El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-10-31
THE HUSBAND QUESTION
Spends a Delightful Evening and Escapes an Un
By VIRGINIA IERHUNE VAN DE WATER

~ INNER at the RObbins's passed off
pleasantly. as usual Helen was
- one Of the Old-fashioned mothers
who believed in the rights Of parents
as well as of children, and her three
little boys had their simple supper
an hour earlier than their elders par
. took Of their evening repast. Tonight
Mr. and Mrs. Robbins were in merry
vein, refusing to allow their spirits 10
! be clouded by the message relative to
Uncle Henry Both were, in a way,
fond of the old bachelOr-fond Of him
I. in the negative style in which one does
care for rather boring but Well-in-
ten1oned relative Perhaps the hope
that, with his demise, his money would
come TO her and her little ones, added
a shade OF tenderness to Helen's man
ner toward her kinsman. NeVerthe lesS
the trio at the table were regretful
that Henry Blanchard was to be of the
group that would gather around the
hall FIRE this evening.
Paul Maynard had accepted with
alacrlty Helen'S telephone suggestion
that he call and meet Mrs. Minor, and
had added that as Robert was staying
with him for a few days, he would
bring him MP too Beatrice was con
element at the thought of again en-
cOuntering Robert. and she was also
most DESTROYS Of knowing his wealthy
! brother. But when she thought O.
she feared that he might assume airs
Of near-prOprietOrship that would make
the other men suspect that his claim
upon her was greater than theirs.
With this thought in min she
turned imDulsively to her hostess as
they sat over their coffee at the close
of dinner.
Helen Embarrassed.
Helen" she said. blushing hotly.
you viii not misunderstood if 1 ask a
favor of you, win your"
Why, no, dear, Of course nOti' was
the surprised response.
Wen, viii you think me very rude
If / say that / would rather that Mr..
Blanchard should not escort me home
tonight 1t is raining-yOu know
stammering badly. "and-he is not a
young man-and he OuPht not to go
out in the dampness-and-real
would make me most uncomfortable if
he should run the risk of adding to
his rheumatism by walking home with
mel'
She ended the sentence in a rush. and
Helen and John Robbins laughed at
her confession
You dear little gooseP' exclaimed
her friend "Of course I shall not
allow you to be bored, and Uncle Henry
to catch cold, by having him walk home
with you If he should have an attack
of acute rheumatism while out here 1
should have to nurse him. and I can
imagine many mere pleasant ways of
occupying my time"
asks me to let him escort me to the
bungalow-what shall I do? I can't
wound him, or be rude to him, you
know"
Helen looked at her gravely for a
moment Then she spoke earnestly:
My dear girl, you must not feel that
Just because man is my uncle you
have to accept his unWelcOme atten-
tons I have often wondered if he
did not annoy you. Now I am sure
that he does and if makes me impa-
tent with him"
ooh. no; it's not thatw Beatrice dis
claimed, hastily. She did not want to
produce this impression, for IL would
make ii difficult for her to accent
Henry Blanchard later if she found it
was best to do so. Really, Helen he /
does not bore or annoy me But he is |
not young or strong, and cannot have /
him go out tonight on my account, !
and
Robbins to Her Aid.
But here kind-hearted John Robbins ]