Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-08-03
THE ABSENT MINDED HUSBAND.

u,
our coffee is getting cold. dear. =
She said gently. A wistful note in her
voice struck him, and he looked at
1er over his spectaocles, as he put
] down his newspaper and turned his
attention to his breakfast.
What are you thinking about?" ne
queried presently "A penny for your
thoughts
His wife cololed little and the far
away expression left her ewes, 81
was Wishing she answered, that
you We're less busy, so that you could
fake me places, as you used to when
we were engaged" This was the truth
out not the whole truth. for of course
she could not tell him what she would
hardly own to herself. that she was
sometimes a little jealous of his love
for his first Wife.
Mr. PembertQn was twenty wears her
senior, and essentially a mans man,
who had never understood women. The
first Mrs. Pemberton had had a posi-
tive talent for managing men, and had
always had everything She wanted. In
different, unreasonable and selfish. she
made her husband a slave to her every
whlm, and it was not until after her
death that he realized her tyranny. A
few years later he married Alice Lee.
sweet, unselfsh. inexperienced girl.
70 whom he gave sort of fatherly af-
ecticn in return for her ardent love.
IF only Alice could have the income
without the encumbrance. sighed her
aunt. who opposed the match until she
found that wide-eyed Alice really was
N love. There neIer was a more sim
pie hearted girl in society, and her Ell
derly suitor had completely won her
'heart. Alice was stylish and pretty
ard bewitching in girlish way. but
me did not realize this. and it was
source CT wonder to her that Mr.. ].
Prescott Pemberton, handsome, mid
lie aged and rich, should wish to marry
or The consequence was that. while |
he took for granted her charm and !
sweetness, she hung a halo on his |
cald old head
Alice's aunt had withdrawn her op-
position, and the wedding had taken |
place after a short engagement Now |
it was almost year since they were |
married. and Alice wondered wistfully |
If her husband would celebrate tte'
This morning was the
first time that she had ever let him
guess that she noticed his lack of de-
votion
Mr., Pemberton smiled across the
table in fatherly way "You must re-
member" he said, chat l am a very
busy man, Alice. Haven't you every
hing that you want?"
THAT isn't it." sac replied "1t isn't
he money. but miss the flowers and
hlngs that You used to send-not so
much for themselves, but because they
howed that You were thinking of me-"
Her husband looked at her tender
Y, I am sorry" he said. that it is
for me to find time to pay
0u the little attentions that you miss
1ut later on, perhaps. | may be less
'Gsy. Now he went on, here is a
heck for $50, and | want you to srend {
for violets, matinee tickets and all
,inds of things of that sort" and he
'ated her cheek as he handed the
heck 10 her She smiled up at him.
nd. because she had a very happy s
opposition. for the time being she al =,
lost forgot her little woes in planning {
ow to spend the $50 {
Afte- breakfast she telephoned to 1
.cura Graham to meet ner and go to
Ne bank TO have the check cashed
hen for day of frivolty. :
What a generous old dear your hus- ,
and is, said Laura. "and 50 devoted ;
very one says that your life together q
q perfect idvl" This was pleasant: y
} hear. anu young M1s 11e4l~ac, :.