Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1914-03-13

10 her mother, b remain until he could
clear himself OF a grave charge that
had been made against him. His wife
would moi have listened to Il had It
been made In the nature OF a charge;
II had come out Internationally as a
bit Of information. II was then given,
after which the writer continued by
saying that she did NOT see how he
could possibly disprove the statement.
since he was seen. not by some Cos
siping old maid. but by Mrs. Timber
lake. the mother Of grown children and
a woman respected by all who knew
her. e.
THANK heavenr" muttered Waters.
For once the poor. gosslping old maid
IL not called upon to endure the ~
Bponsibllity OF making trouble"
Mr. Waters. never having seen or
heard Of the Mrs. Malnwaring referred
10, was only troubled that his wife had
been made a dupe II occurred to him
that It might be we'll to forestall In fu-
ture any such information given his
wife. He had no respect for a tale
bearer. be the person nan or woman,
and did not propose to enter a defense
against such n person TO his wi wife.
He dined alone. telling the maid that
his wife had gone to visit her mother
and her return was uncertain. Then,
lighting a cigar. he strolled away to
his club.
Mrs. Waters. though she could not
conceal from her mother that there
was trouble on her mind. resolutely de-
clined to tell why she had come. Her
husband usually returned to his home
about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, and
an hour more would be required for a
telegram denying the charge to reach
her.
No telegram arrived within that time
or double that time. Indeed, no mes
sage whatever arrived that night. Mrs.
Waters, not having slept any, went
downstairs In the morning expecting
that the postman would bring her a
letter. The postman's whistle and ring
were heard, as usual. but no letter from
Fred.
The trouble that had been brought
about by the information "she ought
to know" had Increased and multiplied
overnight. First, her husband, II In
nocent Of the charge, would surely
have denied at once. Surely he must
be guilty. Then came ftful flashes Of
terror lest something had happened "a
him the night before and be had not
reached home at oil. Perhaps he had
been run over by an automobile
Heavens! Could 1t be that he was ly.
Ing mangled and bleeding in a hospi
tai? II he had not been killed a tele.
phone would have been sent to her al
home. But she was not at home, and
no one there knew where she was,
The contingency, though remote, was
appalling.
There are two powerful agents-the
one silence, the other nonresistance
Both these seized upon Bertha Waters
Her scheme OF withdrawing as a digni
hed wife should withdraw from a hus
band who had been proved unfaithful
had been a failure. She could not
stand this anxiety for another day Of
even another half day. She must re
turn.
She arrived at home at midday. The
first question she asked her maid was
whether her husband had been al
home and been given her note. An
swered In the affirmative, she did not
demean herself by asking how he had
received the note, but she did ask
whether he had slept at home. She
was Informed that he had, and the
maid did not mention that he had
looked especially gloomy or had beer
heard pacing the floor at midnight On
the whole. his wife could not discover
that he had been especially moved
She began to dread facing him nftel
what had occurred. She concluded L
call him up by telephone at his Office
and hear what he had to say. Thi
wal the brief dialogue between them:
did you get my note?"
"Yes."
81 suppose since you have not de
MED that the information is true It 4
true"
am not in the habit OF denying tn.
stories OF %talebearers, especially to m.
own wife"
do you call Mrs. Timberlake a tale
bearer because she has told me wha
she considered | ought to known"
~ do"
'Ts her story true or untrue?"
az decline to answer"
"WhyT'
Because when she told you tn
story 1t was your duty to have aske
her to leave your house"
There was no reply to this for som
time, when Mrs. Waters asked II b
would be home TO dinner. lie reptile
that he would. provided no mentO
would be made OF Mrs. Timberlake Q
her story. After a slight hesltatlo
the promise was given; there was
click. and Mrs. Waters. leaving III
telephone. was obliged to content he
self till 3 o'clock. when her husban
would be home. She had made up he