Middletown transcript., 1905-06-03
THE BRUTE'S WIFE
BY ALICE GARLNAD STEELE

that sort. 1t Will all be np-to-date and
regular. Well send Bobby and Daisy to
your mothers for a week it will give
them change of air, and you time to
turn around and think for yourself. Your
second maid can go with them"
The Brute's wife had settled deter
mination in her eyes.
We've only one maid now," she said
"The other married Mrs. Ridges gardener
last week, while was at the Whist club.
If the Riddles go. I'll take them myself"
The special friend resigned herself to
the inevitable. Bobby and Daisy always
had sticky fingers and asked questions
by the CARLOAD.
"Pll take them in" she sighed. "You
can trust the precious pets to me. Mean
while, you get dressed and take the noon
train in. I'll meet you at Davidsons at
one we'll lunch there, 60 to the matinee
afterwards. and then home to my house
| Tll phone to a couple OF the girls, and
have Fred and Robert come in for an
impromptu hearts party. You'll stay
with me for few days, any way, won't
you?'
'But, Jennie, what will Jack say ?''
Bother Jack p said the special friend,
and her tone admitted of no reply. She
stood up. "Come, we must fix up the
children"
The Brute's wife led the way up stairs
| without another word.
An hour later she sat alone i'll her pretty
room with half-packed suitcase on the
floor, and her heart remembering the
sticky, cinging caresses OF Daisy and
| Bobby, ho had hailed All unexpected
visit to 'grandma's'' with reluctant de-
light. So they had gone, and she was
going, and Jack would come home on
their wedding-day to an empty house
She bit her lips to keep back the tears
freedom was bitter-sweet, but she must
| have it
She penned little note and pinned it |
to Jacks smoking jacket, the dear brown
jacket that she had given him that first
Christmas in the new home With sud- |
den remorse she tore the note off and |
laid it on the dresser instead ]; then she |
folded the jacket into small, tight roll,
and put it into corner OF her satchel,
for old times sake.
"Now," she breathed, I'm ready p
She snapped the case and pulled down
her veil. She went a moment to the
kitchen before going out.
Cook she said, ''I'm going to town
over night, with Miss Meredith. Have
the dinner at seven, as usual, and don't
forget the cream sauce you know how
my husband likes it. Good by be sdre
you lock the kitchen windows when you
go TO bed"
The cook looked up with suspicion in
her eyes.
''Was you sick, ma am? l thought as
| heard you groaning."
The Brute's wife swept out with con-
scious dignity bnt as she walked to the
station, she felt life a creeping, guilty
thing that belonged to night, not to day.
The train was late. Every one, from the
ticket agent to the white dog with one
ear that lived in the shed, seyed her, she
fancied, with disapproval. She tried to
take courage in the thought that the
children were happy at her mothers,
that her gown looked well, that it was
just the day to go to town, the weather
was so beautiful but she reached David
sons almost in tears.
Jennie was late Had anything hap
pened to the children?
The waiter came to take her order, but
she motioned him away she was waiting
for friend. She went over her note
to Jack; it was very short and mysterious:
JACK
,re gone to town with Jennie FIR
while. Don't write or come. If your
cold is bad, take some quinine, and don't
forget to water the rubber plant. ADA.
1t was almost laughable how Jack
would stare 1t wasn't quite the way
they did in books, but then melodranlat-
les were silly in real life. She was wait
ing, drumming on the polished table with
her gloved fingers till Jennie came in,
smiling.
1.-THE Riddles are all right" she said
airily. ''I've 'phoned to all the girls,
and Rob is going to bring his cousin
I've tickets for The Thoroughbred. {
Now we'll have lunch-I'm starving for
an oyster patty r I
Her mirth was infectious, but some
how it wore off. They were late at the
theatre, and 1.-The Thoroughbred'' was t
tommy rot-the heroine a sweeping, up
to-date creation who needed strait
jacket. There was just one part that
made the Brute's wife sit forward breath
less--the hero, who was married to a
sweet, blossomy little thing, left her. in {
moment of anger to droop and fade
away on her stem, till remorse brought
him back. 1t was happy ending. but I
it was nerve-racking 1t stretched tile
emotions out like rubber bands, so that {
when they snapped back they hurt The
special friend was wrathful. t
Three dollars for that 1t was like I
pie made of dried apples Come, we'll
order the ices for to-night-or would you t
have just frappe?'
l,o 70, l. | :
1t was after six, and Jack was whirring
home on the train she tried to follow
his movements, and kept looking at her
watch till she saw the twelve numbers at |
once through her tears, like a snake s
fence around tiny crystal pond Jennie t
ratified ON, unconscious. a
Goodness" she cried, 'we'l be late !
Tor dinner! Come, Ada, told the girls 7