The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1910-11-16
DON'T ACT ON
ROMANCE
BY LOUISE B. CUMMINGS
Copyright. 1910, by American Press
Association.

| mucn. Ine mOtlI on Wnlcn the Story
was written was this: A woman whose
husband was weak enough to fall into
the tolls Of another woman held him
by giving him a 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
Lucile's 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. fer
she thought every man should have
such a chum, as she had her own
bosom woman friend
The Smiths had been married but
she discovered that Samuel ald her
bosom friend, Gertruie Church were
becoming enthraleG with each other
The suspicion killed Luclle's romantic
attachment. an attachment tlilt had
lasted since childhood for Miss Church.
W
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 well as 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 hus-
band. Lucile's first move was to in
vite 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 to beat. "Very well,
then" said the compliant wife; "you
and Cert play. and I'll take 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 to ap-
pear again till 1t was high time that
Miss Church went home. Then, of
course. Smith must act as her escort
Then Mrs. Smith bought tickets to
amusements and when the evening to
use them came round would have a
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, IL on1y for my sake" And when
her husband knitted his brows and
said "d much rather stay home with
you" she knew he was lying In his
heart and that he was counting the
moments till he could be with the
charmer.
One day Mr.. Smith told his wife that
ne must go west or east or south or
somewhere, on business. When 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 confdlng.
Mrs. Smith saw in the move culmi-
nation of her husbands infntuation for
Miss Church. or. rather. that Miss
Church had succeeded In winning him
away from his own wife. But 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
full 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 it to the furnace,
opened the door and threw 1t 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 dissemble further.
She received him as affectionately as
she was able, never said anything
at all disagreeable.
One evening she went to the tele-
phone. intending to call up Miss
Church and ask her to come to the
house, that she might bring her and
Sam together and charge them with
the crime they were committing
against her.
"Is that you. Gert?"
Eyes. Are you Lou?"
Eyes. Can't you come over tonight?
Sans anxious for game Of cards. I'm
tired and wish to go to bed"
"Wait a minute"
Then Mrs. Church, forgetting that
telephones have ears. was heard to
say:
"It's Lucille. She wants me to come
over and play cards with that stupid
husband of hers. She is constantly
boring me to entertain him. I've just
gone away on visit to get rid Of 1t
all. and now I'm back 1t has begun
again."
Then came the reply: "Pm awfully
tired, Lou. ! think you'll have to ex-
cuse me-"
"All right, If 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
dissembled.