Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1902-01-18
WIFE, PRO TEN.



ford, as, hat in hand, he regarded curiously
the young woman whose features were
clearly the original of the photograph he
held
81 think must be, il your name 10 Craw.
ford" she assented, with nervous laugh.
Mine is Hubbard--Geraldne Hubbard.
Mr.. Day told me you would be looking Tor
me- and she gave him her hand shyly, yet
trustingly, for Crawford had face which
inspired confidence, and even the strange
ness of the situation did not blind her to
that fact.
Three months before Geraldine had
Joined touring company, and her acting
in curtain raiser had attracted the at.
tention OF a famous stage manager and
dramatist. The latter's praise had induced
Joe Day to engage her for his American
touring company.
II will pay fares" he told her, when the
contract had been signed, but from Chi
cago you will have to 60 west with Guy
Crawford, my new leading man.
Geraldine murmured some polite little
speech about it being nice to have some one
to look after her, thereby increasing the
confusion which was already crimsoning
Days face.
"Well-you Sec" he began, awkwardly,
Crawford is not the worst part OF the job.
He's great boy, big hearted, tender as
woman, and as--as good an actor as ever
walked but it's this: Crawford has friends
in the railway Offices in Chicago, and he's
got passes right through to the coast for
himself and wife. Now, you can save me a
lot of money if you will travel as his wife,
Day awkwardly lit his cigar to cover his
embarrassment. BY no means had he a
reputation for bashfulness,, but this novice
might not understand the situation.
Geraldine blushed more rosily than he
had done, AID there was a tremble in her
voice as she spoke.
Your suggestion may perhaps be sin.
cere, Mr.. Day. she said. "but I'm already
engaged, and You really can't expect me to
break my word and marry another man for
the sake of few pounds. Why--why, I'd
rather pay it myself"
MY dear child" he explained, you don't
have to actually get married. All you have
to do is to act as though you had known
Crawford for few years No honeymoon,
you know, just pure business, and only the
porter and guard will know you as Mrs.
Crawford You are Mrs. Crawford from
Chicago to Oakland. You enter Frisco as
Miss Hubbard"
SO it had been arranged, and, though her
fance objected, Geraldine convinced him
that it was no worse than being man wife
en- the stage; and Jack Hamilton was even
disposed to joke about it as he saw her off
in the Erie station Remember" he cried,
as he waved adieu, cts only wife pro
tenn"
Here, in the Chicago station, it was a
shock to look up at the tall, handsome iel
low, and to realize that she would be Mrs
Crawford for the ensuing three days.
/ 1t was late in the afternoon when the train
started on the three-day run. Geraldine
was tired, and Immediately after supper
went to her berth, and she saw nothing
of Guy until she stepped of the car at
Omaha the next morning to take shor'
stroll on the platform.
Guy was already out. and he hastened
up. Good morning, Geraldine" was hi'
greeting, and noting her start, he con
/ tinued: II shall have to call you Geraldine
/ and YOU must call me Guy, to Keep the Off
cials from suspecting anything. The Great
Central man ccme' to me last night after yor
had retired, and made me prove identity
because, for one thing, you had no ring on
He was bit suspicious. ] had letters tha
fixed me up all right, and explained that
actresses seldom wore their wedding rings
At the same time, to save the position
would you mind wearing this? 1t was my
mothers. And he drew from his finger a
plain gold band.
She slipped it on her hand, wondered
what Jack would say, but the next moment
she had forgotten young Hamilton in th'
charm of Crawford's conversation. Likt
most actors of the better class, Crawford
was a capital talker, ever ready to amuse
and careful to use the personal pronour
sparingly. The long, dus,y trip. ordinaril!
so tedious, passed rapidly, and by the tint
Ogden was reached Hamilton was forgot
ten.
The next morning the spell was com
pleted. The first glimpse of the Sierra
strongly moved this English girl.
Even when dusk closed in, and Craw
ford led her back to their own car, she wa
strangely silent and at dinner answeres
his laughing remarks in monosyllables.
"How could he be so merry, when it woult
all end in few hours?" she asked her
self.
At last it did end.
The train arrived at Oakland late, a
Great Central trains usually are, and the,
went on board the ferry for San Francisco
1t was perfect Californian night, tn
blue sky studded with stars. A very nigh
for romance. and as Geraldine leaned owe
the rail sne sighed softly. Guy looked dow,
on her.
"Well, it's over" he said, gently, "bu
shall always remember this trip. Usual
it's so dull across the desert. Has it bee
tiresome to you?"
No. she cried, anything but that, A
first was afraid OF my-my 'husbandN Y bu
you were SO good that I soon forgot tina
part 1t was almost real. never suppose
marriage was so happy"
'It isn't" he replied, harshly. ITS a
right pro tenn; but the quarrels will cree
in Ny wife and | travel in different con
panies because we always quarrel whe
we're together, and at that We get alon
better than most"
His wife" Geraldine laid her head o
; the rail- and for moment she forgot ever!
, thing. Then the unconscious influence {
, the man and the mountains passed ava!
, and she was herself again.
II thank you so much for your kindness
Mr.. Crawford" she said, in her ordinar
tones. 81 have had such pleasant TIM
and ] hope that when am married to
man who is now in England ] will be &
) happy a real wife as was when a wife pr
5 TEN. Here is your divorced" and she han'