The Somerset reporter., 1907-05-16
His Desperate
Remedy.
By CECILIA 4. LOlZEAUX.
Copyright, 1906, by f. {. PARCELS.

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81 tell you. NDry ! caQ22t AFFORD e.
and that's all there is to it,
John Brent unfolded his evening pa
per and held it under the light. which
was shaded to an artistic dimneSs by
many rutlles of Grape paper. His wife
brought her hand down upon the piano
keys in crashing dscord that made
ly she seated herself in a low chair at
the other side OF the table. the soft
light falling full upon her pretty petu-
liant face as she bent over her fancy
work
John Brent forgot that he had been
reading the political editorials and
looked over the top of the paper at his
wife
"What makes you want "A diamond
ring, Mary he asked gently.
Her bite eyes Frightened. She
tho, Int he WAS rclenting.
why. I've wanted one all my life.
When was "A little bit of girl had
one with glass set and when | grew
too old for that | used to dream of the
time when would be old enough to be
engaged. 80 that my lover would get
me one"
you should have chosen a richer
over" said her husband. with tinge
of bitterness. Young hardware mer-
chants cant quite so at the diamond
ring pace"
His wife hardly heard what he said.
She stretched a dImpled white hand
out across the table and was admiring
it.
See" she said, with fash of co
quetry, ITS pretty enough for dia-
monds. isn't it? That Mrs. Burrows
on Tenth street has hands that are big
and red She has one diamond as biz
as a robins egg almost"
Her husband ia n saloon keeper
He can afford it," smiled John, looking
at the dainty hand that lay in his
rough palm. He was wondering Just
how long he was going to be able to
keep il from doing any work, hardly
considering the diamond question
Then he put 1t gently down and leaned
on the table, looking at his wife close
ly.
Perhaps | haven't told you so that
you fully understand. Mary" he said
after n minute. you're a good deal of
child about some things, and you
don't think But business is bad-nol
mine only, but every ones. There :
that new store here, branch of the
big one In the city, and they are cut
ting prices murderOusly. And we have
heavy expenses too. don't know how
but we manage to eat and drink and
wear almost more than we can pay
for. And then there was the hospital
bill as we'll as the Doctors 1t took
months to pay those"
81 suppose you wish 1t had been a
funeral BILL" said Mary sulkily.
Mary Don't You dare to say such a
thing again as long as you live! You
shall not twist my meanings in that
way. Can't you be a little reasonable
L ucil NOu htNItltl lnhl lDt nOlSt WAS
too shabby to be lived in. though the
things we had bought when we were
married seemed very fine to us at the
time, and ii wasn't so very long ago"
I'VE were awfully green" she said
"Wel. you've got over the green
ness" said her husband dryly. And
the rugs and furniture and hangings
have not yet got the last payment, and
the furnace needs fixing, and the house
needs painting We must go slow. lit
tie girl"
Mary Brent's lips qulvered for a mo
ment and then hiding her face on her
arm she sobbed like a spoiled child.
Her husband was first sorry, then an
CRY. This was too childish
THE trouble with you and all the
rest of the women like you is that you
haven't enough TO do to keep interest
ed You sit around and think of your
selves until you believe you are mar
tyrs. when little work would he bet
ter for you. 1t isn't all your fault,
though" he added slowly. IF the
baby had lived you would have been
more grown up"
His wife sprang to her feet "I-Tm
almost glad he didn't i've" she sobbed.
81 wouldn't want him to hear his ia.
Their talk like that to me" And she
whirled from the room.
John Brent spent a wakeful, uneasy
night, but by morning he thought he
had found solution. He ate his lone
ly breakfast Mary never got up to
breakfast any more-and went down
town early. During the forenoon he
went over to the office of Jim Reade.
the most prosperous attorney In the
town and his best friend. The two
were closeted in the consulting room
for over an hour, and as he came out
into the reception room John said: "I'll
take good care of 1t, Reade. and bring
It back tomorrow. The fact that you
aren't married makes 1t easier,
wouldn't want any other woman to
know"
AS soon as he got to the store he
went straight into his private Office
and called up the police station. With
in n few moments a detective whom
John Brent knew well passed through