The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-02-03
HIS CHOICE.
RY HELENA sMITH.

l(Copyright. 1905, by Daily Story Puo' 'Trs quite too bad of Hillard to flirt Ieo outeageously with Jeanue Dare fright before his wife's very eyes said Olivia Indignantly as she stirred lin another lump of sugar. Don't you think so, MT. Townsend?s
 'Tts rather honest of him, isn't ity' II asked. HOW much less commend able his pastims would be If she didn't know of it."
 "Everybody is feeling so sorry fot poor Mrs. Hilliard.~ sighed olivia
 "she doesn't look as if she needed their sympathy" said glancine across the studio to where a brilliant mostly artists, for 1t was a studio af- fair composed of Bohemians and few smart people who enjoyed the "atmos' phere"
 "There's method in it." said Olivia who pretefds to know the inside facts Of everything. Mary Hiilard told mt once that if she wasn't clever enough to keep her husbands Iove---the one who could set 1t was entitled to 1t But she also said that she would make the same play. for 1t that she did be- fore she first won 1t. It should all be done by tact---nt scenes Nor should Hillard ever know that she no- ticed anything"
 'Does she think Jeanne Dare { Sival?" I demanded.
 'That's the funny part of it--no She nearly took my head or when in a very kind and gentle way--I told her to watch Jeanne. She is alto' gether too sure of Dick. That's wh5 everybody will feel so sorry for hei when she finds 1t out"
 @And do you think she will give hin up?' I was keenIy interested in thi. bit of gossip Olivia would never find anyone to talk to her in the cosy cor ners she haunts were her conversation less amusing.
 "of course she will. But I am mol going to see Mary Hillard go on any longer with her eyes shut to what thu whole world knowa"
 should like to see a picture o what Caivia calls ''the whole world. don't imagine 1t would make a ver1 large group.
 How are you going to do itg" asked
 I was rather Surprised few day. later to receive a note from Mar! EIiIlard to cbme up at once. When sht entered the room I was surprised a the change ai few days had made fl lher. There were lines in her usually | ] saw such suffering as they hinted be fore! 'You were very good to come s, soon," she said with A slight effort a her old cordial manner. T will ex lplain everything as briefly as possible for 1t will be very painful to sa! much. I wish to institute divorce pro ceedings against my husband. It mus be done very quickly--it Is possible Il it not without any scandal?--and q once?"
 Surely you cannot mean thisT couldn't believe i'll of Hillar, though olivia's hints fitted througl my head.
 q shall keep back nothing" sh said, handing me a note. read i through carefully, As this is Mrs Hillard's story and not my own. shall say nothinsA of how that note af fected me. 1t wAs signed Jeanh ting. RutAI knew instantly when req son returned to me after the shock O first reading that letter that Jeann Dare had not written iti Did you eve know a thing was true and let dis. believe it at the same time? That was my attitude
 Tonight, if my husband accept the invitation which this note indI oates will be more than welcome, ev erything Is at an end" There was steel like quality in her voice 'c found this--and yet tried to give hin another chance I used every art a my omnhand--without letting him SC, my real anxiety--to get him to giv, me this evening. He chose betweeI us" she ended bitterly, land I wa. not the fortunate one."
 With sudden naughty motion sh, put up her head and looked m, straight in the eyes. She was the mos ~E regal creature had ever seen.
 You are mistaken" said. "Youl husband cares for no one else May ask Iwnere you found this letteFF'
 Tn the upper hallway--where he had dropped It," she answered quick. ''or where some one else dropped it." I said dryly.
 There's no mIstaker" her tonee wa. decided.
 May use your phone a momentr ? I asked with a sudden inspiration.
 Certainly" she said.
 I stepped to the telephone and rane up Jeanne Dare.
 Haven't you an engagement tc dine with me this evening?" I asked
 "Oh---is that youT' came the an. swer in tones recognized as Jeanne's I've been trying to get you all day can't go with you this evening---aw- fully sorry. No--I can't really. Why We'll have another engagement, 4 fyou must know 1t. Sorry to iisap. point you. No, YOU mustn't come UT for can't receive you this evening""
 hung up the receiver in a daxe. Yet didn't want to tell Mrs Hillard that her suspicious were confirmed.
 "Win you wait until 10 o'clock to- night before you really condemn him? asked.
 To this Mrs. Hllard agreed. I left