The La Jara chronicle., 1905-07-21
A~ShAT TERfDl IDOL
8 9 GzzAIC H<CGN7 e .
Copyright. 1905. by Daily Story Pub. Co,


He was such a reckless dare devil
of a man, this Jack Langdon. who
wooed by main strength and would not
take No" for an answer.
Meet me-" he had written, Meet
me at the Suvesne reception. After.
wards we will go to the cotillion and
from there"
He had left the rest expressiyely
blank.
Pearl Horton had read the note
once. twice. and again many times.
At first she was angry, what woman
would not be. but then she could not
help recalling the gay way other WON
en- of her set talked about their flirta-
tons. Why not she?
Why not?" she asked herself. why
not?" she repeated SO often as she
dressed herself to go that she had
questioned herself into consent. She
was dressed and ready. when, why
was it. that at the last moment her
husband should say in his firm, quiet
way that she feared to cross
Pearl. l wish you to go with me to
pleased?"
NJ l wont, SHt tACldllleu, ha't
made other engagements"
Never mind" he said tenderly.
''let the other engagements go. do
so wish you to go with me tonight"
Visions of Jack Langdon disap-
pointment, cane to her mind and she
exclaimed petulantly. You're the most
exasperating, unaccountable man
ever met"
DR.. Horton was n man with a broad
and liberal mind. He loved his wife
and he studied her moods. He saw
with what innocent pleasure she play
ed with the fire and resolved that. If
he could help her and stand between
her and temptation, he would. In the
club that day, he had heard something,
bit OF Langdon's barroom braga-
dacio, probably, augmented by rumor.
On the impulse of the moment his first
thought was to seek out this man and
give him a sound thrashing, but better
council prevailed. Nor did he go
home and raise'a fuss with his wife.
He was far too good general for
that.
There. there. my dear" he said,
with a touch of finality in his voice,
I'VE shall go to the reception after
ward, if you like. What do you say.
sweetheart"
Mrs. Norton accepted the inevitable
with bad grace and bounced out of the
room almost in tears. There's no
help for 1t, l suppose" she exclaimed
and sat down to pen Jack note. 1t
read:
Dear Jack:
THAT dolt of husband of mine,
tonight of all nights in the world,
wants me to go to the opera. There's
no help for it, ] guess l must go.
You will forgive me. will you not?
Write me when | will see you again.
"As ever. p"
DIR. Horton, waiting in the hallway
below, heard the door slam on the
hurrying maid that carried the note
to Langdon and the deep burrows on
his brow relaxed little.
Perhaps, who knows. he knew also
of another note that reached his
enemys hand at about the same time
It read:
Dearest Jackie;
do come down to see me tonight
Meet me at the stage door at twelve
and we will have time. Yours ever
"Cissey
"P. s. Shall we go to Vanes
Don't forget a bunch of flowers, now
will you? That's dear boy"
Nine o'clock saw the Horizons in
their box and Pearl enjoyed herself
in spite of her vexation. But DR.
Horton was waiting patiently for the
close, and when they entered theil
carriage again he said to the driver
"Vane's."
Pearl lifted her eyebrows In sur
prise but said nothing.
When they reached that none too
respectable cafe Horton piloted hi'
wife to one of the private dinini
z-.-aI~