The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-14
Mr.BuddingtOn'S 5:
Fortune
II Was Bestowed Where Il
Would Do the Most Coed
By ETHEL HOLMES


Young Mrs. Burlington was model
bride. Perhaps the word enduring"
would better describe her. She had
married a mans man. and mans
man, especially when very young, Is
easily drawn from his home. Tom
Buddington had scarcely returned from
his wedding journey before he was
waylaid by his former associates and
induced to spend an evening with them.
leaving his wife at home alone.
Tom knew this was all wrong. At
midnight he succeeded in tearing him.
self away from his companions and
went home. The house was dark and
without sound. He put his latchkey
znto the lock very quietly and went
upstairs softly. This was not because
he feared to awaken his wife, for he
didn't believe she was asleep. 1t was
rather the result of guilty conscience.
He would have liked to hear sweet
voice say: THAT you, dearie? Had
good timer But he entered the dress
ing room next the bedroom without
any greeting. Looking in where Bess
was sleeping, by the light turned low
ne saw her peacefully slumbering.
Tom was both relieved and disap-
pointed. He was pleased that his bride
had not lain awake waiting for him,
but he would have liked brief chat
with her before going to sleep himself.
The lady was not asleep; she was pre-
tending. She was a wise woman. If
she cheerfuily received her husband
after his return from his bachelor
friends she would have encouraged
him to go to them again. If she up
braided him it would have tendency
to drive him away from her. Tom
went. to sleep ungreeted and unre-
preached. He resolved that he would
not do so any more.
But Toms effort to be good proved a
failure. A young man, especially a
mans man, needs relaxation. His err
ror was not In this; 1t was In failing
to provide his wife with relaxation
also, or. rather, in forcing her to spend
a. considerable number Of evenings
alone. Ii 1t was not practicable to
furnish her with company he should
I have remained with her, even If. he did
need relaxation. for she needed It as
much as he did. probably more, since
her place during the day was at home,
and 1t was natural that In the evening
she should need change of scene. Un-
fortunately Toms income was not suf-
ficient to enable them to go out to
theaters or such other places Of amuse-
meIt.
sJust you wait, dearie," Tom said to
his wife one evening when he was go
ing out with couple OF men friends
.'till Uncle Alec shuffies or this mortal
coil. and I'll stop this going out with
out you. You shall have all the opera
and the other amusements you like"
Now, Uncle Alec was a childless
bachelor who had worked and saved
never having married because he
thought he couldn't afford to marry
till he had come to old age and for
tune without any one except his
! nephew to inherit his money. He had
therefore pitched upon Tom for the
purpose, and 1t was all settled that the
young man was to have 100000 after
the old mans death.
Tom. being sensible of this prospec
tive advantage, aimed to show his un
Gle proper attention. Since both were
engaged during the day, the evening
was the only time that the dntifu
young man could pay his respects t
the old gentleman. Bess understood
that one night every week was to b.
devoted to this purpose. Tom went t.
see his uncle with tolerable regularity
and when he omitted to do so his wifi
understood that he had made the visit
though on such omissions Tom wa:
enjoying his bachelor friends. Some
! times on his regular nights for visit
ing his uncle he would take Bess witt
him. She was a great favorlte witt
the elder Buddington, which please,
Tom very much, for 1t strengthens.
the younger In the matter OF his pro
spective fortune.
When the Buddingtons had beel
married a decade the wife did no
need her husbands companionship 8
much as at first because she was take
up with several little children VIII
had come to her in the meanwhile
Tom continued still to be mans ma
ID found good deal to take him on
indeed, there was more to absorb III
attention every year. He dabbled In
small way In politics, having som
taste for wire pulling, and was
member of various associations. 81
needed no excuses for going out evei
ings. for there was always commi
tee meeting or something OF the kin
that served the purpose. None Of thei
engagements brought in any none
and the practical Mrs. Buddington WI
not made the better satisfied with b
husbands absences by pecuniary gal
But she did not complain. Tom sa
that 1t was the duty of citizen TO Ia
an interest In the government OF l
country, HIS state or his city. as ca
needed his attention. There was !
nainsaying this, and Bess was not {
woman to interfere with whatever b
husband considered his duty. 5
made the monthly stipend go as far
II was possible to make 1t go, patch
the children's clothes and pinched
every way. The elder Buddingt
might have helped the family, but a
who devote their lives to piling