The Donaldsonville chief., 1906-09-01
His Friend Jessie
By BELLE MANIATES

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The house seemed strangely big and
empty to Edna as she sat in her bou-
doir, her head buried in her hands,
trying to grasp the conditions OF her
position-a young society woman VINO
had just instigated proceedings for
divorce. There had been no scene or
scandal. The trouble had come very
suddenly and quietly. Her husband,
Walter Landon, had confronted her
one evening with serious face and
the astonishing declaration that ner
cousin, Billy Jerome, was on alto
gether too familiar footing in thelr
household, and that she was to bestoW
less time and attention upon him.
"Why, Walter protested Edna, half
amused and wholly amazed, Billy and
l have been brought up like brother
and sister, and had never been sepa-
rated until he went west a few years
ago. I couldn't get up the least sent1-
ment for him even if / didn't care Tor
you"
sBut you are not brother and sister.
and | tell you frankly it maddens me
to see him appropriate you as matter
Of course, and / will not permit you to
drive with him as frequently as you
do
Further argument followed, but
Walter was peremptory in reiterating
his commands. He left the city that
night on a business trip, and in his
absence Edna made her plans quietly
and unalterably.
Waiter" she said co1dly on his re-
turn, 81 think it advisable that we sep
arate Not on Billy's account, not be-
cause he is anything to me, but be-
cause of your stand in this matter. My
eyes are suddenly opened to the fact
that you are unreasonably jealous and
narrow-minded. tell you frankly that
I will not accede to any request or
command as absurd and uncal1ed for
as the one you made in regard to my
seeing Billy. desire a separation at
once. A divorce can follow in due
time"
He was as astounded as she had
been at his first move. He remained
stunned for moment Then it daWned
upon him that she was indeed infatu-
ated with Billy, and taken this means
to be free.
If you desire a separation" he said
in low, strange voice, you shall
have one
She was little startled and piQued
by his ready acquiescence.
Il have thought it all over" she re-
piled. LILLIAN and I can live here,
and you can take apartments for your
self. We can. quietly begin proceedings
for a divorce on the ground of incom-
patibility. have my own property,
and you can make suitable provision
for Lillian"
There is one point" he said, ''you
have overlooked. cannot be sepa-
rated altogether from Lillian Z
Walter! AS if l would put feather
between you two. She shall come to
you as often as you desire
But" he hesitated. in the event
of your remarrying-
She flushed, and averted her face
I'm the event Of my remarrying,' Z
she said haughtily, "I will give Lillian
up to you entirely
She is indeed infatuated" he
thought with a pang. TO be willing to
part with her child
The next day he moved into apart
ments, and Edna's aunt came to her
1t was the time Of year when nearly
every one was out of town, and the
few who came to the house supposed
Walter to be absent on one of his fre-
quent business trips.
Two weeks, the longest ones of
Edna's existence, had dragged through,
and she was more wretehed than she
cared to acknowledge. Even the mo-
ment OF triumph when Billy had an
nounced publicly the fact of his ap-
preaching marriage to girl out west,
and had gone to the home OF his future
bride, did not bring her the enjoyment
she had expected to feel in witnessing
Walters chagrin.
As she sat alone In her houdoir
pondering over the estrangement, she
heard the patter of little steps in the
hall, and she lifted her head expectant-
". Lillian had been spending the day
with her father, and Edna was always
interested in hearing the child prattle
of these visits
*Oh, mammal exclaimed the little
girl, excitedly. Il had such a lovely
time. We all went on the river in a
big boat-and-''
Who went with you?a asked Edna,
quickly.
Papa and his friend"
What friend?'
"a new friend, Jessie"
Lillian, she said, angrily, don't
ever mention that Jessie's name to me
again.
The little lip quivered
Jessie was lovely to ME! / like Jes-
sie!''
So the intriguing Jessie was winning
her child's affections as we'll as her
husbands She decided that she would
not allow the child to go to her father
again. She spent a miserable night
When the summons came for Lillian
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