The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-06-18
AssENr.MINpEp HUSBAND.

| Your coffee is getting cold. dear" she
said, gently. wistful note in her voice
struck him. and he looked at her over
his spectacles, as he put down his news
| paper and turned his attention to his
breakfast What are you thinking
about?" he queried presently "a penny
for your thoughts"
His wife colored a little and the far
| away expression left her eyes Il was
wishing. she answered, that you were
less busy, So that you could take me
places, as you used to when We were
| engaged This was the truth, but 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.. Pemberton was twenty years her
| senior, and essentially a mans man. who
| had never understood women. The first
Mrs Pemberton had had a positive tai
ent for managing men. and had always
had everything she wanted Indifferent
unreasonable and selfish, she made her
husband a slave 10 her every whim. and
1t was not until after her death that he
realized her tyranny. a few years later
he married Alice Lee, a sweet. unselfish
inexperienced girl. to whom he gave a
sort or fatherly affection 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 in
love. There never was a more simple
hearted girl in society, and her elderly
sutton had completely won her heart.
Alice was stylish and pretty. and be-
witching in a girlish way, but she did not
realize this, and it was source of won
der to her that Mr.. j. Prescott Pember-
ton. handsome. middle-aged and rich.
should wish to marry her. The conse-
quence was that. while he took for grant
ed her charm and sweetness, she hung a
halo on his bald old head.
Alice's aunt had withdrawn her oppo-
sition. and the wedding had taken place
after short engagement. Now, it was
almost a year since they were married,
and Alice wondered wistfully if her hus-
band would celebrate the anniversary.
This morning was the first time that she
had ever let him guess that she noticed
his lack of devotion.
Mr. Pemberton smiled across the table
in a fatherly way. You must remem-
ber." he said, that l am a very busy
man, Alice. Haven't you everything that
you want?"
That isn't it, she replied. 1T isn't
the money, but L miss the flowers and
l--ings that you used 10 send-not so
showed that you were thinking of me-
Her husband looked at her tenderly.
Il am sorry" he said. that it is impossi-
bic for me to find time to pay you the
little attentions that you miss. but later
on, perhaps, l may be less busy. Now"
he went on, here is chek for $50 and
want you to spend IT for violets. matinee
tickets and all kinds of things of that
sort. and he patted her cheek as he
hot 6nd ft,.a oh 70 har- H., II
at him, and. because she had a very
happy disposition, for the time being
she almost forgot her little woes in
planning how to spend the $50
After breakfast she telephoned to Laura
Graham to meet her and 90 to the bank
to have the check cashed. Then for a
day of frivolity.
What a generous old GEAR your hus-
band is said Laura and so devoted.
Every one says that your life together
is a perfect idyl." This was pleasant to
hear, and young Mrs. Pemberton thought
to herself that she had been foolish to
have felt even a moments discomfort.
II always forget which window to go
to- she said to Laura as they entered
the bank. II think, though, that it is
this one. Will you please cash this for
me?" she said to the paying teller. The
man looked at the check and then hest
tated. Il am sorry" he said. but |
cannot"
"Oh, is this - wrong Window Mrs. |
Pemberton askN
No" he replied. coloring, but your |
husband made mistake in writing the |
check"
She glanced at II, and her lips closed |
so firmly that they lost forever their |
girlish curves. |
The check was made out in Mr. Pember- |
toms first wife's name.-Marie Rue, in n. |
Y. Herald.