The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1906-08-05
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but he fatty refused.
From that time his Bertha was
changed toward him. She often failed
to give him the connublal kiss when lt
went to business in the morning or on
his return. When she did SO 1t was
without the previous heartlness. From
feeling kindly toward her mother he
gradually came to consider her Il mon
/ ster who had turned his wife from him
/ Certain hints as to this he dropped
1 from time TO time did not improve
matters, and there grew up between
! the couple an estrangement.
One day when the husband returned
| from business he found that the blow
he had begun to dread had fallen. His
| Wife did not meet him nj the door as
she had done always before this mat
ter had come between them, and, SO
ing into the house. there was an omi-
nous silence. He called. but received
no answer. Mounting to their bed
room. he found note on the dresser
announcing that, since he considered
his wife's mother not worthy 10 live
with them his wife did not consider
that she ought to live with him.
A week passed. long, lonely, mis-
cradle week He was nj times Tempt
cd 70 90 after his wife aud bring both
her and her mother back with him, but
invariably decided that If his wife
would not live with him unless he re
~, u Womb
make his life still more miserable he
had better accept the lesser evil. Be
sides. he considered that Mrs Englc-
hart had made all the trouble. and with
each day his antagonism to her grew
more bitter He finally made up his
mind TO 20 and make an effort TO In
duce Bertha to return - without her
mother-aud, if he failed, to give her
up entirely.
1t was AT the beginning Of the second
week of Bertha's desertion that he took
a train ard rode a hundred miles 10
Mrs. Englehart's home. one evening
he was admitted to the house to find
mother and daughter sitting together,
the mother reading. the daughter do
ing fancy work The former looked at
him with a surprise which, TO his as
was accompanied by a
pleasant smile. The latter on seeing
who the visitor was. bent her head low
over her work. but he saw the color
vanish from her face and her bosom
heave unanimously.
Why Frank said Mrs. Englehart
Bertha didn't tell me you were com
Ing. My children have got up n sur
prise for me-" Then, noticing that
Bertha did not rise TO greet her hus
band. she added, Its Frank, Bertha
But, since Bertha maintained her posi-
ton without even noticing her hus
band. the mother added further, What
does this mean"
1T means" said Frank, that can't
live alone as | am now doing any
longer. II Bertha prefers TO remains
lere with you | must close the house
Ind go into bachelor quarters.
Bertha" said Mrs. Englehart "ex-
plain"
btEiuh sun nuns NV A'f'is
You didn't tell me there was trouble
between you and Frank" said her
mother
"she didn't?" exclaimed Frank, as
onished
NO. She told me she had come to
make me a visit
Notified toward the supposed enemy, |
crank related the bare circumstances |
preceding his wife's departure.
Bertha" said her mother in the |
anne tone she would have reproved
Ter daughter when a child
lie didn't act with proper consid-
ration toward you, mother" said Ber-
ha, "and / wouldn't stand it,
Whom did he marry-you or me"
ME. suppose"
Bertha. am astonished. am 1
shamed OF you. Why have you done
bis?"
Il wanted you. mother and thought
hat If came 10 you he would
"Be weak enough to yield to your?
To this there was no answer.
frank" said the mother-in-law
gre, go upstairs and get the dust off.
hen come down, and | will have some
upper ready for you"
Never was a dank, heavy atmos-
here more quickly cleared away
nan Frank Frost'S antagonlsm To-
ard the supposed cause Of his trou-
le. Stepping forward. he folded Mrs
.nglehart in his arms aud gave her
hearty kiss; then. without noticing
* wife. he left the room. He was
landing before mirror. brushing his
air. when be saw Bertha's reflection.
be was standing in the door. pie
ire Of contrition. Turning. be- caught
eF In his arms
II suppose I've been very wicked"
ie said in voice so faint that had
Is cheek not been against hers he
ould not have heard her.
Never mind. sweetheart I've been
fool. I've been lnwardly abusing the
sst woman in the world. Hereafter
must have her always at hand 10
ZIP me manage a lovely but wayvard !
ife"
~She won't come. knew how she
ould feel about living with Us. and [,
anted the invitation 10 come from d,
IN" =