Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-19
!. Chapter XIII.

indignation. Had ever woman more
cause? asked myself
There had never been a time when l did
not have some masculine friend to lean
upon in times of trouble. Now, the count
had gone, Phil was in love with another
woman, and my husband had left me. l
knew not which way to turn, and could
only fight with my own consuming rage in
solitude. 1t was not fair, told myself to
condemn a woman without a hearing, as
Joe had done Perhaps 1 had been foolish
with regard to the count. Perhaps l had
gone too far with him, but If Joe had only
heard what had just said, when he ap-
peared in that doorway, he might not have
blamed me so much. But l was too proud to
go TO hlm-too proud even, to write to him.
He had left me suddenly and for a trivial
cause. Very well, he should take his own
time to come back. l would neither beg
him to come nor apologize; and as for
the club, would not be brow-beaten there
either. They should not drive me from
the presidents chair by underhand
methods. l was not to be routed by anony-
nous letters would stay and would be
reelected the first Saturday in January.
AS the cool wind blew across my hot
cheeks the tempest in my heart subsidized
ana came to state of mind approaching
calm l went back to the house and
told my mother, in response to her ques-
tioning, that Joe had gone away Indefinitely,
She had long since learned the futility of
advising people against their will, and like
the wise woman she was, said nothing
And SO life flowed along as usual for some
weeks. Joe did not leave town; 1t would
have simpiified matters for me If he had;
and it began to be whispered about in the
Nota Rene that he was living at his club
Really" Mrs. Parsons said to me one
Gay, you ought to persuade your husband
to come back if only for appearances sake
People are talking, you know
why should it trouble other people?" I
asked, Indignantly.
Don't you know that half the joy of
life, for the average man and woman, comes
of talking over other peoples troubles:"
she answered. "Of course, 1t is nothing to
any of us whether Joe Henning sleeps I'M
der his own roof or some other; but you
will never persuade people to cease
troubling about you. Get him back, IL you
are wise woman.
/ went home bordering her advice, Only
to stumble upon Minnie Morrison, who
was just coming from the other direction.
80. say, now!'' she began Familiarity. You
are in Il box, aren't you? Why don't you
get that stunning-looking husband of yours
back home again? never saw man i'm
prove in looks as he has since he went
abroad. Shows what a good tailor can
do. Is it true that he never comes home
now?''
''Who told you so?n I asked.
Everybody is saying So" she responded
quite as eager to retail gossip about me
she had ever been about others. They
say he's jealous of the counts attentions
to you, and that he will only return TO
you on condition you'll give up clubs and
go back into penal servitude in his kitchen"
That's not so.'' l said hotly. Joe has
always been very generous about hiring
servants
well, you know his staying away does
give color to the steries-now, doesn't it?'
What do you mean?" 1 asked
''Why, all that gossip about you and the
count You KNOW" she went on merclessly.
ia CT Twin
apart make all the gossips believe there
was something between you and the count.
l rose, furious. 1 would have ordered her
out of the house, but my rage fairly
choked me. The scales suddenly fell from
my eyes.
you'll have to get him back just for de-
cency's sake, won't your she went on. 80,
don't look so mad It's no time now to ride
your high horses. Besides you'll need me for
your campaign this fall if you propose to
be elected. It's going to be uphill work,
but / guess we can do 1t. By the way, It's
going to need lot of press-work in diff
feTent papers. That will take a great deal
of time and time is money to me- She
stopped significantly.
Il shall. of course, pay what expenses
there are in connection with the work" 1
said, getting calmer. There should be cir
cular letters got out think What else?'
Suppose you pay me lump sum- and
I'll get out the circulars and attend to ali
those things" she said. Say we make it
five hundred
1 gasped. THAT is a pretty high figure to
pay for the presidency 1 said at last.
20, you're not the first to pay it, she an
swered coolly, land I'm not in business for
nothing. I've been through this mill before.
I'll tell you what I'll do. Make it two hun
dred and fifty If you fail and five If you
win and she went on to show me the cost
of issuing a series of letters what she
called the "fOllow-up SYSTEM" to be sent
to every member of the club. 1t was allur
ing. as she represented it, but had a grain
of sense left and SO postponed decision.
fearing to get her ill-will. When she had
gone rang up Mrs. Parsons and told her
of the incident.
swered. Have nothing whatever to do
with her. Think what a row we should
have in the club and what sensational art1-
cles in the newspapers If you were to en-
ploy her and 1t leaked out. No. The adj
vance press agent may be a necessity for
the theatrical star, but the club president
does not yet stand in need of her. But let
Miss Morrison down gently. for if you incur
her enmity, woe be unto you! Whom the
modern gods destroy they first make init
mate with ill-natured newspaper folk. And
we've had enough of that in connection with
that dreadful shoeman.
About a week later 1 wrote Minnie Morri-
son that, on thinking over her proposition,
did not feel that her method would be our
best way just yet, but that would let her
know, later, If needed her services; and so
we renamed IfleIluS-dl ledSt, III OulWdFu
seeming.
/ saw little of Philip Haven during these
weeks, and then only in company of Mrs.
Bainbrifige with whom he was desperately
in love- But the morning after Thanksgiv-
ing day l received-fn common L suppose,
with the rest of his parishioners-a simple,
engraved announcement of his marriage to
Mrs. cambridge. "At home after Deem
Der LIST, at the rectory.'
called the first possible moment
and found them, three little Balm
bridges and ALL snugly settled.
Philip seemed insanelY happy. Poor fellow!
he had been alone in the world for years
and could appreciate home better for that.
Yes, we are desperately happy, Jackie"
he said, in answer to my congratulations.
II have found the one woman who was di-
yinely ordered to be mine, 1 am sure Lily
supplements and rounds out my nature, and
/ am Just the sort of man she needs
ooh may nothing ever come between you
to break up your happiness, Phil!' / an
swered My tone betrayed me, for he
turned suddenly.
Jackie, you are miserable What Is 1t?
/ have been so absorbed In my own affairs
haven't seen or known. Where is Joe?'
Here In Chicago, l answered. But not
at home any more.
$50 bad as that?"
$50 bad as that. The anonymous letter.
and then an inopportune call from the
&C UNFIT was too much for him.
cts all wrong" he said, decidedly. II
will go to him tomorrow and tell him he is
in the wrong"