Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1914-09-11
HIS JEALOUS WIFE

trums because he happened to walk
from the chemical laboratory to Eng
fish recitation with Mabel Dawes one
sunny afternoon. To have the girl that
you liked best Of all girls SO madly
Jealous Of you was proof Of great
love. Frederick Huston opined.
And It wasn't that Frederick was a
nlrt lie was not. He was, perhaps.
the steadiest-going chap in college,
Since his sophomore year he had de-
voted himself exclusively to Gail Les
ter. In his code there was room for
but one love. That was why it al
ways seemed so silly to her girl friends
that Gail was forever on the lookout
for the very slightest act that could
be construed as disloyalty to her
And they were married.
But marriage seemed only to height
en- the already rabid tints of Calls
jealousy Frederick was not allowed to
have girl stenographer. Gall could
not trust him in such close relation
ship with any woman. 1t displeased
her when he accepted women clients.
He was required to be home every
evening at o'clock, and evenings
downtown unaccompanied by Mrs.
Huston were absolutely taboo. Fred
erick, be Is said, was quite a success
full lawyer. despite these handicaps.
Always was he on guard lest he
linger too long over woman's hand.
lest he smile too interestingly at his
attractive bridge partner lest he show
too much enthusiasm in talking to any
woman
Over the dinner table one evening
Gail asked, Anything new downtown
today. dear?"
NO." responded Frederick, "ex-
cept-except that Mabel Dawes was in
the Office this afternoon. Since her
fathers death the children have got
into very disgraceful sQuabble over
the estate Mabel is terribly distressed
for fear it will get into the neWspa-
pers. You know, she was always so
sensitive and a little-hysterical."
When Frederick looked at his wife
he knew he had made a mistake.
I'm your Office! Mabel Dawes! And
you talked with her."
Why, of course! She came to see
me on business
Business, indeed! What little fool
you take me for, Frederick Huston!"
Now. Gail, dear"
Don't you dare dear me! You
must never see that woman again.
Never. Sensitive? She? Ha! ha!"
Pm sorry you feel that way, Gall.
Mabel Dawes is In very serious con-
dition, and was going to ask you to
to see her. In fact, told her you
would call 1t makes 1t little embar-
RAISING for me-"
Embarrassing? Poof!" shifted the
wife. 1T wasn't embarrassing to have
her come to you with her intimate af'
fairs at your office. You've always
been interested in her. You used to
walk from the chemical laboratory to
English with her-and heaven knows
what else you did with her when no
body was looking
The mans face was red as fire. His
eyes were swapping steel. lie rose
from the dining table and left the
room.
The affair blew over. as such affairs
always did at the Huston home. To
Calls inquiry, Have you seen Mabel
Dawes again." the husband replied:
I'm not going to take her case.
thought you would object. | sent her
! to Darrell
of course, it was necessary FOR
! you to personally see that she had
good counsel. OF course, Darrell un
derstood that it might cause gossip II
you took her case YOURSELF Gail said
cuttingly, and withdrew from the
room.
After an afternoon concert Few
DAYS later Gail entered her husbands
offices. The fact that the boy told her
that her husband was engaged did not
deter Mrs. Huston.
When she opened his door and saw
him supporting crying and hysterical
woman in his arms, never Tor mo-
ment did Gail Huston stop to think.
Never for a second did she remember
where she was or who she was. Mabel
Dawes was crying on her husbands
shoulder. He was trying to comfort
her. 1t was proof positive to her sus-
picious mind of duplicity, disloyslty,
infidelity, betrayal.
Frederick Huston tried to explain.
Mabel Dawes raised her haggard, tear
stained, but innocent face in mute ap-
peal, but the Jealous woman took no
note, gave no quarter. Gail Huston
made n scene-a scene such as only a
selfish woman without brains or prin-
chile can make. And when she had
blasted a womans name forever and
ruined a. mans future, she swept like
an enraged princess from the ofhce
and went to-mother's, weeping.
And she divorced him. Her COM
plaint read incompatibility. She could
establish no other grounds. but, OF
course, rumor read into the case AN.
other woman.
Two years later, when Mabel Dawes
became Mrs. Frederick Huston. Cos
sips lifted their prying eyebrows and
droned:
Poor Gail! They say he provides
l>,,t hu$ &c
to A. broken heart? What beasts men
are"
Only few there we're who under
stood that Frederick Huston was max
ing what little restitution he could to
the woman whose name had been wan
tonly dragged into the mire by the
woman who didn't care.-Darra More,