The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-01-23

ed over by both parties, If they desire
to go with the current
Had his attention been called to it.
much doubt If Ernest Waters would
have considered this advice worth his
notice; and, as for his wife. Debby. she
had never permitted her thoughts 70
create phantasies of any kind, not
withstanding that the longing for the
unknown is a quality common to hu
man nature.
To think of anything but the pres
-ent moment would. to Debby, have
been about the most senseless thing in
the world.
Debby was pretty woman, and her
exceedingly graceful manners CORE.
sponded we'll with her type of beauty.
Ernest maintained that Debby was the
prettiest woman, by far, he had ever
seen, and his friends, who were many.
bore him out in this assertion.
Ernest was what is known as trav-
.eled man. He had lived in every part
OF the world, and dwelt among differ
ent nationalities, coming home to find
that Debby Lawson had grown so at
tractive that he could not be happy the
rest Of his life without her.
To Debby. Ernest was the'o desire
her young heart had been longing to
possess; and after their marriage shn
believed her husband to- be absorbed
by her, and she was absorbed in him.
But some one, cannot be sure who.
has said, "a woman's love always
springs from the heart and goes to ;ile
heart; but a mans love seldom pene.
trates below the surface" Meaning
that man Is liable to have many loves
besides his wife-as. for instance, ge..
ting up new inventions. starting out
upon new enterprises-riding any pet
hobby that will crafty his love for
novelty or making money.
Before long it turned out that Ern'
est Waters had another love. His
scheme was one for which he was
Obliged to neglect Debby, and it some.
times looked as if he might be neglect
ing the handsome property his grand
father had left him.
1t happened that about this time his
friend, Bert Maddox, visited him. and
he would suffer no woman to be ne
elected.
No one could come between Debhy
and her husband; yet. judging by ap-
pearances, erroneous opinions werc
formed.
The season was at its height. Debby
loved life; so did Ernest.
But I can't spare the time to go
to the opera this year." he told his
pretty wife. "Bert'll have to take
you," rejoicing in the presence of his
friend, who had never yet failed him.
1t did not occur to Debby that She
was committing a great mistake 10y
being so often seen in company with
her husbands friend, and absorbed in
his money making scheme, Ernest did
not consider that he waf committing
an error By allowing her to do so. Anu
the truth Of it all was brought to his
notice in most startling manner.
II must have it to say that 1 have
seen one star before all this glo.g
fades" unused Ernest. purchasing an
admission ticket one evening
The opera season was nearly at an
end. And he would have the satisfac-
ton Of surprising Debby and Burt.
He succeeded in getting standing
room where he could see them both.
congratulating himself on his good
luck while doing so. Not every hu$-
band had friend like Burt, who could
be trusted to look out for his pretty
wife. The curtain came down while
he was in the midst of his reflections
'I've seen great many pretty wo-
men," said one man to another (both
standing in front of Ernest), what
you may call downright pretty women,
like Waters'S wife, who's here every
night, about, with her husbands
friend. But I've yet to find a pretty
woman who turns out to be an exem-
plary wife"
II wouldn't bother my head abou.
pretty women" said his companion.
Cant help it." was the reply. "They
will come under my notice. Poor
Waters! He's to be pitied, and no
mistake. though he should have known
better than to marry woman so much
younger than he is, and pretty one
at that"
Here indeed was q revelation
brought about in q manner startling
to Ernest, who had only himself 10
blame for the remarks to which hp
had been an unwilling listener.
"It's the last opportunity any one
will ever have to malign my pretty
WIFE" he determined. making his way
to her.
Burt at once suggested that they
should change places, although Ernest
had no idea they were doing so liter.
ally when Burt gave up his seat.
The man who was prejudiced against
NIL pretty woman was still venting his
wrath upon Ernest's wife, and in q
manner Burt could not mistake, when
he took the place that seemed to he
ordained for him, as he a!terward told
+. Ernest. He, too, profted by the
words he overheard, and drew from
them q lesson.
The two friends renewed their vow
Of friendship. each declaring that para
Hoxical though 1t might appear. they