El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-03-14
The Husband Question
The Widow Insists on Seeing May
nard and Is Greatly Shocked
at the Sight.
BY Virginia TerhuEe Van de Water
FTER she had announced to Bea-

4 y Minor children from the burning
house had been Paul Maynard, Helen
Robbins waited for some further COM
men+ from her friend. If she had
counted upon a sensation following up
on her disclosure, she was disappointed.
Baarrica sat notfOnless- Except for her
irrepressibIe exclamation Of grief or
CONSERVATION, she uttered no so1h0,
MuteIy she gaZed out Of the Wlnuo"
at the lawn where the flreflles Were
aDDearinsr in the soft September DUSK.
At last Helen's patience reacheu an
end, and she spoke.
II hone I haven't shocked you, my
dear she said, with the least note %
sarcasm in her voice But you IIr
sisted on knowing Perhaps, shoulu
not have told you 49,
assured her in dull, emotonless
voice. I brought the knowledge upon
myself. ] insisted upon your tellIns
me" She paused What 1 dreaded Is
'IT Her friend did not catch the last
sentence. What did you say?' she
Beatrice Is HystericaI.
Nothing" answered the widow;
silence fell again on the dusk-tllled
room. The hostess endured 1t as long
as she could, then sprang to her feet
i can't stand this" she exclaimed
with a pretence of gaiety, going across
be getting the blues myself If We SIT
like a couple Of owls here IN the DARK
much LONGER. THERE" as she lighted
the lamp on the table, that looks
little more cheerful
IT is better" responded Beatrice alb
sently, her eyes still fixed on the dark
rectangle of the window.
What is the matter, dear? .queried
Helen. You look wretched- Are you
tired2 Would you like me to help you
into bed2'
buried her face in her hands and burst
on She sobbed. Il want to go
homel 1 want TO go away from TINS
dreadful country and never come
So violent was her weeping that
Helen, after two OF three vain at
tempts to sOOthe her, ran out into the
hall. thereby almost cOllidlng with Dr.
Yeager, who was on his way to the
Where is Dr.. Haynes Queried
Helen, breathleSSly.
He has driven down to the village
for the mail, answered the pny an
rs there anything can dOg'
ON" exclaimed Helen, Beatrice is
having Mysteries, 1 think. Can't you
stop them?'
Yeager turned and entered Beatrice 5
room. The widows face was still
buried in her hands, and her frame W as
but she was weeping more quietly,
though bitterly, and showed no signs OF
hysteria The physician stepped to
her side and laid kindly hand upon
her shoulder.
he asked, softly.
She raised her -tear-stained face,
controlling herself with an effort
II Want to See Mr.. Maynard
I want to see Mr.. Maynard" she
declared, looking her Questioner
Dr. Yeager Started violently-his
possession leaving him for the mo-
ment- You cannot see Mr.. Maynard,
he began, "Decause-
He got no further, for the woman
interrupted him He IS lying upstairs
i'll know THAR she hurried on. and
L must see him, 1 have something to
tell him 1 must see him."
Have you told her of his present
condition. asked the physician, turn
ing sharply upon Mrs Robbins
MOI stammered the frightened hos
The physician took Beatrice Minors
trembling hands in his firm, cool clasp.
You are to 90 to bed now ne SAD iti
gently, but decidedly You certainly
cannot see Paul tonight, and we will
talk about 1t further in the morning.
promise YOU that. NOy go to bed!
Shaken in mind and body, the woman
made no further protest, and the doctor
left the room Silently, Hele1 helped
her friend undress, and, after seeing
her settled comfortably in bed, left her
promising to look in HpOn her later.
But when she returned the Wearied
and spent creature was sleeping the
sleep of utter exhaustion.
She was better the following. morn
ing and had dressed and breakfasted
in her room when DR.. Haynes made his
fully he spoke frankly and without
delay of the subject that he knew was
UppermOst in her mind
Mrs. Robbins has told me-" he said
simply. of last nights talk am
glad you suffered no i'll effects from
the shock Of the revelation she and
Yeager tell me you want TO see May
nard. Now. Mrs. Minor, the case stands
like this. 1t may do him good to see
you, for he is light-headed from fever,
and often asks for you. But it may be
another shock to you to see him, for ne
looks different from what he did when
He paused, and Beatrice whispered
TREMENDOUSLY, How is he different
Well" stammered the physician, he
has his bandages on over his burns,
and he is-well-well-nOt exactly
pretty sight, You know
But I must see himi" persisted the
woman
She Sees Maynard
eff YOU insist, you snail" agreed the
physician. But think seriously first
Then if you decide that you wish to go
upstairs I will go up with you"
Il want to see him." she repeated
duly. And the man made no further
protest.
She saw him, and turned sick at the
sight of the. swathed face and the
smell of strong drugs. She saw him.
and flinched, and forgot her gratitude
as she looked. She tried to speak and
failed. The parched lips tried to smile
at her, and a bandaged hand was
stretched toward her. Once more she
tried to speak, but, instead, gave a
weak little cry OF fear and turned
from him, catching the physician by
the arm. Take me away" she Whis-
pered, pleadingly. And as DR.. Haynes
did her bidding, the eyes of the tor
tured man followed her with a strange
expression in them. The look was not