The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1914-02-06
Her Rival
By OSCAR cox

later a maid handed her Il telegram
addressed to her husband with the
book for signatures. Having signed
and the maid departed. Mrs. Yer Beck
began to look ut the envelope curious
~. holding 1t up to the light as though
she might read what was inside. All
this was merely doing something to
while away the time while she was
resisting Il temptation to read the tele-
gram. to which she finally yielded.
BEFORE acting 1t occurred to her to
crafty her curiosity without her nus
band knowing 1t. She warmed the lit
tie gum with which the envelope was
sealed and drew forth the message.
The look on her face as she read 1t
would have sem a cold chill through
the bones Of any husband. however
brave. The corners Of her mouth were
drawn down. and her lips were set
tight together. This was what she
read:
You can't see the widow this week
Come Thursday. the 18th. She's a lin
dandy.
The message was signed with the
initials of Mr.. Yer Beck's most init
mate friend. Of whose influence Over
her husband the wife was distrustful-
a clubman. a man about town. u man
with the reputation Of being rapid.
Thursday. the 18TH" she said to
herself. Pm glad be gave the date.
VIZ shall see about this"
Replacing the telegram In the en-
velUpe and pressing down the dap. she
took it downstairs and left 1t In the
salver for mail ON a table In the hail
Then she returned to her bOndOir aud.
like Mrs. O'Shanter. spent the rest Ut
the afternoon nursing her wrath to
keep It warm" hut shortly before
dinner. realizing that it was necessary
to her plan that she should disselnbIe.
she dressed with her usual u r and
by the time her husband came home
had steeled herself to receive him as
usual She heard him pause In the
ball while be read the telegram: then
be came up and gave her the custom
ary marital kiss.
Anything new downtown" she ask
ed careiessly.
mo. nothing special. The market is
better today. Have you anything ON
hand for next Thursday night?"
Its coming" unused the lady. II
thought 80"
YES" she replied. i've promised
Kit III 20 Over and keep her com
pany. She'll be alone"
"Oh. I'm sorry. was going to pro-
pose that We ~ into the city. dine and
? gO to the theater"
1.-The wretch said Mrs. Yer Beck
mentally. He was not going to pro-
pose any such thing He asked the
question to find Out whether liz would
be able to get rid Of HE. III hx him.
IL he sees his widow he'll have to take
me along with him.
I'm sorry" she said aloud. but l
promised Kit ! wouldn't disnppoint
her Well have to 70 t. the city some
other night"
Mrs Yer Beck was standing ut her
dresser putting on finishing touches,
Forgetting that ber husband was be-
hind bel and \ mirror before her.
though she spoke the words indifYer-
emily. she expressed her feelings in
her c0untpnance. Her husband saw
and wondered. Something had evi-
IDENTIFY gone wrong But be had learn
ed when things had gone wrong with
his wife to let her alone till the storm
had blown over. So he arose from
his chair. went downstairs and read
the evening newspaper till dinner was
served
The next Thursday morning before
going to business Mr.. Yer Betk asked:
MY dear. are yOu going to Kits to
nightY
II am"
Then l think III remain in the city"
do 40 by all means. 1t viii be very
dull for you here alone
So Mr.. Yer Heck remained in the
city. little dreaming that be was q
mousse on whom the cat was to pOunce
His wife knew that when In town he
dined at his club. and wherever he
went he would 70 from there. Forth.
Dately for her there was 4 little reStau-
rant opposite the clubhouse. and there
she vent for dinner. sitting nj \ ta-
BILE close by n window. She made .
frugal meal not having any appetite
and spent half An hour after she had
finished Whiting. Then she NAV her
husband come out to the club stOOp.
stand a moment -lOOkinR hOred. she
thought then stroll slowly down the
street. Leaving the restaurant. she
followed him. He ven u the tbeater
district.
Hes going to meet her ut the play"
thought the shhdOwe..
Mr.. Yer Beck turned in at one Of the
theaters. His wife. keeping far enough
behind to permit him I y 9rt In. fol-
lowed and asked for q single seat. The
clerk rave her an excellent one that
had just bS~n returned. Mrs YER Be'k
drew down her. veil and entered. She
would watch her husband and the wild.
ON uDrevealed. When shown to her
seat she was thundprxtruck to 6nd II
next her husband. He !Unpkyd 1T her