Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-04-03
HER LITTLE JOK e.

\
that woman happens to bc his wife, is sci
dom OF long duration. 1t fades almost as
soon rs it Is born, and IT would be snfo to
Fay that 90 per cent If the modern hus-
| bands would contemplate tho eluErlnynts
of their wives with other men as n tritl,ng
occurrence"
! These words occurred in tho latest sex
novel, called "Mnn the Dcvo,lrcr, " which
| was making certain sensation in Lon
don society, 1t being pruricnt where 1t was
not dull and dull where II was not pruri-
! Ont.
Mrs. Jcrnyn was an omnivorous readcr,
and the book WIS soon down on her list,
md In due course it cams into her hands.
| Sho WIS now sitting III II low chair by tho
ilro, rcading it's classic pages, and the
above pnssnge made IL certain impression
| upon her.
| IL wonder II the authorcss Is right,
shc unused. II wonder If husbands arc
really MS Indifferent us shu represents.
don't think Herbert would take things
| very ensiiy If hc came homo one evening
ana found me 'Hon0 with hnndsomcr
man. still, ono never knows
AS shc sat thinking ~ visitor was an
nounced. 1t proved to bc Mrs. Partridge,
n frivolous young widow, who ind been a
! school friend of Mrs Jer1nyn In tlnys zone
by.
All, GrRcic. how arc your So glati
you've come" cried pretty little Mrs. Jcr-
myn, rising to greet her visitor. "I.m
nwfully l,orcd this afternoon, and this
book I'm trying To get through hns quite
sleepy tendency"
Mrs. Partridge smiled.
Most novels nowadays nrn written to
replace narcotics, think" she snid quick
~. What is your special form of boredom,
fT it,t inn
oh that book which every ono is run
ming down and which every ono Is read
ing, Man tho Hcvourcr.' There Ii ono
passage III il that has just struck mo us
heing absurlly cynical l4iston."
She rcad out the lines to Mrs. Par
fridge, who listened cnrrltssly.
| ITS true enough, - said tho young wild.
ow-"only too true"
"Oh. Grncir, how can your I'm suro
there are Just rs miny husbands who
would br awfnlly upset AMI gricycd us
husbands who would he indifferent Why,
Herbert, know, would be quito distract
ed
why don't you put him to the tcst.'
asked tho other woman suddenly only
ms II joke, Of cnnrsc"
Whatever do you mcan?"
Why, write Hnt II note saying that you
nave lett him forever. put it in ncOnspicu-
GUS place on tho lnnE,clpirCo and then ro-
! tire behind the curtains and watch the eff
| fccts of tho note On him when hp pcrusus
the contents"
Mrs Jrrmyn thought IL moment.
1T would be good fun, she snid Hbut
1T seems Il shame, tnGsn't it?''
Not ut all. Now, If you hesitate in this
manner, shall sny thnt you arc nfraid to
put MIR. Jcrmyn to tho test
I'm nothing Of tho sort, retortcd tho
young wife hotly. "lIow dnro you say SOP
Well, Just TO show you That mn not nlrui,l
! VIII net IN your suggestion. Whnts
more, I'll do it at once
Brnyo!" cried the other, clapping her
hnnds What fun"
Fun. Won't Herbert look blue? But
Unjust bo quick now. ii I'm going to play
this trick, for SEE, it's nearly 5, ana he
reaches homo punctuulIy at u quarter
past
She sat down Mt tho writing table and
quickly penncd tho following:
My DEAR HEKnERT-1 icnvc this little lcttc,
to tell you that sIinl never SEQ you again
do not ask you to forgive Tie, but try and for
| get us soon AS possible your e, ring wife. will
not pnin you by going into the reasons for my
| flight, and no good could be done by such OK.
PLANTATION do not ask you to forgive me, but
try anu forget me us possible.
MAUDE.
Mrs. Partridge, on herring tho note,
burst into an uncontrollnble1 lit Of laughter
Upon my word, hlnutlc," she said
'you 70 quito Il mistress Of the nrt OF let,
ter writing. Tint letter. Is splendid. II
reads SO genuinely too He's suro to be
taken in by it. Now, then, put it in an
envelope and direct 1t to him"
SO the lotter WINS accordingly inclosed
anu directed to Herbert JcrIiyn, ESQ, u
and left OH tho lnantelpieco.
The sound of lntchkcy in tho doc,
warned the two women that they must dis
appear, and they accordingly betook them
selves behind tho heavy curtains at the
rear Of tho room.
Thcn they waited for what wns to come
Herbert Jcrmyn entered tho room, look
ing worn and tired. business had gone
awry with him during tho day; no was
jadcd and haggard Throughout the LONG
and weary city hours his wifo's sweet face
had haunted him, and now he was disnp
pointed on reaching homo not to find her
there.
Where's Maudef" he muttcrcd. "She's
usually Whiting for mo when come homo.
Hello, what's tha;:'
His eye had caught sight Of tho letter on
the mnntclpiccc. With quick movement
he took it down and toro open the envcl
ope.
Ono hurried glance he gave, one cry hi
uttered, and then foil to tho ground, stone
dead.
Tho doctor, hastily summoned, pro
nounced that Herbert Jermyn had died
from heart disease.
Como violent shock has doubtless
knocked him over" he said gravcly. "Dt
you know, Mrs. .Icrmyn, Of Eny such shocl
having been experienced by your bus
band?''
And Mrs. .Tcrmyn could only stand mo
tionlcss and speak not II word.
And that WAS tho end Of the joko.-Ex
ohongo.