The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-06-10
CERALDINE'S HUSBAND

most graciousiy interested in every
thing he said, and SO appreciative of
the sense OF humor on which he had
always prided himself and which
somehow Geraldine usually failed to
see
Several times on the way home he
had again remarked to Geraldine
what a fool Harry Paysan must have
been. AS for Geraldine. the dinner
had seemed TO her rather a stupid
AFFAIR; she hoped the others for which
they were engaged would prove more
interesting.
Two days after Mrs Paysan's dim
ner Geraldine was called up on the
/ phone by that lady herself.
.:liera ldtns .nn went think, gre
very outrageous, VIII YOU, dear. when
/ say | want to borrow your husband
for the opera tonight, I've Just been
sent two tickets. and Mr.. Markham
told me he adored music. Hes sucn
81 dear! Now. Geraldine don't say
he has nm engagement"
TN ask him." said Geraldine.
Mr.. Markham looked up briskly so
soon a. HIS wife mentioned Mrs, Pay
sans name. How kind of her" he
exclaimed. Wait. III talk to her
myself"
And Geraldine heard most en-
| thusiastic acceptance going over the
wire
That night Mrs. Markham sat up
| reading until her husband came home,
which WAS not until very late as Mrs.
! Paysan had persuaded him tn return
/ TO her apartments fer little sup
per.
> Markham reproached his wife for
! waiting up for him, and then went
| into raptures over the music, and
never in his life had he met any one
10 whom music spoke SO syrnpatheil-
/ oaly as to Hortensc Paysan.
Geraldine disguised the chagrin she
certainly felt, and replied rather limp
! ~ she was glad he had enjoyed his
evening so much.
I At the other entertainments of this
I notahte week Geraldine saw with
ever-i increasing alarm that her hus-
band was taking" immensely. she
felt that never before had she fully
realized. much less appreciated his
real charm When he had reserved
all of II Just for her it had seemed
comparatively little worth having,
but now that IL was being bid for
in every direction she wanted IL al
back again. Whatever had possessed
her. when. Hike some great faithful
dog. he had been more than content
and happy TO rest quietly by his owr
freside, To poke him up
Geraldine had plenty OF attention
herself in the meantime. but II Wal
a poor compensation having mar
she didn't care for talk sentiment t
her, while the man she did care foI
was apparently saying the same thint
to another woman,
BY the end OF the week Geraldine
. Markham looked quite thin and pale
but her husbands enthusiasm seemed
undiminished. lie kept urging tn,
acceptance of every invitation tina
? came their way. until finally Geral
dine herself struck
I'm not going out any more" sht
said I'm tired ana sick of it at
I'm thinking Of going into convent
When I married you ] looked forwart
TO "A peaceful, happy home life. ncvel
for n moment thinking You woult
turn out to be man whose one ant
only thought was society"
society he hanged" Markham cx.
claimed with unwonted vehemence
/, Then he added. feeling the time hat
now come. I'VE been leading In
miid--a very midway the life o.
1.-The average man about town. / neve'
thought / should really like 1t. and
didn't Just SO soon AS the noVct,
wore off. wanted to be sure yot
had had enough Of it."
II have had" said Geraldine grim
ly, quite enough
a smile. the old smile that Geral
/ dine loved, came back To Wilfri,
Markham's face. Then. may | e
back to my books Gerry"
For answer Geraldine lighted th'
. lamp and took MP one of her nus
bands favorite volumes.
1--WE caught up to Your mark" sh,
said. so well start from there" Bu
: first she pun both her arms aroun(
her husbands neck and kissed him
And you really don't care for tIor
tense Paysan 60
Harry paysan wasn't the loast hi
of fool after an"