Middletown transcript., 1902-02-15

n0led away.
well, as was saying, resolved tt
marry you, made it my business to do SO
and put the deal through successfully;
think that is the way you talk in com
mercial vernacular."
':Let us celebrate your success, my
dear. Can send out for glass of wine
am sure you must be tired with sc
much talking"
Betty ignored him again.
"That was all very well as far as il
went" she continued, "but after awhile
found that my stock-in-trade was losing
its effect. My radiant smile palled, my
dimples failed to allure, in fact, my dupe
wearied of innocence and insipidity and
began to let me 60 my own way"
Blair looked interested.
This was all very well at first," said
the little woman, with reminiscent
smile. ''There are always go many men
ready to fall in love with butterfly, es-
pecially when some one else is responsible
for Lady Brightwings. Oh, I have had q
merry, merry time these past years, and
thought 1 was really enjoying all that
freedom, and jollity, and lack of restraint.
1 even thought I was glad that yon had
become Indifferent and did not bother
me with questions.
"And aren't you happy, my dear Mrs.
Betty? What ails you to-day? Have you
an attack of dyspepsia, caused by too
many late suppers, or do you want an in
crease in your Allowance
'I want to go away and leave you"
Mrs. Blair's voice had changed suddenly,
and she rose and stood leaning across the
Office table.
"Another trip abroad, ELI? It will be
tremendously expensive, but l must
maintain my reputation as an indulgent
husband at whatever cost"
NO." said Betty, "there is no use in
trying to joke it off. l am quite in ear
nest. want to leave you for good and
always. l am tired and sick of going on
this way, of deceiving you and the world,
and pretending from morning till night.
I know that you are more interested in
another woman than you are in me; that
you only put up with having me around
at all because of your inherent good ma
ture, and the dislike OF scandal. I want
you to settle something on me and let me
60 my own way. I suppose I must hare
enough to give me plenty OF pretty things,
and enable me to live decently, but 1
won't take any more than have to, and
you may get divorce as soon as you
like"
Joe Blair drew his, ,brows together in .
sharp frown.
"Who is the man?' he demanded.
'No, Joe, on my honor, there is no
one else love admiration and all that,
and l never fooled myself that 1 cared
much for you, but neither have l cared
for any one else except to make fun of
them"
II do not understand, then. Why can
we not go on as we are? 1t is not much
of way, confess, but l suppose we are
as happy as most married people,"
Mrs. Blair shook her head, and re-
garded him with an inscrutable smile.
"And what about Miss Allemand2' she
inquired.
He flushed deep, dark red.
"What do you know of Miss Allie
mandp' he demanded.
"Only that she was once my secretary.
and I saw her dining with you the other
night at Tortorfi's."
''I am interested in Miss Allemand,"
said Joe.
eyes; 1 could see that in your face.
Never in the days when you were most in
love with me did you regard me with
such an expression"
'She is an enigma" he explained.
''She is very brilliant woman; very
entertaining. She helped me immensely
while in my employ. Her ideas are re-
markable-revolutionary. I became al
most fascinated with her myself, and
never could understand why she was SO
determined to leave me. l knew why
afterward, when I discovered she had
come to you as your stenographer."
A new thought occurred to Mr.. Blair.
''What did you need of secretary" he
demanded. 81 never saw her about"
"Oh, managed to keep her busy an
swering invitations and such things"
Betty, it is not possiblel' Joe Blair
rose in his excitement and went close to
his wife. "Did you write 'sThe Butter
flies'r'
Mrs. Blair went white. but in that first
of her self consciousness be
knew the truth, that this gay little
woman, for whom be had grown to feel
almost patient contempt, was the au-
thor of the most brilliant book of the
year, study of human weaknesses and
passions which had set the smart world
ahutter.
"How did you guess~ demanded
Betty.
Miss Allemand told me that she had
assisted the author with the book. She
me by what she said of the
woman who made such passionate pro-
lest against things ordinary. From that
became interested in Miss Allemand
herself. 1t was new thing to me to
know a woman who read, and thought,
and had strange views of hfe."
Il did not know any man was attracted
by such things" said Betty, wonder
ingly.
Joe regarded her proudly. "And You
wrote "The butterfies'?" he repeated.
"Tilat ought to be grounds for a d.
vorce. Some critics say the book is i'm
moral"
"Mrs. Blair, will yon dine ont with me
this evening? should like the chance to
get interested in you.