The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1908-05-29
HER HUSBAND
By MABEL HERBERT URNER
tCopyrlght)

rightJ
/ her; his face reflected none of the
tenderness that she felt was In her
own. And in that second she realized
what the past two months had done
the extent OF the alienation 1t had
| brought
Thought perhaps you had some
of those bromide tablets; my head has
been aching"
why, yes, think l have some"
He got them for her. is that all? Is
there anything else ! can do?'
She shook her head. no, this Will
probably put me to sleep
In her own room again, she crept
into bed with miserable sense OF
failure and vague feeling OF dread.
Where was this enstraHgcment lead
ing them? How would 1t end? 1t was
nearly dawn when ut last she slept,
That morning he went to his office
early. He did not come into her room
until he was leaving; he was carry
ing his hat and coat He came up to
the bed and kissed her quietly good
by.
The day dragged painfully. She felt
strangely alone and desoiate Even the
shops failed TO interest her. once she
started to telephone her husband and
then in quick fear had hung up the
receiver. What was there to say?
When he came home that evening
later than usual she felt it was pur.
posely to avoid their accustomed chat
before dinner He went Immediately
into his room to dress.
In half an hour they were seated
al their table in the cafe. They had
reached the entree when the woman
whose dress had been torn last night
swept In and was seated by the head
waiter at a table next to theirs She
I saw the color in her husbands face
deepen.
And then--confuscd and embar.
raised by the sudden appearance OF
, this woman, his hand hit against a
, slender dish Of tartar sauce near the
edge Of the table and sent 1t splashing
to the floor
In one agonized glance she saw the
despatched, ruined gown OF the WON
an and the furious anger IN her face.
Then she bowed her head that she
might not see the wrctchcd mortiica'
ton of her husband She heard his
pitiful attempts at an apology and felt
the frozen silence of the woman The
waiter came up hurricdly, removed the
broken dish and wiped up the floor.
\ scrcam-shrill, piorcing-rang
through the room. Another and still
another--sCrcam OF agony and terror.
People started to their feet Through
the swinging doors used by the wait
crs rushed a figure enyeloped IN
flames.
Some one screamed Fire" There
was a rush for the doors. Then above
the din and confusion rose her hus-
bands voice clear aud stern,
l. stop, There Is no fire, II there is.
: YOU are perfectly safe-on the first
II floor Help me with this girl Quick!
Rugs-coats-so
y There. In a far corner whore he had
caught the girl was her husband
L alone. rolling her on the floor, his coat
II around her.
n With something like shame IN their
II faces for their instructive cowardice
two or three men now rushed TO hin
z, with their coats. There were no rugs
n and the strips OF carpet between the
le tables were fastened TO the polished
Is floor.
n. But II was her husband unheedini
II their useless efforts. who was still
n beating the flames that chung to the
to girl. At last he had them smothcrcd
is And then, still unmindful of hi'
ir hands that were cruelty burned he
husband carefully unwrappcd the coatt
is from the poor. blaCkoned creature tina
n. lay there The people stood back
W watching him breathlcssly. The,
he seemed incapable OF action or speech
ed Some one whispered that 1t was
ID. pantry girl who had overturned an al
"a. cohol lamp as she was placing it M
nd der coffee urn.
4 few moments later n doctor mad
1t. his way through the crowd and the
he two whito.Coated ambulance attcnt
nd ants lifted the still unconscious gil
sy on strctchcr and carried her out.
Tut The people were now crowdin
IN. around her husband, praislnG his cou,
IN. age and bravery and presence of mnt
Sc They pressed forward TO shake hi
ce hand. and we're Mortified to find tha
to his hands, his wrists, even his arm
be. were burned.
an Some one touched Elizabeth on III
shoulder She turned, II was th
rh. woman who had sat opposite then
ere Her eyes were full of tears.
lot 81 haven't the courage to speak
rk. your husband, but / want to tell yo
EAR how sorry am for my rudeness In
his in ignoring his apologies II am vel
de. sorry. | wish you would tell hi
red that"
She was gone before Elizabeth,
ess her embarrassment and agitatio
L., | ,oui1 find any words for n rpuly