River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-11-27
Her Husbands
Friend
Bv HARRY r. THOMPSON.

Mrs. Jackson was tired. They had
travelled considerable during the win
ter and when at home had enter
tanned a good deal. She had grown
weary of many social dissipations
and was now looking forward to a
sweet period of unbroken rest and
snug evenings with her husband,
when he informed her that Webb
was coming up to stay few days.
Webb was a man she had heard
much of-too much of-but never
to her positive knowledge had seen.
She had faint idea of his being
Jackson's college chum; that he trav-
eted a great deal, and was a person
Of many accomplishments-according
to Jackson. At any other time of
the year he was just such man as
would appeal to her, but this was
season when no man save her hus-
band had any charms. In her minds
eye Webb was tall, handsome, ami
able and artificial, and for that rea-
son she was sure to dislike him, or
his presence. As a matter of fact,
Webb was tall, handsome and ami
able, but hardly artificial He was Sc
rious by turns, though polite and con-
siderate, and rather to her surprise,
when he first presented himself she
feared she would like him.
On the second day she was sure
of it.
But why she liked him she could
not explain satisfactorily to herself
when she partly attempted to do so.
Though by no means dull, he paraded
none of the brilliant and seductive
qualities which Jackson had so often
assured her he possessed. On the
contrary, he sat mute, receptive, in
tenscly pleased, before her chatty
cagerness to make him feel at home,
as we'll as silently responsive to
Jackson's frank and wordy hospi-
tally.
He was the ideal of listener, SO
much so, indeed, that before she
knew it she was playing" to him.
To add to her surprise, she saw that
to Webb it was ali the most nat
ural thing in the world He APP
peared to admire their pretty home
and to settle himself down in it like
one who had discovered an oasis. He
had the art of making himself com
Portable without assuming license.
He knew when to remain in his own
room and smoke Jackson's cigars as
well as he knew the hours he was
expected to join the household.
1t amused Mrs. Jackson to behold
him enjoying parlor and veranda,
unconsciously initiating Jackson's
peculiar movements and fitting neat
iy into the little household. He
seemed so grateful for it all, too.
This is what l call living" he kept
repeating frankly and approximately,
turning his deep eyes feelingly over
their pretty place.
1t pleased him, too, in the absence
of children, to get on familiar terms
with the dog and the cat and to play
with them at leisure. He did not
care for boating or amusements, and
jackson, who appeared to know him.
never urged him to leave the place.
To Mrs. Jackson his personality was
Il delightful puzzle, but secretly she
liked him. And the puzzle was rem
dered deeper when she overheard
them-Jackson and he-whispering
together one evening at the foot of
the stairs.
Does she suspect" Webb was in
Quiring in an undertOne.
Mrs. jackson regretted she could
not hear her husbands reply. She
grew piqued and she showed it.
Then seeing that Webb appeared
gricved without understanding, she
gradually relented, and when they
were alone she increased her friendli-
ness in the effort to gain his conf
dence and his tongue.
But her failure therein was almost
equal to her irritation at the appar-
emily complete understanding be-
tween Webb and her husband. To
Jackson she pretended to be angry
at the long visit of the guest, and
demonstrated with him about it.
But we can't ask him to 60"
urged Jackson. ''Then there's no
need of taking Webb seriously-no
need at all, my dear. just let him
have his own way, and he will be the
better pleased"
One evening jackson drove to town
for the purpose of sending an impor
tant message to New York, leaving
Mrs. jackson and Webb at cards.
After several games, they tired. and
then Webb asked her to play and
sing something. 1t was one of those
cool evenings that recur in early
summer, making CRATE fire pleas
ant. When the song was finished,
they drew chairs before the fire for
chat.
You may smoke, Frank" she said,
falling into her husbands familiar
way of addressing him, as she had
done on several occasions.
He expressed the gratitude that
was in his eyes and lit cigar.
Il shall never get over this visit"
he murmured, gratefully, then
paused for a half minute. SAT least
once in every mans lifetime he is
able to appreciate that the greatest
tality of home made beautiful with
his dearest friends. 1t is the perfect
host who gives without reserve. In
your home your guest is unarmed
of complaint"
He was in no sense a diffident man,
for he was not self-conscious. His
periods of reserve were not consti-
tutional, but the result of practiced
receptivity. Sitting there with his