Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1914-07-30

NAAS . h'' III why uOCSll
like to meet strangers, you know"
Billy didn't more than half finish
his dinner before he arose from the
table.
Sorry to leave you, old man." he
said. you'll excuse me, won't you?
Lu will take good care of you. I'll
try to get in before 10. Don't go TIL
] come back
4 was left tete-a-tete with pretty
woman. and Billy had taken care to
have bottle OF good wine on the
table. so that had not been sensible
Of the danger of the situation should
have reioiced. was somewhat reas-
sured by twinkle in Mrs Rrvce's eve
when she kissed her husband goodhy.
for he"an to think, after all. they
had conspired to get rid of my belief
that Rilly's marriage would he
deprivation to me.
Whatever was their design fell into
1t. did not fear for Mrs. Bryce. hut
did fear for myself She showed 10
disposition to go back on Billy by deed.
word or look 1t was / who in ny
heart envied my friend his WIFE
Billy did not return at 10 o. lock or
at II. AT half past II tore myself
away after having passed delightful
evening.
During the next week Billy and his
wife were constantly telephoning for
me. found myself becoming infatuat-
ed with her and tried to keep away.
but they wouldn't let me do So Billy
was as persistent as his wife and she
as persistent as Billy.
guilty conscience needs no ac-
cuser. and it seemed to me that Billy
must notice my embarrassment my
shamefacedness. But he didn't. At any
rate. he was as cordial, as jovial, as az
fectionate as he had ever been. And. as
for being jealous of me, such ali idea
appeared never to enter his head. In
deed, he seemed to be constantly CON
irving to leave me alone with his wife.
l had not been introduced to Mrs
Bryce a week before Billy announced
that he was called away on business
and would be absent for about ten
days.
"Whatr' | exclaimed. Leave yorr
wife so soon after your wedding?"
What can do? Business won't
wait while man is spooning with
me-"
Indeed. won't" said Lu II detest
travelling. Besides, how would amuse
myself. shut up in hotel. while Billy
was attending to business? No. thank
you. I'm comfortable here"
"Therew said Billy. "You see what
marriage is. They're very sweet on you
till they get you; then you discover
that it's all put on
His wife reproached him, but seemed
to have difficulty in depressing smile.
Truly they were taking great deal of
trouble to make me feel that had been
gamer instead Of loser by Billy's
marriage.
1 spent every evening at Billy's house
during his absence. made one sickly
effort to miss an evening, but Mrs.
Bryce asked me what in the world she
would do alone. asked her if the rel
ative Billy had mentioned as being
with her would not be companion for
her, but she said that person had gone
the same day as Billy.
BY the time the ten days of Billy's
absence had gone-and they seemed but
half week. had so far given my
heart to his wife that dared not meet
him. | asked Mrs. Bryce when she ex-
pected him. and she said not for a cou.
pie of days. But when dining with her
| heard key in the latch of the front
door and knew that my bosom friend
now my bosom enemy-had returned
He ushered in a lady who noticed re-
sembled his wife. She came up to me
smiling and put out her hand.
II am Mrs. Bryce" she said. I'VE
have all been playing Il game Billy
thought it would be Il good joke to iI-
troduce you to my sister. Edith. as
his wife. He said he thought it would
break the formality of your coming
under the new conditions | kept out
of the way till Billy concluded to be
absent for awhile; then ] went with
him"
And you are the relative to whoiu
a dinner was carried upstairs?"
II am
ITO tell the truth. old man." Billy
broke in. you We're getting SO devoted
to my wife that thought I'd better
William" protested She who had
played the part of his wife.
This was great bouleversement both
for me and Edith. So long as she had
been the leading lady in play she
had not scrupled at anything. but now
that she must be herself again she be.
gan to show signs of embarrassment
l was too stupid to see that this plot
had been intended to take proper care
of me in the loss of my friend by CIV
ing me wife. | confess was at a
loss to understand why they had
thought proper to play such Joke on
me, but did not refer it to it's true
source
We had merry dinner together,
t.h