Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-10-14
DAILY SHORT STORIES
DON'T ACT ON
ROMANCE
By LOUISE B. CUMMINGS
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.


husband was weak enough TO fall into
by giving him n free rein until he had
become tired OF the rival and came
back TO his wife of his own accord.
Lucille married Sam Smith. Even
Luciles roseate romance could not
turn the name into Spencer Courtenay
or some other such euphonious appel.
lation. but she could think OF him as
doing noble acts even as Sam Smith
he didn't seem to have any man bosom
friend, which troubled her greatly. for
she thought every man should have
such chum, as she had her own
bosom woman friend.
The Smiths had been married but a
short time when Mrs. Smith thought
she discovered TINT Samuel and her
bosom friend. Gertrude Church, were
becoming enthralled with each other.
The suspicion killed Luclle's romantic
attachment an attachment that had
lasted since childhood for Miss Church.
Indeed. when she was married she
had told her husband that she would
never consent to marry any man who
did not In the same way, of course,
love her friend as we'll az she loved
her. Mr. Smith promised to do so.
When Mrs. Smith recovered from the
first shock OF her discovery that her
traitorous friend was slowly but surely
winding her tolls about Sam she
thought OF the noble heroine OF the
novel and how she had saved her has
Il f,N
vito Miss Church IN evenings to play
cards. Smith hated cards, especially
three handed games IN which no one
beats or in trying to do so enables
some one else 10 beat very well,
them" said the compliant wife; you
and Cert play. and I'll take a book.
Smith and the guest would then sit
down. at the card table, and Mrs.
Smith after reading few pages
would go out Of the room. not 10 ap!
pear again till IT was high time that
Miss Church went home. Then, OF
course, Smith must act as her escort.
Then Mrs. Smith bought tickets 10
amusements and when the evening to
use them came round would have Il
headache and say: I've sent word TO
Cert that have the tickets and can't
go tonight, begging her to take my
place. / know you'll be glad to take
her, II only for my sake" And when
her husband knitted his brows and
said I'D much rather stay home with
you" she knew he was lying I'm his
heart and that he was counting the
moments till he could be with the
charmer.
One day Mr.. Smith told his wife that
nc must go west or east or south o:
somewhere, on business. When n man
tells his wife-especially in stories
that he's going on business trip she
Immediately becomes prey TO the
green monster or Is stupidity confldlng.
Mrs. Smith saw in the move n culmi.
nation OF her husbands inflammation for
Miss Church. or, rather, that Miss
Church had succeeded in winning him
away from his own wife. Brit when.
the day after her husbands departure.
she called up Gertrude by telephone
and was told that she had gone out OF
town, too, the cup OF her misery was
fun. She went to the library, took out
the story Of the noble woman who had
saved her husband by throwing him
at her rival, took IL TO the furnace,
opened the door and threw It into the
white hot Goals. Then she went up TO
her room and had good cry
However, having been committed to
the game OF keeping her own counsel,
she nerved herself by the time her
husband returned to dlssemble further.
She received him as adectionately as
she was able, never said anything
at all disagreeable.
One evening she went to the tele.
phone, intending to call up Miss
Church ard ask her to come TO the
house, that she might bring her and
Sam together and charge them with
tie crime they were committing
again~t her.
rs that you, GertY'
Yes. Are you LouT
Yes Can't you come over tonight
Sans anxious for game Of cards. I'm
tired and wish to go to bed"
wait a minute"
ihch MIS-. Church, forgetting that
telephones have ears, was heard 10
say:
ITS Lucille. She wants me 10 como
over and play cards with that stupid
husband Of hers She is constantly
boring me 60 entertain him I've just
gone away on visit 10 get rid Of n
ali, and now I'm back II has begun
again"
Then came the reply: I'm awfully
tired, Lou. think you'll have 10 ex-
cusc me"
"All right. II you really can't come"
Mrs. Smith went into the library.
where she found her husband A great
Joy had been born In her, but she still
dissemblcd
Wouldn't you like to have Cert
come ovor and play cards with you.
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