The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1907-08-22
Mrs.Enderby sCaller

nome TOT the udy, anu MIS-. EnueFDy
went to the door. A man whose fea-
lures denoted that he might be from
forty-fve to fifty, but whose hair was
quite white, stood before her. He had
a white beard and wore colored glasses.
'Is this Mrs. Enderby's school?"
ut u.s." she replied.
els Mrs. Enderby at home"
II am Mrs. Enderby."
II desire to speak with you with ref
erence to putting my little niece un-
der your care"
The gentleman was invited in and
made many inquiries regarding the
terms of tuition and other matters per-
tanning to the school. Then he asked:
"Are you married, Mrs. Enderby?"
Mrs. Enderby looked panied. II can't
answer that question:" she said. 81
don't know whether my husband is liv
ing or dead"
The gentleman looked sympathetic,
and Mrs. Enderby changed the sub
ject. But it was not long before her
visitor made an excuse to return to it.
at seems a pity he said, chat so
young a woman should be prevented
from marrying by an uncertainty as
to the fate of an unworthy man."
II beg your pardon, sir; did not
say my husband was unworthy"
"You do not need to say so. The
very fact that he is not living with
you indicates it,
81 don't see, sir, what my husband
has to do with your sending your niece
to my school,
pardon me, it has great deal to do
with it. The position Of married peo-
pie who are not living together is a
bad example to the young. If your
separation from your husband is your
fault it is your duty to undo what you
have done to bring about separation.
But have assumed that it is not your
fault"
The mans tone was so firm and
withal so kindly that the lady's man.
ner toward him changed.
at was my fault" she said. II mar
ried man and sought to change him
to meet my views. He said that he
was perfectly satisfied with me as he
found me, while I must need make
him over Another trouble between
us was that neither of us had been
brought up to know the value of mon
ey, and we were living beyond our in
come. I tried to lessen our eXpendi-
lures. but failed Finally crash came,
and I went to live with my mother.
My husband went away, saying that if
he ever made enough money to keep
me in comfort he would come back to
me. He has never come. so suppose
he has remained poor. Perhaps he is
dead"
Tears started into the lady's eyes as
she finished what she was saying The
gentleman respected her grief and said
nothing for few moments.
"Your having taken hold Of the prob
lem Of making a living he said at
last. proves that the fault was in
your husband"
"Cn the contrary. he was very ener-
getic and very bright. He received an
excellent salary. but we spent it all
affairs and should have managed them
more economically"
Glow long ago did your husband go
away?"
cit is now about fifteen years"
Zone word more on this subject, Mrs.
Enderby. and I will not presume fur
Their. Fifteen years absence is quite
enough to get divorce for desertion.
Do not waste your life from reluc-
lance to break bonds that have decay
ed Let the law make you single wo-
man Marry again and be happy"
''Sir, by what right do you offer this
your unasked advice?"
THE right any man has to endeavor
to make an injured woman see the
true path before her And I am ready
to make good my words. Let me be
your protector. Give up this school.
have plenty for us both.'
"How dare your
81 admit your right to be offended
I, stranger to come into your house
and make you such an offer upon our
first meeting. But 1 am alone in the
world and crave sympathy. After all,
are not such unions in sense expert
mental? In your former union you
were duly courted, but the courtship
did not prevent the parting. Who
knows but that in the present case a
long continued happiness may result?"
"You are singular man." said the
lady in kindlier tone, land see that
you have honored me instead Of in
sulting me, as it at first appeared. I
thank you, sir, but I must decline your
offer. For years I have cherished a
hope that my husband would come
back to me. admit that that hope
grows slighter every day. Neverthe-
less I cannot turn from my early love.
shall die waiting for him."
If the stranger had been q hurried
wooer, he was now a demonstrative
one. He threw his arms about the
lady and covered her face with kisses.
Disengaging herself from him, she
stood crimson with Indignation.
Mary" he said.
She started. The word was spoken