The Spectator., 1916-02-18
A DELINQUENT HUSBAND
By ERNIE OlMSTEAD.

IOOlu IdDle dJ Her HuSDdnu enSTOSSStt in the evening paper. Her appraisal was silent, but comprehensive Ex- cept for a little thinning of the hair above the temples and the addition of little flesh and eyeglasses, Fred was the same fine-looking fellow she had married.
 She sighed, then got up and went to a hall mirror and began an investiga- tion of herself. She felt pretty an. cient, with eight-year-old twins asleep upstairs. It had been a long timo since she had given herself much thought, but now she looked search. ingly at each individual feature, her hair, her eyes, the curve of her mouth and her smooth, velvety cheeks. She gazed long and carefully, but finally turned away satisfied.
 Fred's magnetism-the thing that had caught and held her when she struggled against marriage and the loss of her freedom-unfortuna had the same effect upon other women that it had upon herself.
 
 Fred had been spoiled and had got away from her.
 Beatrice had never cared much or resented all this. She was busy with home duties and her children, and she argued that Fred would come back to her when the children were older and she had more time. Put now the chil' dren were older and s..e had plenty of time-too much, but Fred had not come back.
 'I think I'll run over to the club, Bee" Her husband came out of the living room and went for his hat. "Ii I am not home by eleven, go to bed, Good-by." He kissed her lightly on the cheek and went out.
 She went to her desk and took out two letters. The first was a business letter inclosing a check for $500, her own dividend that she received from some family stock. The second was from Evelyn Warren, in New York, urging her to make them visit. We are in the midst of merry whirl dearie," she wrote. "so you'll have nc chance to be bored. Besides, Cecil Frampton is here and not married yet, Gle never got over losing you, Bee.J Two weeks away from that poky old place will make a new woman of you, Do come Lovingly, Eva"
 Fred" she asked at breakfast, when do you think you will make your business trip to New York? You always go about this time, don't you?'
 Yes, I've been thinking about 1t, About the 18th. I suppose Why?"
 When you are away I think I'll take the children and-and go to Aunt Martha's. She's been writing for us, you know. I'm getting some new clothes"
 That's right. You won't get so lonely" Time was when he would have said: Cant you get Aunt Mar tha to come and stay here with the children so you can go with me? The trip would do you good
 That day she filled in the date of the letter and mailed it; then betook her self to the tailors and dressmakers in a nearby city. Time was short for what she had to do.
 Fred. too, made the preparations for his trip East, and when he finally ar. rived in the great metropolis he was received by a certain pleasure-loving set with wide-open arms. A few hours with business men through the day nf tntn theaters and cabarets.
 Freddie" declared pretty Mrs. Huntleigh. you have saved my Ifs Toms niece is visiting us and we an odd man for her. We hay sand things to do in tkr weeks and I am going
 to see us through
 helping them out
 ability.
 One night
 came in late
 near ther
 Fred le
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