, for
his wife and children We're away in
another town, spending a few weeks
with her parents. His good humor
arose principally from the fact that
he had check for a couple of thou
sand dollars in an inner pocket. To
obtain this money, the unexpected leg
acy of a deceased relative, had been
the object of his journey. And his
mind was pretty equally divided be-
tween the imagined pictures of Sara's
brown eyes as they would look lighted
up oy gladnesS when she saw the
check, and Leora laughing, like the
baby she was, when he would give her
the bit of pretty jewelry that she
coveted. Now that fortune had smiled
q little on him he meant to enjoy it,
And let others enjoy 1t also. Poor Sara
had had a hard time, and he had neg
lected her little, but now he would
make amends.
With this virtuous resolution he en-
tered the dark, lonely house, and re-
moved the CRIME of travel. Then,
Jauntily humming a line of a sweet
little love-song, he went straight to
Mr.. Hungerford's stable to see how
Charley had Jared in his absence That
accomplished he went to the house to
make a little call on the mistress, and
on the master, too, should he chance
to be at home.
lie found Mistress Leora reclining
in her hammock, which was swung
under the piazza" roof. She was in
a very disconsolate mood. The usual
playful badinage and pretty nothings
failed to rouse her for their usual
mock warfare. But when Rollo
changed his tone, and made tender
inquiries, he found that the main cause
of her grievance was that her hus-
band had that day departed on a
business journey, and had absolutely
refused to take her with him. Neither
would he promise to bring her a new
article of dress which she had set her
heart upon.
He's just horrid to me. He said I
was extravagant and thoughtless, and
did not care about his business. I'm
sure, don't! And I wish was dead,
so there!" she sobbed.
She looked so bewitching: unlike
Sara, whose rose and eyes became red
when she cried The tears looked like