El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-07-18
THE HUSBAND QUESTION "'''i


n EATRICE was up and at WORK
early on the morning after
Helen's call, altering a gown
that she had worn only a few times
since it was made. She would not
wear the costume in which she had
appeared at that first dinner weeks
ago-the dinner at which she had
met Henry Blanchard. Her friend
would remember the dress, and every
woman has a dread of making it
possible for another woman to say
truthfuny, There's that same old
frock again!"
So Beatrice worked deity at soft
black crepe de Chine which mad been
fashioned with lace yoke and sleeves.
These she removed, producing the de-
cOllete effect she desired FOldS OF
chiffon at the shoulders, and sleeves
reaching to the elbows, finished with
graceful ruffle of black lace, threw
INTO relief her fair skin She knew
that she need not be ashamed OF her
appearance as she tried on he COM
pIeted product BY artificial light the
effect would be especially good
Late in the afternoon came box
embazoned with the name of fash
ionabIe florist. In it was a heap of
fragile, delicately tinted orchids. Ac-
companying the box was note
Beatrice gazed at the flowers and read
the note with the naive delight of
girl in her teens
MY Dear Child-AVgay again on
business. To Chicago this time, SO 1
shan't see you until week from SatUr-
day Helen has told me of her dinner
company tonight. Please wear these
flowers then, and think once in while
during the evening OF the dinner at
which i met you, and of your old
friend. Henry ID. Blanchard"
"Oh. he is a dear!' exclaimed the
widow. 1t is strange how a little con-
crete evidence OF affection Will call
forth more real appreciation from a
woman than do unfailing Self-sacrifice
and unselfish devotion. 4 pessimist
has declared that tact and an open
purse viii win any woman"
Some Truth in Maxim.
As with all cynical maSims. there
are many exceptions to this one. Never
theless, a grain of truth turks within
il. UnObtrusive fidelity may pass IN
noticed and unpraised by its object
while a gift bestowed, or an extrava-
gance done in q wOman's honor viii
bring tears of JOY to her eyes and eX-
carnations OF gratitude to her lips. II
more husbands appreciated this fact
they would not forget to carry home
the occasional box OF candy or basket
of fruit which seems to an unthinking
wife to denote greater devotion than do
weeks of accomplishing and wearing
toll for wife and children.
This day was destined to be one OF
surprises for Beatrice Minor, and not
all of them were pleasant. At s
o'clock the pOStman brought her a let
ter bearing a special delivery stamp.
The envelope was crossed and disfig-
ured by directions and redirections in
red ink 1t had been addressed in
haste and to the number of her street |
on the East Side instead of the West
side of town. The pOstmark was that
l.
early the preceding morning. The |
writing was Msynard's. Tearing the \
letter open Beatrice read:
Dear Bady-An unsuccessful at /
tempt to catch you by phone disap- |
pointed me In my hope of hearing your /
voice this morning. 1 am leaving hur- |
riedly for the west on a trip as tire /
some as II Is important, and on two /
hours notice Forgive my inability to 4
spend this evening with you and try /
TO believe that 1 shall be with you in 4
spirit Hastily, but always yours.
Robert Maynard"
Then" said Beatrice slowly to her /
self in the silence Of her own room,
he never received my letter"
Worried and chaSrined, she called
Up the district messenger office and
asked to have the matter of the deliv-
cry of her note Investigated. She
earned that the letter she had sent
~ the messenger boy the morning be-
ore had been delivered at Robert May
lard's office and signed for by one of
lis clerks.
An Embarrassing Position.
What could she dO2 It was out of
he question for her to ask Maynard's
Jerk to return the letter to her, Cor
hat would place her in an embarrass-
ng position and the man would have
10 right to comply with her request !
borrower she wished Robert to receive
he frigid little note; she wanted him
o understand that she meant to have
Othing more to do with him. And
ct here he was writing to her, all IN
OnsciOus of the bomb that was lying !
n a dainty envelope in New York. Or,
erhaps his mail would be forwarded
o him. Well she hoped it would be-
nd at once
Her futile Impotence at the thought
hat her feminine thunderbolt had, ap-
arently. been dissipated into thin air.
ras increased to helpless anger and
onsternation when, an hour after the