The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-08-01
CERALD'S WIFE
A misunderstanding and a
Happy Explanation.
BY IzoLA FORESTER.

|
Broderick swung off the 4:35 ex-
press, walked quickly up the steps
leading from the railroad platform and
took his first look at Pineville. Those
who lived In Plneville proper were con-
tent to call II Pineville. Gerald had
written that they did not live in Pine
vile proper but in Pineville-by-the
Sea, otherwise Pineville improper
All that Broderick saw were pines,
plenty OF them, fat white ribbon of
roadway and a bit OF a postoffice,
roughly sbingled, In the midst Of the
nearest clump Of pines. He stepped
into the postoffice as the central spot
Of civilization. Some one was stamp
Ing letters behind the glass inclosure,
q girl with smooth dark hair. Beatrice
had smooth dark hair.
He watched the girl stamping letters
with interest and wondered why some
: one did not tell her to wear her smooth
dark hair in two soft braids around
her head, crown fashion, as Beatrice
. did.
"where do the vaughans live,
please?" he asked finally, when the
stamping ceased.
"The vaughans? Oh, Mr.. Gerald
Vaughan aud his wife? It's q brown
house down near the shore, with
wide veranda and funny roof. About
mile straight down the road"
;, A. wide veranda and funny roof
That sounded like Gerald. He won
dered how Gerald's wife liked It. Bea-
trice was artistic, but not artistically
eccentric. She had horror OF things
odd, bizarre, so called bohemian, and
yet she had married Gerald. And Ger
AIDS brother knew that Gerald was
utterly odd, bizarre and bohemian, 80
called.
He walked on down the fat white
] ribboned roadway and wondered
whether he would find her like the
girls Gerald had always admired. A
lithesOme, limp, blessed damozel type
with close silky gowns and loose fioppy
hair. Last summer she had not beer
S that type. He thought of the trim CIR
/ figure holding the rudder OF the Water
a Lily that last day. She had been more
than the sort of girl to fall In love
!. with. She had been good fellow,
stanch friend. And as he watched hei
p he had stopped rowing, and they hat
II drifted slowly in the sunset glow tina
a flooded the lake while he told her.
n There had been no actual engage
IL ment. He had nothing to reproach he
n. with. He had not been In position &
:, ask her to be his wife then, but he hat
thought a girl like Beatrice had mean
70 more by kiss, hand clasp fev
III vague words OF understanding, thai
- other girls. He had thought she NIGH
walt until next summer. And now, II
In April he had returned to New YOrl
m to learn that Gerald was I'm disgrace
ID had married on nothing, eloped to Pine
). ville-by-tbe-Sea, N. c.. and his wifi
was Beatrice Stafford
~ Gerald's mother had said they wer
W pennIicss. Geralds father had remark
g ed that he didn't give rap. The
ik could exist upon love and art.
to More or less for Beatrice's sake an
or little for Gerald's, Gerald's brothe
had taken IL upon himself to visit tn
bridal couple and help Gerald. Smotl
ering his own love, he had made up h
mind that as long as Beatrice hn
married Vaughan she should not gu
fer from It,
There was no bell Mt the door of I'll
little brown house with the funny roo
II was merely bungalow In weathe
n ed shingles, and he pounded on I'll
III door Justify until II opened and Be
trlce stood before him.
She was not the blessed dnmoz
type yet. Her smooth dark hair W,
wound about her head In Just the san
crown fashion, and she wore sho
Ial dark blue linen skirt and white shl
N, waist. The sleeves We're rolled to IN
en- elbows, and from her inger tips to {
mr. bow dimples there was -four sprinkle
ed He had not expected to see her fa,
~ to face 10 soon or alone. Neither hi
he expected her to act as she did. TT
~ color rose In her cheeks, tipping eve
'e her ears with pink 1t was an old ha
er II. He remembered II.
~ thought you were In London" 81
his said.
Lrs "You don't give a fellow a very
RI. cent welcome after he's Travelled fro
ls London to this wilderness to say co
grntulations"
A. He stepped Into the hall after h'
" She hesltated and laughed, looking
her Toured hands.
'n III can't shake hands with you, and
NY and the biscuits are in the oven.
'as shall hnve To watch them. DO y,
an mind coming out to the SitchenT
as He didn't mind There appeared
,od be only three rooms-the studio sltti
room the dining room and the kitche
Collapslble ready-ln-a-m minute studio
rr vans were In the sitting room and d
ing room in lieu OF bedrooms. II W
all charmlngly, most uncomfortnt
o' odd, bizarre and bohemian,
led "Wheres Geraldp" he asked when