The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1916-04-06

+ 4 DELINQUENT HUSBAND
sy ERNIE oLMsTEAD.

darning and glanced across the living.
room table at her husband engrossed
In the evening paper. Her appraisal
was silent, but comprehensive. Elk.
cept for a little thinning Of the hair
above the temples and the addition OF
a little flesh and eyeglasses, Fred was
the same tine-looking fellow she had
married.
She sighed. then got up and went to
q hall mirror and began an investiga.
ton Of herself. She felt pretty an.
cient, with eight-year-old twins asleep
upstairs. 1t had been q long time
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-unfortunately
had the same effect upon other ome
that it had upon herself.
The effect had been slow. but sure.
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. But now the chill.
dren were older and she had plenty Of
time-too much. but Fred had not
come back.
Il think I'll run over to the club.
Bee." Her husband came out of the
living room and went for his hat. III
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 Enclosing 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 a visit. "We
are in the midst Of a merry whirl.
dearie," she wrote, 80 you'll have no
chance to be bored. Besides, Cecil
Frampton is here and not married yet.
(He never got owe losing you, Bee.)
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 25th. l 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.
tina to come and stay here with the
children so you a 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
and long evenings Of dining, dancing,
theaters and cabarets.
Freddie" declared pretty Mrs.
Huntleigh, you have saved my life.
Toms niece is visiting US and we need
IN odd man for her. We have a thou
sand things to do in the next two
weeks and I am going to expect you
to see US through" So Freddie was
helping them out to the best Of his
ability.
One night at the theater. a party
came in late and occupied a box quite
near them. At the close Of the act
Fred leaned over to Isabelle. what
do you think of it, Miss Murtland?
Good music, eh?" For answer she
merely nodded her head toward the
newcomers. Il was wondering" she
said. who that stunning looking won.
an is talking to Cecil Frampton. They
are with the .Warrens."
He followed her glance and started
with dismay. For it a Beatrice
whom Isabelle Murtland had noticed.
Beatrice, so b~ewilderingly beautiful
and looking 30 wonderfully happy and
animated that he had to look again to
be sure 1t was she. Beatrice did not
see him and he drew back into the
shadow of the box.
In the next week, he saw her four
times with Frampton and the War.
rens, at different places of amusement,
but he always managed some way to
remain unnoticed.
my wife's the best looking woman
In New York." he cried, savagely one
evening. II don't know how she hap.
pens to be here. but l know she isn't
going to .1irt with that fool any long,