The Holly chieftain., 1906-07-27
A QUARTET
[Original.l

ings, the husband sought employment
He developed striking business talents,
and it was not long before he was en-
gagged in small manufacturing enter
prise of his own. The article he made
was patented, and the business became
very valuable. Mr.. Chaplin bought "A
house in the best part of the city and
the couple entertained considerably,
But it was not long before it began
to be whispered that all was not well
with the Chapins. A young man. Ar
thur Gilman, was deyoting himself to
young Mrs. Chaplin. 1t appeared to be
one Of those cases wherein husband
having perfect confidence in his wife
fails to see what every one else sees
either this or seeing he pretends not
to see. Chaplin, at least so far as the
world knew, gave himself no concern
as to his wife's attendant, seeming to
be himself absorbed in Il friendship
with one of his own sex He and
Fletcher Ford We're inseparable. They
constantly drove out together attended
amusements together and at social Ell
tertainments would sit chatting togeth-
er instead of devoting themselves to
the women.
What fool" said Madam Grundy,
ito be SO devoted to II man friend as
to let his wife drift into trouble
The world did not see all that was
going on in the quartet If Chaplin did
not hear of the scandal OF which he
was the one most Interested, Fletcher
Ford did. He took it upon himself to
admonish his friend that thou-h per
sonally he considered Mrs. Chaplin per-
fectly innocent, society was bee omini
shocked,
The admonition was taken III g1oi
part Chaplin admitted that he LlI
noticed Gilman's attentions, lut his
confidence in his wifc's pU...y was
absolute The only change that came
from Ford's interference was that Gil
man and Mrs. Chaplin We're seen less to
gether in public But Gilman was still
SO much at the Chapins home that
Ford, who was Il witness of the fact.
told his friend he was beginning to lose
respect for him This seemed to trouble
Chaplin, but he did not seem to have
the courage to break up his wife's iiai-
son Finally Ford became 50 irritateu
at the sneering remarks he heard that
he went to Chapin's house one evening
and told him that their friendship was
at an end.
Chaplin at this thrust broke down,
and Ford was astonished to see tear
in his eye. 1t was the first evidence
he had seen that after all there must
be something in the affair that had not
been explained But above all Gilman
was made aware Of Chapln's value Of
his good opinion. Ford affectionately
laid his hand on his friends arm and
besought him to give him his conf
dence The young husband though
much moved, would not reveal what
was troubling him. Ford pressed him
to coniidc in him, but Chaplin suddenly
sprIn.s up and left the room. saying
that l.. would confer with his Wife and
see what could be done to mend the
matte" Ford was much affected at
seeing his friends emotion :lnl seized
his hand as he left the room with
view TO comfort him. But Cha. broke
away from him and went IL ,s airs
Ford was puzzled. He coull f2c no
pviience of trouble on his frieh.ts mind
pertaining to his wife, Chlpin's sole
grief seeming to be at losing his
friends respect and the parting that
was imminent between them. lie re-
ma.ned waiting In the library where
Chaplin had left him for some time,
then was about to depart, when he
heard rustling Of skirts on the stair
case and Mrs Chaplin entered, accom-
panied by lady whom Ford did not
at first recognize. Yet there was some