The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1910-02-24
BY
WILLIAM
HAMILTON
OSBORNE
8888ae8888

both sides had passed away, and yet
things had turned out pretty much as
the old man had dreaded. Indeed,
matters had come to this pass-hOw
long this indulgent wife would con
tinue to keep her eyes shut to her
husband making ducks and brakes Of
her fortune aud why she did it were
questions which interested all who
knew this couple, but which Challoner
apparently thought wholly unneces
sary to ask himself.
An automobile Mrs. Challoner's au
tomobile- was largely instrumental In
bringing matters to climax. AS trou.
BILE makers the machines rank high.
In fact. there are moments when II
would seem us II the arch fiend him
self were in them; otherwise how ac-
count for the mysterious influence that
makes people lose command of them
selves once they are in command of
them-that leads astray, as some one
has said. the great and the good as
well as those of lesser clay!
But. bc that as II may. In this partic
ular instance the devil was not lurking
i1. tampering with the improvements
and refinements of detail In the big
red body of Mrs. Challoner's mastodon
model No: II was not with the ma
chine that he was concerned. but with
the man himself befuddling whatever
brJins he had left, and the devil II was
aud no other. that melted Challoner C.
leave certain establishment-about
which we shall have something to say
later on-take the wheel from the
chauffeur and embark on sensational
bacchic career up the avenue at an
hour when the view of that fashion.
able thoroughfare through the silken
shimmery curtains falling over win
dow in corner house facing the
park was too alluring not to be ire.
sistible.
And so II came about that the com
ments IN the passing throng made by
two women taking afternoon tea I'm
Mrs. Cnall ner's drawing room were
interrupted In manner quite embar.
rassing
Look. Miriamr' Shirley Bloodgood
was saying To her hostess apropos OF
a woman passing by whom they both
knew. Did you ever seen anything
more atrocious than that gown"
The other smiled her appreciation,
and again the voluble Miss Bloodgood
went on:
And do look at the Heath girls In
those huge hats! What frightsr'
But. whatever were her thoughts Oh
the subject Miriam Challoner did not
answer, for precisely at that moment
her attention was attracted by some
thing strangely familiar In an unusual
ly insOlent and insistent honking of n
motor horn which was causing a wave
Of apprehension to sweep down the
long line Of vehicles. And a momen,
later they saw that chauffeurs were
rudely interrupting the purring of au
tomobiles lazing over their allotted
miles; that drivers were swervine
their horses into closer relations with
the curb; that hardly had these at
talned position Of comparative safe.
~ than there flashed by them and
fetched up in front OF Mrs. Challoner's
house big machine. which a distin-
gulshed though dissipated looking man
had been recklessly forcing with utter
disregard of the right Of way.
Rising quickly. Shirley Bloodgood
put out her hand. "Goodby; thank you
so much, Miriamw Her one thought
was to escape what she wisely inter
preted as an oncoming scene between
husband and wife.
But. though there was mist before
her eyes, a surging In her ears, not
muscle Of Miriam Challoner's face
moved.
Surely, my dear, you're not going;
What? So soon?'
Conventional though they were, there
could be no mlstaking the tone Of sin
cerity in Mrs. Challoner's words as
she took the girls hand in both of hers
with an affectionate movement. In
deed, for the barest fraction of a sec
ond 1t almost succeeded In convincing
Shirley that the distressing incident of
the motor had entirely escaped her. At
any rate, II augmented the doubt
whether the woman before her had
even an lnkling Of the stories in circu
lation concerning the doings of her
husband. But, gratifying as was the
thought of the wife's possible igno-
rance, 1t by no means lessened the ne
cessity of a departure on Shirley's
part, and somewhat confusedly, but
affectionately. she kissed her hostess
Coodby.
"Oh, my dear Miriam. but must
-FOUR tea is perfectly delicious, though
II only had time Shirley stopped
abruptly. Her endeavor to conceal her
anxiety to be gone was making her un'
certain of her words.
zones tea. like ones friends, my
/ dear, should be Of the best" Miriam
returned, with sweet smile
Miriam's smile and manner touched
Shirley deeply. The inclination to
offer words OF comfort was strong In
this tall, rangy girl, whose every move
ment was as graceful as II was i'm