Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-10-15
DAILY SHORT STORIES
DON'T ACT ON
ROMANCE
BY LOUISE B. CUMMINGS
Copyright. 1910. BY American Press
Association.

Lucille DemareSt Wncn young girl
ead a novel that pleased her very
much. The motif on which 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 free rein until he had
become tired OF the rival aud 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 euphonlous appel
iation, but she could think OF him as
doing noble acts even rs Sam Smith.
Tie didn't seem to have any man bosom
| friend, which troubled her greatly, for
she thought every man should have
such a chum, rs she had her own
bosom woman friend.
The Smiths had been married but
short time when Mrs. Smith thought
| she discovered that Samuel and her
| posom 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
|
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 MS size loved
her Mr.. Smith promised to d. So
When Mrs. Smith recovered from the
| first shock of her discovery TINT 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-
brad. Lucile's first move Was 10 In
vito Miss Church In evenings TO plny
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 we'll,
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 mp.
pear again till It was high time that
Miss Church went home Then, Of
course, Smith must act AZ her escort.
Then Mrs. Smith bought tickets 10
use them came round would have a
headache and say: 1--WE sent word TO
Cert that have the tickets and can't
go tonight, begging her TO take my
place. I know you'll be glad 10 take
hcr, IL 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 In his
heart and that he was counting the
moments TIL he could be with the
charmer.
One day Mr.. Smith told his wife that
he must go west or east or south OF
somewhere, on business When n man
tells his wife-especially In stories
that he's going on business trip she
Immediately becomes prey TO tho
green monster or is stupidity confdIng,
Mrs. Smith saw IN the move n culmi.
nation OF her husbands infatuation 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
md 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
ut her rival, took It to the furnace,
| opened the door and threw It into the
white hot Goals. Then she went up 10
her room and had a good cry
However, having been committed to
he game Of keeping her own counsel,
he ncrvcd herself By the time her
husband returned to dissemblc further
She received bin as Accidentally as
The was able, never said anything
1T all dissgreeable
! One evening she went to the tele
| phone Intending 10 call up Miss
| church AID ask her TO come TO the
house. thlt she miqht bring her and
sam together and charge them with
ne crime they we're committing
against he-.
lis that you, GettT'E yET~t
Yes. Are you LouH'. Z ~ &
YES. Can't you come over tonight
sgm's anxious for game Of cards. I'm
tired ord wish TO go TO bed"
wait minute"
Thcn Mrs. Church. forgetting that
tclc0hones have ears was heard TO
Kaye
ITS Lucille. She wants mo to come
over and play cards with that stupid
| husband OF hers. She IS constantly
49,. a..