Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1909-07-28
WHAT ALINE
FOUND OUT.
. The Great Change It Made In
Her Mode Of Life.
BY BELLE MANDATES.

Press.l
Alfne looked up from her book as
her husband rose from his chair
Il am going TO work again tonight"
he remarked casually.
A faint flush stole to her cheeks.
For the first time In her three months
Of married life her thoughts were CEN
tered on her husband. stephen Alden.
When her father committed suicide
because he had lost his fortune in
speculation Stephen had asked her to
marry him. Her wealth had hitherto
prevented bis paying her any special
attention. One other refuge was avail
able. A distant cousin whom Aline's
father had once befriended and who
lived on farm offered her bone.
She accepted Stephen. and three
months after her fathers death they
were married The home Stephen was
able to provide was a very simple one
and it had not been very happy one
Aline was in the listless state that sue
cceds violent grief and alphabetically
allowed the house TO be run at the will
of succession of slatternly servants.
Three nights before break in their
monotonous life had resulted from
Stephens leaving the house at
O'Clock and not returning until la'e.
His excuse of having to work would
have passed unnoticed tonight except
for the fact that she had been unable
to get him by telephone at the office
the night before even after repeated
calls
At 10 O'Clock she had gone to he'd.
An hour-later she heard him come In
and go down the hall to his room. His
behavior engrossed her thoughts en-
tirely throughout the following day
The fact OF his spending his evenings
out did not disturb her. hut she was at
a loss to fathom his motive in deceiv-
ing her. 1t assailed her conscience and
opened her eyes to the truth that she.
his wife. did not know him well
enough to resent the deception nor to
speak to him about the matter.
A newly awakened sense of duty
and a feeling that she ought at least
to assume the duty of taking some
interest in his movements impelled her
to attempt to discover where he was
spending his evenings, Therefore. as
he was again leaving after dinner. she
slipped out side entrance and fol-
lowed him at discreet distance. After
a walk Of nearly two miles she saw
him pause in front Of a theater.
Poor Stephen she thought His
evenings must have been dull! No
wonder he seeks reerea ton
But he turned and went down the
side street. entering the theater by
the way of the stage door As solu-
ton of his conduct occurred to her
she felt great heart wrench--the
only thing she had felt sure of was
taken from her. Without knowing
that she valued 1t, she had had per-
feet confidence In his love for her.
Instantly she felt wild-almost an
insane-desire to know what manner
of woman had attracted him 1t was
a vaudeville theater. and she bought
ticket, choosing a seat In an obscure
part Of the house.
At the end of an hour she learned
what she had come to find out and
quietly stepped from the theater and
returned home. She spent an hour at
Stephens desk and then went to bed.
She did not pass the night in sleep but
laid out course of action which she
began to follow at breakfasts
stephen" she said quietly. Il am
not-very well. You know / am not
used to staying in the city in the
summer
He looked up quickly. flush on his
face.
Il know you are not" be replied.
cousin Lois has been anxious for
. me to pay her a visit ever since father
died. think will go to her today"
THE country air would do you
good" he said slowly.
THE cooks going to leave today.
You can stay here and get your meals
in the city. can't you?"
Yes: ! can manage all right"
A month later. at the end of long
summer day, Stephen approached home
weary and discouraged. He dreaded
to unlock the door and 60 into the
stale, shutnp atmosphere of the dust
coated, empty rooms. But when be
had entered the living room he stood
still in amazement The windows
were open and freshly curtained in
soft muslin. The room was in perfect
order. A bunch Of fragrant old fash
Toned flowers filled a big bowl on the
table. Wondering. he went on into
the dining room. The table was laid
with clean linen. shining glass, speck-
less dishes and decorated by another
bunch Of country flowers.
He heard light step in the kitchen.
The door opened. and Aline. dressed
not in mourning. but in becoming
color came in.
"Oh, Stephen she cried. running
into his arms.
He held her close and quiet for a
moment When she lifted her face