The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-10-14

! Jlcular nOUlce or anOther woman. That
what makes me like to do ii.
Our domestic bliss after my philan
thropic effort lasted exactly four days.
Then came the bolt from the blue. 1t
took the shape of a mauve -colore tr-
velope smelling strongly of Scent lying
on my breakfast plate. Dolly was al
ready down. | opened it with assumed
}carelessness, gave moments glance at
it, and pushed it in my pocket Bother
their appeals!" [ said. "NFhat with
hospitals and missionaries one never
gets a moments rest. Give me some
eggs and bacon, Dolly and 1 buried
my head in the morning paper. A ter
rible feeling OF impending disaster came
over me. had not read the letter, l,ut
had caught sight of the signature,
Flavia. At the first quiet moment after
breakfast read it. 1t ran as follows:
] Dear Mr.. Mainprice: Are not those
theatrical costumers awful? They pos
itively assured me chat they could sup
ply my dresses for .e2O, and now 1 find
that with few absolutely necessary
extras the bill will come to almost ESQ.
| have beseeched them to give me credit,
but they reply it is contrary to their
custom, and I don't know what to do
unless you, my only friend, come to my
rescue. Your club could not give me
your address. hut we women are so re-
source:ul. aren't We? And / found it
out. Wasn't 1 clever? Please help me
at once. In anticipation, your grateful,
"FLAVIA."
| For q few minutes [ sat dumbfound-
ed | saw it all. Through all the veneer
Of Jn+4
hidden threat of blackmail. Resource
| full indeed She must have followed me
home. What on earth should I do if
Dolly found out? I put on my hat
and hurried to the club. No; no lady
had inquired for me. Her letter was
probably lie from beginning to end.
determined to nip the affair in the bud
and wrote the following note:
Madam: Your request is quite i'm
possible. I beg you will not commune.
cate with me again. The money you
have had 1 do not wish returned-R
Mainprice.''
| If only I could get out of the scrape
for EGO, thought, should consider it
cheap at the price. All that day I stayed
with Dolly. We dined out and went to
the theater. Never was she more ador-
able. My happiness was short lived.
The first thing that greeted my eyes on
our return was another mauve envelope
in the hall. Dolly saw it too. l opened
it in my dressing room.
my Dear Richard" lit RAM: "What
an unkind letter; but Pm sure you don't
mean it, After all, what is ESQ with a
rich and charming wife? Perhaps if I
called and made personal appeal to
her she might lend me the money Eli?
What do you think? Answer at once,
please.-Flavia.''
sent a telegram after breakfast:
Please meet Waldorf 430 and discuss
matters"
l left Dolly at her club and promised
to meet her again in an hours time
eau revoir, Dick" she said, ''mind you
really do have your hair cut this time"
| was pacing up and down resrlessly
outside the Waldorf when Flavia ar
rived. We sat down and | ordered tea
"Now, my dear Richard she began
after she had poured it out, ''of course
you didn't mean your unkind little note.
You see I must have that other f3O.''
She interrupted my protestations.
"Come, here's blank check form.
Fill it up and then we can say good
DYE. Don't be upset." she said, as I
pushed it over to her; "a good many of
you naughty married men don't get off
so cheaply. Drink your tea. and let's
CO."
/ raised my cup. "Damn!" I eiacu-
lated, and let it drop. For there, advanc-
ing straight towards us, was Dolly.
"After all, Dick" she said "I thought
/ would join you for tea. Will you in
troduce me? Why, it's Miss Robineon!'
she waved hs4' hand in IN explanatory
manner. Don't you remember, Dick, I
told you of the mannequin at my dress
makers who was dismissed for stealing.
Must you go?" she added, for F1ayia
had risen.
The check caught Dolly's eye. She
examined it and handed it to Flavia,
who / must say after the first moment
took the denouement pretty coolly. She
tore the check across, then looked at
me. II guess you're in for a pretty
rocky time,' she said, "and / don't know
that it doesn't serve you right"
Dolly was quite candid when we re-
turned from the Waldorf. 'Dicl1" she
said, you're a fool. Fortunately for
you," she went on, q don't think you're
|sanything worse. For the present, Dick"
she concluded, keep as much away
from me as possible; you are rather on
my nerves."
kept away; I had miserable time.
I slept in my dressing room and had
most of my meals at the club This
lasted for fortnight. One day when I
was going out as usual Dolly stopped
me. sDine i'll tonight, Dick" she said.
nodded.
We had an excellent dinner and bot
tie of champagne. Afterwards we sat
over our liquors and cigarettes. drew
my chair closer to her and placed my
arm round her. Dolly" I whispered,
"tell me you forgive me-" She pressed
my hand, our eyes met. and then our
lips.-Gilbert Blame in Taller