New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1908-06-17

oner to return to town had been noored
at. and Tom had laughed immoderately
to cover his confusion at the discovery
of his embarrassment.
i But there was no embarrassment in
/ Mrs. Drakin's face as she made him
welcome. There was only interest and
cordial friendship. and Ben was sur
prised to find himself rather envying
his chum.
| OF course Tom had been exception
ally fortunate in finding such WON
| an. but as Ben tumbled into bed some
hours later he told himself that were
there two such women he should like
to marry the other.
They had sat talking until late in the
evening. and when Ben finally woke
he discovered note on his dresser, in
which Tom explained that it was nee
essary for him to go to the city on
business. but that he would return in
the afternoon and bring with him the
trunk Ben had sent to the hotel.
Ben Wavered-a was lost. He
| slowly dressed and went downstairs
to find Mrs. Drakin sitting in the din
Ing room waiting for her guest to come
downstairs.
tom left his apologies" she explain
ed as she poured him his coffee. HE
had to rise at such an unearthly hour
to make the train that we decided to
let you, sleep. He will be out on the
40, and in the meantime / am sol
EMMY bound to hold you here at all
hazards. Tom would never forgive me
If you should be gone before he came
back
you couldn't drive me away de-
clared Ben gayly. ''I'll be well con-
tent to sit out on the porch and just
think how lucky was to run into Tom
yesterday afternoon
"I'll take my sewing out, and we can
chat as | work. suggested Mrs. Ora
kin, and presently they were estab-
lished on the broad piazza. To his
surprise Ben found himself chatting
with his hostess as freely as though
she We're a man and not one of the
dread women.
Tom came out as he had promised.
and Ben frowned as he caught sight of
his friend perched on the seat of an
express wagon in which was his trunk
Now you've got to stay" announced
Tom. I'VE shall hold your trunk like
they do in the hotels if you try to
escape u.s.
II think that you would be wise to
ship me and the trunk back to town.
said Ben seriously. but Drakin hooted
down the suggestion, and when Mrs
Drakin added her entreaties to Toms
he gave in. and the trunk was taken
up to his room.
That night when Ben put out the
light he did not jump into bed, but long
after the rest of the house was quiet
he sat by the open window, looking
across the moonlit fields and wonder
ing what he should do.
OF one thing he was certain. He
was in love, and in love with his
friends wife at that. What was more
1t had seemed to him that as she had
hidden him good night and had told him
she was glad that he had decided
to stay there was something more
than mere friendship in the glance Of
the tender blue eyes.
Her hand had fingered for moment
in his and she had paused by the door
Of her room to look after him. The
memory of her smile was with him
still, and when he at last flung him
self upon the bed to fall into troubled
slumber the problem was still I'M
solved
But with the morning came calmer
sense. AS he came into the breakfast
room there was no mistaking the soft
flush that came to Mrs. Drakin's cheek
nor the look that flashed into her eyes
as she gave him the morning greeting
Sick at heart. Ben followed his host
out on to the piazza. while Mrs Drakin
remained behind to see to the DISPOSE
ton of the breakfast things and give
her orders for dinner.
Look here, old man, I've got to be
getting back to town." he began.
MOI Oh your LIE, was the empnaClc
response. do you suppose that took
all that trouble to lug your trunk out
yesterday to have you lug it in today?
You are going to stay right here for
the next two weeks By your own con-
fession you have nothing else to do,
and don't promise to let you CO."
But | mustW cried Ben miserably
IT must, old man! I'm in love!
can't help it, but I've fallen in love
with your wife. must get away be-
fore greater harm is done.''