The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1906-12-27
A QUARTET
JOriginal..

In the spring OF 1S2-- a young couple,
| Mr.. and Mira Chaplin. appeared in {:
western city, and, having found lodg-
ings, the husband sought employment.
He developed striking business talents,
and it was not long before he was ell
gagged in Il small manufacturing enter
prise of his own. The article lie made
was patented. and the business became
very valuable. NJ, Chaplin bought 4
house in the best part of the city. and
the couple cnlertaillei considerably.
But ii was not long before it began
to be whispered tn3t all was not we'll
with the ChaphlS. y young man, Ar
thur Gilman, was I,cv otin. himself to
young Mrs. Chaplin. 1t appeared to be
one of those cases wacrein a husband
having perfect confidence in his wife
fails to see what evC"y one else sees.
either this OF seeing he prctcndS not
to see. Chaplin, ut least so far as the
world knew, gave himself no concern
as to his wife'S ;,ttcntl;lnt, seeming to
be himself absorbed in :: friendship
with one of his OWN sex. He ana
Fletcher Ford We're inSc arabic They
constantly drove out together, attended
amuscmcnts together and at social en-
tertainmcnts would sit chatting togcth
cr instead of devotng themselves to
the women.
What fool" said Madam Grundy,
nj
TO let his wife drift into trouble"
The world did not see all that was
going on in the quartet. II 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, though per-
sonally he considered Mrs. Chaplin per
fcctly innocent society was becoming
shocked.
The admontion was taken in good
part. Chaplin admitted that he had
noticed Gilmans attcntions. but his
confidence in his wfc'S purity was
absolute The only change that came
from Ford's interference was that Gil
man and Mrs. Chaplin We're seen less to-
gethcr 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 liai-
son. Finally Ford became 81 irritated
at the Snccrng remarks he heard that
and told him that their friendship was
mt an end
Chaplin at this thrust broke down,
and Ford was astoniShed to see Il 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 Chapin's value of
his good opinion. Ford atfectonately
laid his hand on his friends arm and
bcSough, him TO give him his conf
dcncc. The young husband, though
much moved, would not reveal What
WAS troubling him. Ford pressed him
to contide III him. but Chaplin suddenly
Spran@ W and left the room saying
that he would confer With his wife and
see what could be done to mend Tho
matter. Ford was much affected al
seeing his friends emotion and seized
bis hand as he left the room with !:
view to comfort him. But Chaplin broke
away from him and went upstairs.
= Ford was puzzled He could see nc
evidence OF trouble Oh his friends minC
pertaining to his wife, Chapin's sole
grief seeming to be at losing bis
friends respect and the parting tina
WAS imminent between them He re
manned waiting IN the library where
Chaplin had left him for some time
then was about to depart. when ht
heard Il rustling of skirts Oh the stair
case and Mrs. Chaplin entered, accom-
panied by Il lady whom Ford did no
at first recognize Yet there was some
thing about her that struck him Will
aStonishment. She was so like his
| friend Chaplin that she must be his twin
| sister. Her face altcrnatcd between
| bushes and pallor, and she seemed il
| at case in her feminine apparel.
| Henry Chaplin exclaimed Ford
| What do YOU mean by getting your
| self up in woman's drcss?'
i
| Il am not Henry Chaplin: am Mar
| garct Eaton This is Blanche Eaton
| my sister. When we We're thrown OF
| our own resources after Il life of lux
| llry shrank from supporting myself
| and my siStcr-for she was too delicate
| to shift for herself cloggcd by WON
| ans skirts, woman'S disadvantages.
| put on mans clothes, and we came
| here where he were not known. We
We're prospecting when my sister fel
In love with Arthur Gilman. and, I'M
fortunately. he fell in love with her
Nor is that all. Failing to induce Us
to reveal our secret, lie married hel
clandestinely and has been living Will
I her for some time as her husband.
Arthur she called, and Gilman al
amused look on his face. came in from
one Of the other rooms.