The Cairo bulletin., 1906-05-23
One Hilarious Outing.
BY BLYMER CHAPMAN.

ate woman in the world. And indee
| she looked it. The wife of the wealth
lest man in the city, who eagerl
| gratified her every whim; beautiful
possessed of faultless taste and til
means TO minister unto it; courted
| admired, acknowledged the socia
leader; with every avenue Of pleasure
travel. dress. society, philanthropy
everything open before the magic
touch Of Manson's millions and Man
son more than willing TO use the magi,
of his millions for any purpose she de
sired-what more could any woman
want?
And yet Margaret Mansfield sat In
her blue and gold boudoir with leader
heart and looked out into the SHIN
mering sunlight and shivered as might
a prisoner in a dungeon who saw the
golden CLEANS Of the sun outside but
knew it never could be hers.
1t was one of her blue days--tha. i
about all there was about it-and yet
she had had SO many blue days OF late
that the sunlight did not appeal to heI
as 1t used to in the old days. The
worst OF it was that the luxurious sur
roundings had begun to pail upon her
and she had fallen into dreadful
habit of late of asking herself con
tinually: Was it worth while ~
In vain did she shrug her patrician
shoulders and reply; "Of course it il
worth while. what else could have
done?' Ever and again came back
the question:: Was it worth while?
This afternoon there was upon her
the smell of the new mown hay and
the smell of the new milk in the
clean little dairy and the smell OF the
grass and all the growing things-aye
and the smell OF the ba7nyard and all
the living things therein including
Jake, the hired man. And these smells
and the visions they inspired carried
her back to the old place out in the
Genesee valley and to all the happy
days Of her youth when she traiied
ever in the wake of a mighty star
whose name was ideality and over
which towering so far into the heav,
ems as almost TO he lost sight Of, rose
her castles in the air
All, finally these castles had been
reduced to one-but that one castle
had been so much more splendid than
all the rest that they all looked cheap
beside it. And then-but why pursue
vain regrets and drag back the skeIe |
tons of the past?
Anyway the mind of madame was
thoroughly upon the country--the old |
Genesee valley this afternoon and ii |
seemed to her that if she could not |
get a Whit of the sweet fresh air she /
must stiae.
OF sudden she arose with deter.
and rang for her maid
Pack one trunk with the simplest
hings. | am going away for a few
lays. There will the no society no oc.
,asion for any clothes excepting the
most simple-do yoa understand"
Felice understood was why
0elice had lasted so long in madame's
service
In the meantime Mrs. Manson had
descended TO the apartments OF her
iege lord.
IF you have no objections, sir, she
aid. Il think / win run down to the
Id place for day or sol am hun
ny for a Whit of the old Genesee air.
Why, sure" he replied, heartily, !
urning from his market reports to
evour his handsome wife with his
yes. Awful so:ry | cant go along
ut that p. G. r. &. l.. b. deal is com.
ng off in the neAt few days and ]
aren't take my eye off the gun. Take
he maid with you?"
No" she replied, decisively, Il
'ant to go alone
IAN right" he replied, induleently,
hen pickering his brows: Where
ou goin'? You know the old place ,
s-who the thunder owns the old
lace, anyway-nobody know"
Il do not intend to stop at the old
lace" she said, calmly. Il just want
, go down and see it all again-and |
neil 1t. | shall stop at the tavern" {
He received this with a peal of q
tighter. "oh, get away" he snort |
l between his laughs Not that old /
1painted barn in the town. Why.
oman alive. you are not thinking of :
ling there alone?' {
Exactly" she replied. There is
} danger nor any disgrace possible v
it is a most respectable place. The y
lly thing that couid possibly happenI e
me would BE a little discomfort b
ID that can't hurt me much in a few
,ys." t
oh, well, as you please" he replied, s
rning back to his market reports. G
hen as she swept FROM the room he q
oked up and sighed a puzzled sort
a sigh.
''And she might 70 To New York and
Cd at the waldorf and zee tie opera q,
II a. we'll The women Certainly do :
al ali time i.
Hence il was that Margaret Manson | :
nnd herself on the platform Of the !.
lie red-painted station. a day later :,
d negotiating with old Bill Simpson !
take her to the tavern. Already :
d she got the fragrance of the coun-