The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1916-11-02
A Matter of
Compensation
BY ESTHER vANDEvEER

A gentleman who was driven 10 |
dwelling IA the residential part Of th'
city alighfed. rang the d00rbell an'
asked Of the maid who answered thu
summons If Mrs. Kerwin was al bone
Without reply the maid took the care
offered. the gentleman passed Ia. and
10 few minutes a lady entered tbs
drawing room.
Il welcome Alan's bosom friend.
she said extending her hand Though
We bare not met before. trust w
shall meet okten again. But 1 have q
bone 10 pick with sou az the outset
Why did you write Alan that you con
sidered him lost TO you since bis mar
riage9-
Because had other chums, and
have noticed that wheB married they
are not the same 70 me rs before The
wife has suDplanfed me.
THAT | ans not going TO do. shall
not step ID between you and Alan. but,
as one OF you. we three shall be what
you two have been
How can that be- II is not friend
ship between you aud Alan. bat love
That relationship cannof exist between
you and me"
\ believe II can. I have been told
that after the honeymoon husband and
wife become friends. that love changes
70 companionship. Alan aud ! are
friends. you aud Alan are friends. and
ron and I must be friends Alan has
Jeff me 10 be gone several months on
business lie charged me before go
ing 70 make you one Of as before bis
return
-Alan charged you 10 do fhats"
He said: Win him over. nay dear
He claims that you have taken me
away from him. Make yourself as
dear 10 him as you are 70 me.
Ralph Dexter was puzzled II Was
cot the words that puzzled him. but
the iadys manner It did not say. BE
my friend. but something more
when the call was finished he went
away troubled. He had claimed thar
the lady had stepped ia between him
and his friend Was he now IN danger
or stepping ia between his friend and
his friends wifeg
Three months passed. These two
were together ID the same room as q
their hrSt meeting
ALAN win arrive this evening said
the lady.
Alan. Al home this evening"
.Yes Why do you look so troubled
At the thought OF meeting your best
friendy
~What have ! doneg-
you complained that I had broken
IN upon the friendship between you
and Alan. You have broken IN be-
tween Alan aud me- That Is your
view o. t. ] claim that Alan Is the
same 10 me as before ! met you"
"Then you are devil
-EIow soT
Have you not permitted. enconr-
aged me 10 love your
suppose / haver
Yet you told me when FIRST met
you that you were going 70 make a
friendly trio instead Of a duo"
~And have | notf
"I1ave you nots How do you sup
pose can meet Alan, having fallen
madly IN love with his wifeg
III WAS his fault Did he not tel
me 10 win you OVER
lie could never have meant thar
you should win my love
'0h. you men are very sensitive
about your honor ana all that. You
assume a superiority over us women
that is appalling. Alan tells me to
win you. You blame me for doing 50.
When he returns. II be learns whar
has happened. perhaps he will-well
maybe be viii say that we have acted |
very naturally"
Won are speaking IN riddles. D. /
you suppose that man win thus ex
cuse his wife for winning his friend
or his friend for winning his wifes / /
am IN agony You. who have made
me love you. do not seem 10 have an
adequate idea Of the enormity OF your
DfIcnse"
She laid her hand on his arm sooth-
ngly: be moved away from her. She
took his hand aud placed it about her
waist: he passionately drew her to
him and kissed her
IT Is enough she said. 4 am
Satisfied a. the result OF your devil.
sh work.
''I.et me tell SOU something. am
lot Alans wife am his wife's
,osom friend. Mrs. Alan Is away with
Ter husband and will return With him
onight. she knew Of your charge that
he had stepped IN between you and
Ter husband. and Alan admitted that
he had. adding that she should make
return for what she had deprived
on Of SO they concluded 70 give me
o you"
sYony
Yes. but you wouldn't value me I'M
ass made you do SO. would youg" r
Are yon saying this to torture metz
~No; Il Is the truth
There was sound Of wheels with
Ut, the front door was thrown open.
nd Alan kerwin and his wife hur
led In. Seeing the hero and heroine
( this story. they eyed them inquir