The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-06-16
RICH MANS PEARL
BY j S. WooDHoUsE.

Like a golden link to bind In happy
unison the democratic and aristocratic
extremes Of the social ,hain, the little
onestory yellow cottsge of Magnus
Hertz occupied geographically har-
monious position between the minor
and major keys Of thriving munich
pal life.
From under this modest little roof
q man-because of lis broad shout
ders, his long, lank body, and his
sinewy arms-went down the hill,
pierced the smoky punterpane that
almost hid the lowlAds, and worked
among the giant enenes where there
was heat and dirt AMI foul air.
And the woman, because Of her nat
ural charms Of beatty and grace OF
manner, went up he hill to mingle
with those of the s,cial set
They had marrbd because Of an
ardent love for each other, but gold
is a rare metal that cannot resist a
strain with the tAacity OF the more
vulgar iron or STEEL or brass, and the
opposite weights were beginning to
pull hard on this ragile link Of love.
Her intercours, with the more gen.
teel had served t. magnify in her eyes
the crudity of her husbands manners,
and by gentle nmonstrances at first
she had undertaken to correct them.
Her esthetic tense had developed to
the point that 1 grated harshly on her
nerves to see Inn drink his soup from
the bowl.
In the beginning she had tried to in
duce him to g. with her into this new
ly discovered world. But he just
laughed. lighted his corn-cob pipe, and
sat contentetly down by the fire after
a day Of hand toll to enjoy pleasant
relaxation.
All her coaxing would not alter him.
He aspired to no society beyond the
geniality Of his home. and his chief
demand o. wifehood was good cook
Ing and sweet disposition. Her In
creasing social indulgence but magni-
fed in her eyes the shortcomings Of
the husband, and frequently elected
from hin reproach.
The time devoted to her social ambi-
ton was detracting from both Of his
chief demands of wlfehood. This so
cial lure" then was the one element
that had interfered with the hitherto
perfect domestic peace.
1t required most remarkable Incl
dent 20 arrest the development of this
rapidly widening domestic breach
The catastrophe was precipitated by
her vanity. coupled with pronounced
The pretty compliments, the kind
attentions, and the suggestions OF
wealth due such beauty, continuously
showered upon her by men superior
70 her husband In both income and in
.ellect, were attributed by her to no
Interior motives, but accepted with
IN audacious conviction that they
we're the truth.
She had nourished her vanity so far
hat she believed the diamond brooch,
by an ardent admirer as an
to the beauty of her neck,
might conscientiously be accepted by
ler without moral turpitude.
But one thing withheld the too eager
land from this and many other prof
'ered glfts-the jealousy OF her hus-
oand; sentiment, she convinced her.
self, due only to his ignorance.
1t must be conceded that Mrs. Hertz,
regardless of the many indiscretions
If which she might be guilty, was
when the question resolved itself to
he one-element measure adopted by
norallsts today-virtuous.
But to sacrifice ambition within
'hC . 6iuoP W 6idllly tue SHORTCOMINGS
If another Is concession that would
wear on nerves even less feminine
han those Of Mrs. Hertz and accord
ngly she soon found herself trying to
evolve method of harmonizing the
difficulty that oppressed her on one
side, and the temptation that lured her
IN the other.
How to accept from some admirer
he wealth that would buy the dresses
md jewels she would have and how
% make her husband gracefully accept
he situation was problem that would
'eadily have COMPOUNDED a less preten.
.ious person.
Even she might have been compelled
% bow beneath the weight of this
problem had there not crossed her 40.
,ial horizon Horace Duval who. as a
visitor from the East.
attracted considerable feminine atten-
lion, but who chose in turn to center
his on the beaming Mrs. Hertz.
Ostensibly he was an importer of
African furs and very wealthy, but
with ripening acquaintance he con.
fded to Mrs, Hertz that in reality he
was an eastern fisher of pearls. To her
curious eyes he exhibited some of the
most beautiful specimens upon which
she had ever looked
One of exceptional size and beauty
which appealed to her feminine fancy
he frankly admitted was worth one
thousand dollars. 1t became between
them quite the chief topic of converse.
ton, largely because a woman loves to
revel in a secret.