The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1906-12-27
UNDER ANOTHER
By GRACE BRUToN

! DUCK up, ola man. nv use i"iiiiiS
down before trouble. Anyway, moth
ing's ever so bad as it seems at first.
Tell me the story and perhaps we can
find way out"
The two men had not met for some
time. Jackson, passing through the
city on a business trip, had entered
Drew's office to surprise him with face
buried in his hands, crushed by black
depression. Old friends and COM
rades, he longed to help.
"The only way out of this trouble, -
answered Drew. glad of the relief OF
confession, lis a way that-that the
other party won't consent to. Yes,
It's a woman, of course, and such
woman, Jackson, There isn't such
another in the world, | know.
"She's on the stage, has small
part in one of the plays that have run
here all summer. | saw the show and
fell in love with her in moment.
Then pulled wires until l worked a
formal introduction. She allowed me
to call upon her, we talked books and
music. The companys going out Of
town shortly, so l rushed a proposal.
And then"
"And them" prompted Jackson, as
the others head again sought the
shelter of his arms.
and then" repeated Drew, with an
accent like sob, she told me of her
marriage. She passes for an unmar-
ried woman on the stage, and |, like
an idiot, never thought that in private
life things might be different | don't
know her married name, she wouldn't
tell me, because she says she loved
her husband when she married him;
he's a good man and still loves her.
and she wouldn't dream of getting a
divorce from him, slough she admits
that she loves me better. We're made
for each other, Jackson, and it was
cursed trick of fate to give her to the
other man first, or TO make her so
good that she won't let him 60"
Jackson's strong hand was pressed
comfortingly on his friends shoulder.
well" he said, his sensible, matter
of fact manner calming the other like
a sedative I'm sorry for the hus-
band, poor beggar but if he's a man
of any spirit he won't want to hold
woman who doesn't love him any
longer, though-God! but it's tough
on him, isn't it, if he really is de-
cent fellow? But still, if he knew
she says that if he knew he'd let
her go at once, just because he's so
unselfish and loves her so dearly" in
terrupted Jackson, but for that rea
son, and because he's always been so
good to her she can't bear to tell
him. So eveTybody's got to suffer, so
far as l see, since there must be a
difference in her manner toward him.
Seems to me, in his place I'd want to
know"
Yes, l think I would, too" said
Jackson, rising, though the cards
seem to have been dealt him unfair
ly, too. Well, old fellow, I've got to
be going. Just in town and haven't
even seen my wife yet, though she's
lClC III SulNusooB wv, III tiiC llioiliNhI.
You've never seen her, either have
you; no, this is the first time I've been
west since | married, and you haven't
been east in ages. Come and see us
at the hotel this evening, no. to-mor
row some time. I'll telephone you
when, so you won't lose a moment
waiting. And brace up about this
other business, old boy Things will
some out right somehow. It's my
philosophy that they always dc"
Drew stood up to shake hands and
something fell from the desk before
him, to the floor. Jackson, picking up
the card, turned white and scarlet.
This picture?" he murmured, his
tone strange.
oh" said Drew, flushing, that's
the woman. It's a poor portrait of
her. but she wouldn't give me one, and
I got this off the company press agent
II was looking at it just before you
came in. Why! do you know herr"
for Jackson's face looked stricken
Yes" was the choking answer.
She's my wife. Chicago Tribune.